New Israeli atrocities coming to light – Day 368
[email protected] October 10, 2024 international criminal court, Jeremy Loffredo, Lebanon, Matthew Brodsky, northern Gaza, Ofer Prison, Palestinian children, palestinian olive harvest, The Killings They Tweeted, west bank deaths
At least 10 Gazans were killed in a horrific Israeli massacre targeting displaced people’s tents in the yard of Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital in the heart of Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza. (Hossam Shabat)
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
At least 45 Palestinians were killed and 130 were injured in three massacres of families in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, at least 10 Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces bombed the tents of displaced people in Jabaliya.
Gaza has become a sea of rubble and a graveyard for tens of thousands of people
Gaza has become a sea of rubble and a graveyard for tens of thousands of people (Image: Getty)
The reality in northern Gaza: witnesses report a bloodbath
From Mondoweiss:
The following are some eyewitness reports from residents of Jabaliya, where the Israeli army surrounded the area and launched a surprise invasion on Sunday morning, coinciding with the first anniversary of October 7. Roughly 200,000 Palestinians are under siege; the hospitals in the vicinity are under evacuation orders.
Most residents could not [or would not] evacuate and were locked in their homes with very little available for them to survive.
One family that evacuated carrying a white flag found themselves under fire from quadcopter attack drones. The father and one son were killed; the rest of the family took shelter. What they saw was “like a horror movie.”
The road was filled with dead bodies, and “dismembered bodies strewn across the streets.”
“My cousin came the second night and joined us in the shelter,” Raneem explains. “They said that people lay dead at their homes’ front doors and in the street,” killed as they tried to follow evacuation orders.
The Civil Defense in Gaza has reported several massacres perpetrated by the Israeli army during the ongoing invasion of Jabalia, although rescue workers have been unable to tally an exact number of casualties due to difficulties accessing the area.
(Read the full report here.)
Local journalist Hossam Shabat, living and working in northern Gaza, confirmed the above descriptions:
Israeli occupation forces have asked all residents of northern Gaza (300k+) to evacuate as a means of ethnically cleansing North Gaza .
However, they then besieged Jabalia refugee camp, and when people tried to leave, they were shot at by snipers.
Many residents are on the streets, bleeding, as Israeli forces have destroyed ambulances and are targeting anyone who tries to help.
The situation in the north is horrific and very dangerous; there are currently hundreds of thousands trapped, and the shelling is nonstop.
RECOMMENDED READING: Ex-US diplomat calls ‘red lines’ meaningless as Israel orders 400,000 to leave Gaza’s north
US: former White House advisor urges Israel to ‘carpet bomb’ Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon
Middle East Monitor reports:
Former White House advisor Matthew Brodsky has urged Israel to drop napalm on Irish peacekeepers in South Lebanon, sparking outrage and concern over the ideological stance of individuals advising the US administration on Israel and Palestine.
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) has some 10,000 peacekeepers in south Lebanon, including members of the Irish Defense Forces. All UNIFIL personnel are distinguishable by their blue helmets and white vehicles.
Brodsky, a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy and former Director of Policy at the Jewish Policy Centre, posted a shocking tweet on X stating: “Israel should carpet bomb the Irish area and then drop napalm over it.”
The tweet, which has since been deleted, included a map showing the deployment of Ireland’s peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon.
The comment has been condemned widely, with many questioning the appropriateness of having individuals with such extreme views in advisory roles within the US government.
Brodsky’s comments come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and have raised concerns about the influence of hard-line Zionist ideologues on US foreign policy.
Critics have accused Brodsky, who has lived and studied in Israel, of promoting Jewish supremacism. This incident has reignited debates about the prevalence of extremist ideologies within US political circles and their potential impact on diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
(Read more here.)
NOTE: According to his website, Matthew Brodsky has worked for over two decades in U.S. foreign policy and national security. He has briefed members of Congress, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council on Iran, Syria, and Palestinian-Israeli issues.
New York Times: American doctors who volunteered in Gaza report massive number of children shot in the head
Some eyewitness accounts from the New York Times:
At least 44 doctors, nurses and paramedics saw multiple cases of preteen children who had been shot in the head or chest in Gaza.
