JERUSALEM - At least 21 people have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to receive aid in southern Gaza since this morning, the Nasser Medical Complex told media yesterday.
Since the establishment of the GHF aid sites at the end of May, at least 1,924 have been killed and more than 14,288 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The prominent Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which in late July had declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, has reinforced its assessment in light of comments by the former head of military intelligence Aharon Haliva that 50 Palestinians must be killed for each Israeli killed by Hamas.
It said the remarks join a long list of similar statements that “expose a deliberate policy of genocide”.
The prominent Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, which in late July declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, has reinforced its assessment in light of comments by the former head of military intelligence Aharon Haliva that 50 Palestinians must be killed for each Israeli killed by Hamas, international media reports.
It said the remarks join a long list of similar statements that “expose a deliberate policy of genocide”.
Meanwhile, there are nationwide protests and a general strike in Israel against the war on Gaza and calling for a deal to release the captives in the enclave, local media reported.
Israeli media reports that throngs of protesters blocked several highways in the country, causing widespread traffic jams. Thousands of police officers have been deployed.
Opposition parties have encouraged Israelis to take part, with opposition leader Yair Lapid urging Israelis to stand with the captives’ families because it was “reason enough” that the families asked, Israel media said.
It said close to one million people are expected to visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv throughout the day.
It also reported that relatives of Israeli captives are planning to set up an encampment on the Gaza fence on Monday.
The encampment will be named “Waypoint 50”, a reference to the 50 captives held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are said to be alive, the newspaper said.
Commenting on the protests, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed protesters across the country demanding an end to the war in Gaza, saying they were effectively boosting Hamas position in negotiations.
“Those calling today for an end to the war without the defeat of Hamas not only harden Hamas’s position and draw out the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of October 7 will reoccur,” Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting, referring to the 2023 attack that triggered the war, according to a statement from his office.
