On Tuesday 17 October, an explosion at a hospital in central Gaza killed several Palestinians, provoking an international outcry. Since then, Israelis and Palestinians have been blaming each other for the strike. Although an independent investigation into the circumstances of the explosion is impossible for the time being, the possibility of a failed rocket attack by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is being investigated.
On Wednesday 18 October, while the UN Security Council was holding an emergency meeting, numerous demonstrations of anger and support for the Palestinian cause took place in several cities across the Arab world (Amman, Beirut, Teheran, Tunis, etc.). US President Joe Biden’s risky visit to the region was cut short as a result.
This tragedy comes 10 days after Hamas’s appalling attack on Israel and repeated bombardments by the Israeli army, which is preparing for a ground intervention. The Netanyahu government has vowed to crush Hamas at any cost. The already fragile humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza is becoming dramatic. The Israeli blockade is causing unbearable shortages and forcing foreign forces to set up air bridges. In just 10 days, several thousand people have already been killed in the conflict.
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