Dr. Mohamad Rassoul Abu-Nuwar, General, bariatric and foregut surgeon, 36 years old, Pittsburgh, Pa.
“One night in the emergency department, over the course of four hours, I saw six children between the ages of 5 and 12, all with single gunshot wounds to the skull.”
Rania Afaneh, Paramedic, 23 years old, Savannah, Ga.
“I saw a child who had been shot in the jaw. No other part of his body was affected. He was fully awake and aware of what was going on. He stared at me while he choked on his own blood as I tried to suction the blood out with a broken suction unit.”
Dr. Khawaja Ikram, Orthopedic surgeon, 53 years old, Dallas, Texas
“One day, while in the E.R., I saw a 3-year-old and 5-year-old, each with a single bullet hole to their head. When asked what happened, their father and brother said they had been told that Israel was backing out of Khan Younis. So they returned to see if anything was left of their house. There was, they said, a sniper waiting who shot both children.”
Dr. Ahlia Kattan, Anesthesiologist and critical care doctor, 37 years old, Costa Mesa, Calif.
“I saw an 18-month-old little girl with a gunshot wound to the head.”
Dr. Nidal Farah, Anesthesiologist, 42 years old, Toledo, Ohio
“I saw many children. In my experience the gunshot wound was often to the head. Many had non-curable, permanent brain damage. It was almost a daily occurrence to have children arrive at the hospital with gunshot wounds to the head.”
Times Opinion sent questions about the experiences of these American health care workers to the Israel Defense Forces. A spokesperson for the I.D.F. responded with a statement that did not directly answer whether or not the military had investigated reports of shootings of preteen children, or if any disciplinary action had been taken against soldiers for firing at children.
The statement began, “The I.D.F. is committed to mitigating civilian harm during operational activity. In that spirit, the I.D.F. makes great efforts to estimate and consider potential civilian collateral damage in its strikes. The I.D.F. is fully committed to respecting all applicable international legal obligations, including the Law of Armed Conflict.”
NOTE: Israeli sources, including the government itself, have a long track record of lying (for example, this and this and this.)
Israel’s self-investigations consistently whitewash its crimes and fail to appropriately punish the perpetrators.
These photographs of X-rays were provided by Dr. Mimi Syed, who worked in Khan Younis from Aug. 8 to Sept. 5. She said: “I had multiple pediatric patients, mostly under the age of 12, who were shot in the head or the left side of the chest. Usually, these were single shots. The patients came in either dead or critical, and died shortly after arriving.”
These photographs of X-rays were provided by Dr. Mimi Syed, who worked in Khan Younis from Aug. 8 to Sept. 5. She said: “I had multiple pediatric patients, mostly under the age of 12, who were shot in the head or the left side of the chest. Usually, these were single shots. The patients came in either dead or critical, and died shortly after arriving.” (Dr. Mimi Syed)
Israel detains US journalist reporting on damage to its military bases
Middle East Monitor reports:
Israel has detained American Grayzone journalist Jeremy Loffredo while he was on assignment in Israel.
According to social media posts, Loffredo was detained on Tuesday along with four other journalists who were “beaten, blindfolded, and taken to an Israeli military base.” They also had their phones confiscated.
Loffredo remains in custody, while the others, including Andrey X, were released 11 hours later.
Loffredo’s last video posted on X reported the damage caused by the Iranian missile strikes on Israel’s military sites on 1 October.
Social media users believe this is the reason for his detention as no local news organisations have covered the damage from the attack.
Netanyahu says it will be Lebanese civilians’ fault if Israel destroys Lebanon
Various agencies report:
Once again, Israel is setting the stage for massive civilian casualties – this time in Lebanon – and placing the blame for it squarely on the civilians’ shoulders. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video statement Tuesday, calling on the people of Lebanon to “free [their] country from Hezbollah,” threatening them with “destruction and suffering” if they refused to do so.
“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Netanyahu said, as his country’s air force continued to launch non-stop raids across Lebanon.
Israeli officials have been saying they’re going to destroy Lebanon like they destroyed Gaza for months.
