8 Towers Destroyed As Israeli Attacks Level Gaza Neighborhoods
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israeli airstrikes have leveled the entire al-Karama neighborhood of Gaza on the fifth day of conflict, destroying eight 12-story towers and targeting civilians inside their homes.
Residents of the neighborhood have desperately appealed to civil defense and the Red Cross for assistance, but no aid has reached them.
Witnesses at the scene report hearing the cries of individuals trapped beneath the debris, pleading for help.
The Palestinian health ministry has reported that at least 260 children have been killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, with a total of 950 Palestinians reported killed.
More than 260,000 people are displaced in Gaza, with more than 175,000 taking shelter in 88 UN schools.
The Palestinian foreign ministry has stated that Israeli airstrikes since Saturday have resulted in the destruction of more than 22,600 residential units and 10 health facilities, along with damage to 48 schools.
The health ministry in Gaza has accused Israel of "deliberately targeting" civilians and health workers, citing an incident in which two people were killed and two paramedics were injured during an attack on an ambulance.
Israeli airstrikes have also destroyed the al-Fakhoora House of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation in Gaza, which served as a safe space for students and families.
The Palestinian foreign ministry has reiterated that the Israeli attacks have caused extensive damage to residential units, health facilities, and schools. Furthermore, Israeli fighter jets targeted the Islamic University in Gaza City, resulting in the complete destruction of some of the university's buildings.
Officials in Gaza are warning that the enclave's sole power plant, which currently provides electricity, is running low on fuel and is expected to shut down soon.
Gaza's Health Minister Mai al-Kaila has issued a warning about the impending shortages: "The fuel stock to operate the generators in the Gaza Strip hospitals will end tomorrow, Thursday, which will exacerbate the disastrous conditions in the hospitals, especially after the electricity stops within hours from now," she stated.
Palestinian Energy Authority Chairman Thafer Melhem has informed Voice of Palestine radio that the Gaza Strip's sole power plant is expected to run out of fuel in 10 to 12 hours. Israel cut off its own electricity and fuel supply to Gaza on Monday, imposing what it referred to as a "total siege."
The Government Media Office in Gaza has issued a dire statement, emphasizing the impending humanitarian crisis: "The Gaza Strip is facing an imminent humanitarian catastrophe, with the power plant shutting down completely within hours due to the depletion of fuel. This threatens to plunge the Strip into complete darkness and make it impossible to continue providing all basic life services, all of which depend on electricity."
The statement calls on the international community to intervene urgently to stop the ongoing aggression and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has reported that it requested food and medical supplies to be delivered to Gaza, but Israel refused to allow the entry of relief materials. PLO official Hussein al-Sheikh has called on international humanitarian institutions and the international community to urgently intervene and prevent a major humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.