Geneva – As the war on the Gaza Strip enters its seventh week, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said today that the death toll from Israel's genocide campaign has likely risen to 20,000 dead Palestinians, including those missing under the rubble with little hope of survival.
Euro-Med Monitor estimated that at least 15,271 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, including 3,561 women and 6,403 children. Over 32,310 additional people have been injured by the Israeli attacks, many of whom are in critical condition and unable to receive even the bare minimum of medical attention due to the Gazan health system's collapse.
There are reportedly 4,1500 people missing beneath the debris of buildings hit by Israeli air and artillery strikes, with little chance of their survival. Hundreds of bodies that cannot be recovered remain on the roads, according to Euro-Med Monitor, particularly in areas where the Israeli army has conducted ground incursions.
The Geneva-based group warned of the complete blackout of communications and Internet services in the Strip, following announcements by supplying companies that they have run out of fuel used to operate electrical generators. This lack of fuel seriously jeopardises civilians' safety and ability to provide life-saving aid, and turns Gazans into silent murder victims.
Euro-Med Monitor pointed out that Israel—which relentlessly targets Palestinian journalists and their workplaces—has deliberately destroyed basic communications facilities and Internet infrastructure with the aim of isolating residents of the Gaza Strip from the outside world and eliminating their ability to document ongoing Israeli crimes.
The Gaza Strip has been suffering from a power outage since 11 October, after the Israeli authorities cut off electricity supplies and prevented vital fuel supplies from reaching Gaza's sole power plant. Euro-Med Monitor classified Israel's blocking of fuel entry, which is essential to running the electrical generators that supply crucial medical equipment, as inhumane.
The fuel shortage and the repeated Israeli air and artillery attacks on Gaza's hospitals and their surroundings, have forced 26 out of 35 hospitals out of service. Along the same line, most of the ambulances stopped operating. Euro-Med Monitor said that more than 200 health personnel, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, have been killed, and 213 others injured. More than 20 rescue and civil defense crews as well as 49 journalists have also killed.
Over 1,650 million Gazans have been internally displaced, about half of whom are living in severely overcrowded UNRWA-run facilities that are neither intended nor suitable for shelter, added Euro-Med Monitor.
According to the rights organisation, 55,200 housing units have been completely destroyed by the Israeli attacks, while 160,700 others have been partially damaged. One hundred and seventeen health facilities, as well as 223 schools, 821 industrial facilities, 177 press offices, 75 mosques, and three churches, have been targeted.
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor warned that the interruption of communications and Internet services will provide cover for Israel to commit more horrific crimes, and called for strong international action to stop the genocide campaign occurring in the Gaza Strip.