Back in December Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant said, “Every person in Lebanon can take the map, the aerial photograph of Gaza, place it on an aerial photograph of Beirut, and ask themselves if this is what they want to happen there.”
Now Netanyahu himself is saying this.
Notably, Netanyahu’s statement was delivered in English, with English subtitles. This wasn’t actually a plea made to the people of Lebanon, it was propaganda made for western consumption.
Netanyahu does not actually believe the Lebanese people are going to take up arms against Hezbollah to stop their country from being destroyed, he’s just creating a narrative to justify what he already plans on doing to Lebanon.
And the US is encouraging Israel to move forward. On Tuesday State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told the press that the Biden administration no longer supports a ceasefire with Hezbollah, saying “We support Israel’s efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s capability” instead.
Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats toward Lebanon, the US on Wednesday warned that the situation there must not turn into something resembling the situation the Gaza Strip, where more than 42,000 people have been killed in the last year.
“We cannot and must not see the situation in Lebanon turn into anything like the situation in Gaza. That would, of course, not be acceptable,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Ben Gvir oversees violent raid against Palestinians inside Ofer Prison
Palestine Chronicle reports:
A pre-dawn raid on Ofer prison on Monday saw police officers using stun grenades and dogs. In the footage shared by Ben-Gvir on X, detainees are seen handcuffed, and being violently moved around inside the prison, and several are seen laying face down on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.
“With zero tolerance and a heavy hand – this is how the prison fighters work with the animals of prey from the Nohba terrorists. I back them up!” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said alongside the footage.
He claimed detainees whom he called “human scum” were “planning to riot inside the prison to mark the anniversary” of the October 7 resistance operation.
Historic Int’l Criminal Court War Crimes Complaint Names 1,000 Israeli Soldiers
Common Dreams reports:
A Belgium-based advocacy group on Tuesday announced it “filed an unprecedented and historic complaint with the International Criminal Court against 1,000 Israeli occupation forces soldiers for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza,” where more than 150,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded and millions more displaced, starved, and sickened by Israel’s yearlong onslaught.
The Hind Rajab Foundation—named after the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in January along with half a dozen relatives and rescue workers by Israeli troops invading Gaza in retaliation for the October 2023 Hamas-led attack—said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel identified by name in the International Criminal Court (ICC) complaint “are accused of participating in systematic attacks against civilians during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
“This complaint, supported by over 8,000 pieces of verifiable evidence—including videos, audio recordings, forensic reports, and social media documentation—demonstrates the soldiers’ direct involvement in these atrocities,” the group explained.
“All of the named soldiers were located in Gaza during the genocidal assault, and the evidence reveals their participation in violations of international law.”
“This complaint is not only the largest ever submitted to the ICC, but it is also a milestone in documenting Israeli war crimes for future generations,” the Hind Rajab Foundation said.
“By meticulously identifying the perpetrators and detailing their crimes, we are establishing a historical record that will ensure the individuals responsible are remembered and held accountable.”
(Read more about the case here.)
Bodies of Palestinians are brought to al-Awda Hospital after an Israeli attack on northern Gaza City.
Bodies of Palestinians are brought to al-Awda Hospital after an Israeli attack on northern Gaza City. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu)
West Bank: Israeli Soldiers Kill Five Palestinians
IMEMC reports:
On Wednesday, Israeli special forces assassinated four Palestinian young men, and injured one, after targeting their vehicle in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the slain men as Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their ambulance crews transported the bodies of the slain men to the Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, in addition to a young man who sustained injuries to the head and chest as a result of shrapnel from live rounds.
Media sources said that an undercover Israeli unit (Musta’ribeen) infiltrated the eastern area of Nablus city, on Wednesday afternoon, and fired many live rounds at a vehicle, executing all four men inside.
Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32.
Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32. (photo)
On Tuesday night, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian man, after surrounding his home, in Aqaba town, north of Tubas in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank, and took his corpse before withdrawing.
Media sources said Israeli undercover forces infiltrated the town and surrounded a house, before additional military vehicles invaded it.
Media sources in the town, said the soldiers fired an Energa shells at the home, killing the Palestinian.
Sources from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their crews received a report of an injury inside the besieged house, but Israeli forces detained the injured young man, abducted him, and withdrew.
