DaysofPal – Hamas declared on Monday that Israel is carrying out “a crime of ethnic cleansing and full-fledged genocide” in Gaza City through systematic bombardment of residential neighborhoods and the forced displacement of civilians.
In its statement, the movement said the “fascist Zionist occupation army” is waging a campaign of “barbaric aggression” marked by the destruction of high-rise buildings, the targeting of homes, and the uprooting of entire communities. It stressed that these crimes are unfolding “amid blatant international inability and a lack of decisive will to stop them and hold their perpetrators accountable.”
Hamas vowed that Palestinians would continue to defend their land and rights “by all available means,” warning that Israel “will pay the price for its heinous crimes against innocent children and women.” The group also held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “fully responsible” for the fate of captured soldiers in Gaza, declaring that his government’s “criminal policies will not succeed in bringing them back.”
The assault follows the Israeli government’s August 8 approval of a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gradually reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City. Three days later, Israeli forces launched their offensive in the Zeitoun neighborhood, demolishing homes with booby-trapped robots, carrying out artillery shelling, and forcing civilians to flee.
Over subsequent weeks, operations spread south to the Sabra neighborhood, then north and west, leaving widespread devastation. According to the Government Media Office, Israeli forces have completely or severely destroyed more than 3,600 buildings and towers in Gaza City and obliterated about 13,000 tents sheltering displaced families.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Monday that while the fate of the prisoners is discussed in every security meeting, officials acknowledge “high risks” remain. Families of the prisoners and Israeli opposition figures accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to preserve his fragile governing coalition, which relies on extremist factions opposing any deal to end the conflict.
Israeli forces increased their artillery and airstrike bombardment throughout the Strip on Monday, killing 50 Palestinians, including 25 in Gaza City, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 64,905 Palestinians and wounded 164,926 others, the majority women and children. In addition, famine conditions created by the blockade and destruction of infrastructure have killed 425 Palestinians, including 145 children.
Despite mounting civilian deaths and destruction, Hamas said Israel’s campaign continues “with American support,” underscoring what it called a global failure to act against “the gravest crimes of our time.”
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