The army later confirmed the death of the slain Palestinian, identified Abdul-Rauf Rajeh Hamed Al-Masri, 37, but refused to allow the release of his corpse.
In West Bank, Palestinian olive harvest terrorized by Israeli settlers, blocked by Israeli restrictions
Anadolu Agency reports:
Palestinians are unable to harvest olives in their orchards due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli army since Oct. 7, 2023, and attacks by Israeli settlers.
Palestinian Minister of Agriculture Rezq Basheer-Selimia told the press that the ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli army and attacks by the Israelis are affecting Palestinian farmers, noting that at least 100,000 acres (approximately 404.69 sq km) of olive groves in the West Bank are not available for harvesting.
For example, Palestinians in Madma, a town of 2,500 inhabitants in the northern part of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, are unable to harvest their 5,000 acres (around 20.23 sq km) of olive groves.
Israeli settlers attacked the town of Madma, beat and threatened the Palestinian residents, damaged their homes, and stole agricultural tools.
A town spokesman said, “A group of Israeli settlers attacked residents of the town who were harvesting olives the other day. The settlers opened fire at the farmers and drove them away from the olive groves.”
The Israeli army responds by protecting the attackers and imposing restrictions on Palestinians.
NOTE: According to Bethlehem Bible College, the olive tree in Palestine has essential economic, cultural, social, and national significance, and symbolizes the Palestinian attachment to their land – olive trees resist the tough conditions of drought and poor soil conditions and remain attached to their place.
Many Palestinian families inherited olive trees over many generations. Families gather every year in October to harvest the olive trees. They feel proud, bearing in mind their ancestors who were taking care of these trees before.
Olive fruit compromises the income of 80,000 Palestinian families. Almost half of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (48%) is planted with olive trees. 70% of food production in Palestine is accounted for by olive trees, and economically olive trees contribute to 14% of the Palestinian economy. Most olive harvesting (90%) is used for oil production, while the rest (10%) is used for olive soap and pickling.
A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on September 14, 2024 [Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency]
A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on September 14, 2024 (Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency)
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STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – OCTOBER 9, 2024:
Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – October 9, 2024: at least 42,814* ( 42,065 in Gaza* – 69% are women and children, according to Gaza’s Media Office). [The Ministry’s figures have been contested by the Israeli authorities, although they have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO. These data are supported by independent analyses, comparing changes in the number of deaths of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff with those reported by the Ministry, which found claims of data fabrication implausible.]
This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 749 in the West Bank (~164 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more in Gaza still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 49,032 Palestinian deaths.
Lancet: “Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.
Ralph Nader earlier estimated 300,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.
At least 45 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 25 from West Bank).
At least 41 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition (at least 37 of them children)**.
About 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are currently displaced.
Almost 500,000 Gazans are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Palestinian injuries from October 7 – October 9, 2024: at least 104,086 (including at least 97,886 in Gaza and 6,200 in the West Bank, including 830 children). [It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – October 9, 2024: ~1,457 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 293*** military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 25 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel) and~10,000 injured.
The death toll in Lebanon since October 8, 2023 is at least 2,141 and 10,099 injuries. An estimated 1.2 million have been displaced.
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.
*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.
**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.
***The figure does not include the reportedly 56 Israeli soldiers – nearly 16% of the total Israeli military deaths – killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents.
† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.
Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.
Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
Human rights reports on Israel-Palestine (regularly updated)
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https://israelpalestinenews.org/new-israeli-atrocities-coming-to-light-day-368/New Israeli atrocities coming to light – Day 368
[email protected] October 10, 2024 international criminal court, Jeremy Loffredo, Lebanon, Matthew Brodsky, northern Gaza, Ofer Prison, Palestinian children, palestinian olive harvest, The Killings They Tweeted, west bank deaths
At least 10 Gazans were killed in a horrific Israeli massacre targeting displaced people’s tents in the yard of Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital in the heart of Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza. (Hossam Shabat)
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff
At least 45 Palestinians were killed and 130 were injured in three massacres of families in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry in Gaza said on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, at least 10 Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces bombed the tents of displaced people in Jabaliya.
Gaza has become a sea of rubble and a graveyard for tens of thousands of people
Gaza has become a sea of rubble and a graveyard for tens of thousands of people (Image: Getty)
The reality in northern Gaza: witnesses report a bloodbath
From Mondoweiss:
The following are some eyewitness reports from residents of Jabaliya, where the Israeli army surrounded the area and launched a surprise invasion on Sunday morning, coinciding with the first anniversary of October 7. Roughly 200,000 Palestinians are under siege; the hospitals in the vicinity are under evacuation orders.
Most residents could not [or would not] evacuate and were locked in their homes with very little available for them to survive.
One family that evacuated carrying a white flag found themselves under fire from quadcopter attack drones. The father and one son were killed; the rest of the family took shelter. What they saw was “like a horror movie.”
The road was filled with dead bodies, and “dismembered bodies strewn across the streets.”
“My cousin came the second night and joined us in the shelter,” Raneem explains. “They said that people lay dead at their homes’ front doors and in the street,” killed as they tried to follow evacuation orders.
The Civil Defense in Gaza has reported several massacres perpetrated by the Israeli army during the ongoing invasion of Jabalia, although rescue workers have been unable to tally an exact number of casualties due to difficulties accessing the area.
(Read the full report here.)
Local journalist Hossam Shabat, living and working in northern Gaza, confirmed the above descriptions:
Israeli occupation forces have asked all residents of northern Gaza (300k+) to evacuate as a means of ethnically cleansing North Gaza .
However, they then besieged Jabalia refugee camp, and when people tried to leave, they were shot at by snipers.
Many residents are on the streets, bleeding, as Israeli forces have destroyed ambulances and are targeting anyone who tries to help.
The situation in the north is horrific and very dangerous; there are currently hundreds of thousands trapped, and the shelling is nonstop.
RECOMMENDED READING: Ex-US diplomat calls ‘red lines’ meaningless as Israel orders 400,000 to leave Gaza’s north
US: former White House advisor urges Israel to ‘carpet bomb’ Irish peacekeepers in Lebanon
Middle East Monitor reports:
Former White House advisor Matthew Brodsky has urged Israel to drop napalm on Irish peacekeepers in South Lebanon, sparking outrage and concern over the ideological stance of individuals advising the US administration on Israel and Palestine.
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon) has some 10,000 peacekeepers in south Lebanon, including members of the Irish Defense Forces. All UNIFIL personnel are distinguishable by their blue helmets and white vehicles.
Brodsky, a Senior Fellow at the Gold Institute for International Strategy and former Director of Policy at the Jewish Policy Centre, posted a shocking tweet on X stating: “Israel should carpet bomb the Irish area and then drop napalm over it.”
The tweet, which has since been deleted, included a map showing the deployment of Ireland’s peacekeeping force in Southern Lebanon.
The comment has been condemned widely, with many questioning the appropriateness of having individuals with such extreme views in advisory roles within the US government.
Brodsky’s comments come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and have raised concerns about the influence of hard-line Zionist ideologues on US foreign policy.
Critics have accused Brodsky, who has lived and studied in Israel, of promoting Jewish supremacism. This incident has reignited debates about the prevalence of extremist ideologies within US political circles and their potential impact on diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
(Read more here.)
NOTE: According to his website, Matthew Brodsky has worked for over two decades in U.S. foreign policy and national security. He has briefed members of Congress, Department of State, Department of Defense, and the National Security Council on Iran, Syria, and Palestinian-Israeli issues.
New York Times: American doctors who volunteered in Gaza report massive number of children shot in the head
Some eyewitness accounts from the New York Times:
At least 44 doctors, nurses and paramedics saw multiple cases of preteen children who had been shot in the head or chest in Gaza.
Dr. Mohamad Rassoul Abu-Nuwar, General, bariatric and foregut surgeon, 36 years old, Pittsburgh, Pa.
“One night in the emergency department, over the course of four hours, I saw six children between the ages of 5 and 12, all with single gunshot wounds to the skull.”
Rania Afaneh, Paramedic, 23 years old, Savannah, Ga.
“I saw a child who had been shot in the jaw. No other part of his body was affected. He was fully awake and aware of what was going on. He stared at me while he choked on his own blood as I tried to suction the blood out with a broken suction unit.”
Dr. Khawaja Ikram, Orthopedic surgeon, 53 years old, Dallas, Texas
“One day, while in the E.R., I saw a 3-year-old and 5-year-old, each with a single bullet hole to their head. When asked what happened, their father and brother said they had been told that Israel was backing out of Khan Younis. So they returned to see if anything was left of their house. There was, they said, a sniper waiting who shot both children.”
Dr. Ahlia Kattan, Anesthesiologist and critical care doctor, 37 years old, Costa Mesa, Calif.
“I saw an 18-month-old little girl with a gunshot wound to the head.”
Dr. Nidal Farah, Anesthesiologist, 42 years old, Toledo, Ohio
“I saw many children. In my experience the gunshot wound was often to the head. Many had non-curable, permanent brain damage. It was almost a daily occurrence to have children arrive at the hospital with gunshot wounds to the head.”
Times Opinion sent questions about the experiences of these American health care workers to the Israel Defense Forces. A spokesperson for the I.D.F. responded with a statement that did not directly answer whether or not the military had investigated reports of shootings of preteen children, or if any disciplinary action had been taken against soldiers for firing at children.
The statement began, “The I.D.F. is committed to mitigating civilian harm during operational activity. In that spirit, the I.D.F. makes great efforts to estimate and consider potential civilian collateral damage in its strikes. The I.D.F. is fully committed to respecting all applicable international legal obligations, including the Law of Armed Conflict.”
NOTE: Israeli sources, including the government itself, have a long track record of lying (for example, this and this and this.)
Israel’s self-investigations consistently whitewash its crimes and fail to appropriately punish the perpetrators.
These photographs of X-rays were provided by Dr. Mimi Syed, who worked in Khan Younis from Aug. 8 to Sept. 5. She said: “I had multiple pediatric patients, mostly under the age of 12, who were shot in the head or the left side of the chest. Usually, these were single shots. The patients came in either dead or critical, and died shortly after arriving.”
These photographs of X-rays were provided by Dr. Mimi Syed, who worked in Khan Younis from Aug. 8 to Sept. 5. She said: “I had multiple pediatric patients, mostly under the age of 12, who were shot in the head or the left side of the chest. Usually, these were single shots. The patients came in either dead or critical, and died shortly after arriving.” (Dr. Mimi Syed)
Israel detains US journalist reporting on damage to its military bases
Middle East Monitor reports:
Israel has detained American Grayzone journalist Jeremy Loffredo while he was on assignment in Israel.
According to social media posts, Loffredo was detained on Tuesday along with four other journalists who were “beaten, blindfolded, and taken to an Israeli military base.” They also had their phones confiscated.
Loffredo remains in custody, while the others, including Andrey X, were released 11 hours later.
Loffredo’s last video posted on X reported the damage caused by the Iranian missile strikes on Israel’s military sites on 1 October.
Social media users believe this is the reason for his detention as no local news organisations have covered the damage from the attack.
Netanyahu says it will be Lebanese civilians’ fault if Israel destroys Lebanon
Various agencies report:
Once again, Israel is setting the stage for massive civilian casualties – this time in Lebanon – and placing the blame for it squarely on the civilians’ shoulders. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu released a video statement Tuesday, calling on the people of Lebanon to “free [their] country from Hezbollah,” threatening them with “destruction and suffering” if they refused to do so.
“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be that way,” Netanyahu said, as his country’s air force continued to launch non-stop raids across Lebanon.
Israeli officials have been saying they’re going to destroy Lebanon like they destroyed Gaza for months.
Back in December Israel’s defense minister Yoav Gallant said, “Every person in Lebanon can take the map, the aerial photograph of Gaza, place it on an aerial photograph of Beirut, and ask themselves if this is what they want to happen there.”
Now Netanyahu himself is saying this.
Notably, Netanyahu’s statement was delivered in English, with English subtitles. This wasn’t actually a plea made to the people of Lebanon, it was propaganda made for western consumption.
Netanyahu does not actually believe the Lebanese people are going to take up arms against Hezbollah to stop their country from being destroyed, he’s just creating a narrative to justify what he already plans on doing to Lebanon.
And the US is encouraging Israel to move forward. On Tuesday State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller told the press that the Biden administration no longer supports a ceasefire with Hezbollah, saying “We support Israel’s efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s capability” instead.
Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threats toward Lebanon, the US on Wednesday warned that the situation there must not turn into something resembling the situation the Gaza Strip, where more than 42,000 people have been killed in the last year.
“We cannot and must not see the situation in Lebanon turn into anything like the situation in Gaza. That would, of course, not be acceptable,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Ben Gvir oversees violent raid against Palestinians inside Ofer Prison
Palestine Chronicle reports:
A pre-dawn raid on Ofer prison on Monday saw police officers using stun grenades and dogs. In the footage shared by Ben-Gvir on X, detainees are seen handcuffed, and being violently moved around inside the prison, and several are seen laying face down on the ground with their hands tied behind their backs.
“With zero tolerance and a heavy hand – this is how the prison fighters work with the animals of prey from the Nohba terrorists. I back them up!” Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said alongside the footage.
He claimed detainees whom he called “human scum” were “planning to riot inside the prison to mark the anniversary” of the October 7 resistance operation.
Historic Int’l Criminal Court War Crimes Complaint Names 1,000 Israeli Soldiers
Common Dreams reports:
A Belgium-based advocacy group on Tuesday announced it “filed an unprecedented and historic complaint with the International Criminal Court against 1,000 Israeli occupation forces soldiers for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza,” where more than 150,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded and millions more displaced, starved, and sickened by Israel’s yearlong onslaught.
The Hind Rajab Foundation—named after the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in January along with half a dozen relatives and rescue workers by Israeli troops invading Gaza in retaliation for the October 2023 Hamas-led attack—said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) personnel identified by name in the International Criminal Court (ICC) complaint “are accused of participating in systematic attacks against civilians during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
“This complaint, supported by over 8,000 pieces of verifiable evidence—including videos, audio recordings, forensic reports, and social media documentation—demonstrates the soldiers’ direct involvement in these atrocities,” the group explained.
“All of the named soldiers were located in Gaza during the genocidal assault, and the evidence reveals their participation in violations of international law.”
“This complaint is not only the largest ever submitted to the ICC, but it is also a milestone in documenting Israeli war crimes for future generations,” the Hind Rajab Foundation said.
“By meticulously identifying the perpetrators and detailing their crimes, we are establishing a historical record that will ensure the individuals responsible are remembered and held accountable.”
(Read more about the case here.)
Bodies of Palestinians are brought to al-Awda Hospital after an Israeli attack on northern Gaza City.
Bodies of Palestinians are brought to al-Awda Hospital after an Israeli attack on northern Gaza City. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu)
West Bank: Israeli Soldiers Kill Five Palestinians
IMEMC reports:
On Wednesday, Israeli special forces assassinated four Palestinian young men, and injured one, after targeting their vehicle in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the slain men as Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their ambulance crews transported the bodies of the slain men to the Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, in addition to a young man who sustained injuries to the head and chest as a result of shrapnel from live rounds.
Media sources said that an undercover Israeli unit (Musta’ribeen) infiltrated the eastern area of Nablus city, on Wednesday afternoon, and fired many live rounds at a vehicle, executing all four men inside.
Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32.
Issam Mohammad Suleiman Salaj, 30, Abdul Halim Mohammad Nasser, 43, Salim Izz al-Din Mahmoud Abu Saada, 40, and Naim Mohammad Raji Abdul Hadi, 32. (photo)
On Tuesday night, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian man, after surrounding his home, in Aqaba town, north of Tubas in the northeastern part of the occupied West Bank, and took his corpse before withdrawing.
Media sources said Israeli undercover forces infiltrated the town and surrounded a house, before additional military vehicles invaded it.
Media sources in the town, said the soldiers fired an Energa shells at the home, killing the Palestinian.
Sources from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said their crews received a report of an injury inside the besieged house, but Israeli forces detained the injured young man, abducted him, and withdrew.
The army later confirmed the death of the slain Palestinian, identified Abdul-Rauf Rajeh Hamed Al-Masri, 37, but refused to allow the release of his corpse.
In West Bank, Palestinian olive harvest terrorized by Israeli settlers, blocked by Israeli restrictions
Anadolu Agency reports:
Palestinians are unable to harvest olives in their orchards due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli army since Oct. 7, 2023, and attacks by Israeli settlers.
Palestinian Minister of Agriculture Rezq Basheer-Selimia told the press that the ongoing restrictions imposed by the Israeli army and attacks by the Israelis are affecting Palestinian farmers, noting that at least 100,000 acres (approximately 404.69 sq km) of olive groves in the West Bank are not available for harvesting.
For example, Palestinians in Madma, a town of 2,500 inhabitants in the northern part of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, are unable to harvest their 5,000 acres (around 20.23 sq km) of olive groves.
Israeli settlers attacked the town of Madma, beat and threatened the Palestinian residents, damaged their homes, and stole agricultural tools.
A town spokesman said, “A group of Israeli settlers attacked residents of the town who were harvesting olives the other day. The settlers opened fire at the farmers and drove them away from the olive groves.”
The Israeli army responds by protecting the attackers and imposing restrictions on Palestinians.
NOTE: According to Bethlehem Bible College, the olive tree in Palestine has essential economic, cultural, social, and national significance, and symbolizes the Palestinian attachment to their land – olive trees resist the tough conditions of drought and poor soil conditions and remain attached to their place.
Many Palestinian families inherited olive trees over many generations. Families gather every year in October to harvest the olive trees. They feel proud, bearing in mind their ancestors who were taking care of these trees before.
Olive fruit compromises the income of 80,000 Palestinian families. Almost half of the West Bank and Gaza Strip (48%) is planted with olive trees. 70% of food production in Palestine is accounted for by olive trees, and economically olive trees contribute to 14% of the Palestinian economy. Most olive harvesting (90%) is used for oil production, while the rest (10%) is used for olive soap and pickling.
A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on September 14, 2024 [Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency]
A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on September 14, 2024 (Mamoun Wazwaz/Anadolu Agency)
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STATISTICS OCTOBER 7, 2023 – OCTOBER 9, 2024:
Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – October 9, 2024: at least 42,814* ( 42,065 in Gaza* – 69% are women and children, according to Gaza’s Media Office). [The Ministry’s figures have been contested by the Israeli authorities, although they have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO. These data are supported by independent analyses, comparing changes in the number of deaths of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff with those reported by the Ministry, which found claims of data fabrication implausible.]
This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 749 in the West Bank (~164 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more in Gaza still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 49,032 Palestinian deaths.
Lancet: “Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.
Ralph Nader earlier estimated 300,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.
At least 45 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 25 from West Bank).
At least 41 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition (at least 37 of them children)**.
About 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are currently displaced.
Almost 500,000 Gazans are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Palestinian injuries from October 7 – October 9, 2024: at least 104,086 (including at least 97,886 in Gaza and 6,200 in the West Bank, including 830 children). [It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]
Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – October 9, 2024: ~1,457 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 293*** military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 25 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel) and~10,000 injured.
The death toll in Lebanon since October 8, 2023 is at least 2,141 and 10,099 injuries. An estimated 1.2 million have been displaced.
NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.
*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.
**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.
***The figure does not include the reportedly 56 Israeli soldiers – nearly 16% of the total Israeli military deaths – killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents.
† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.
Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.
Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
Human rights reports on Israel-Palestine (regularly updated)
How Israel killed hundreds of its own people on October 7
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How Does Israel Justify Mass Killings? It Starts in the Schools.
From the Americas to Gaza: Spreading disease has long been used by colonizers to commit genocide
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Israeli society’s dehumanization of Palestinians is now absolute
The unpublished genocide diaries of Refaat Alareer
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‘Words like Slaughter:’ A comparative study of The New York Times reporting in Ukraine and Gaza
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Israel Suddenly Has A Problem With Attacks On Population Centers
Americans are always the last to know…about Israel’s crimes
https://israelpalestinenews.org/new-israeli-atrocities-coming-to-light-day-368/
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