[중동전쟁]
A place embracing refugees… “500 people gathered at that time”
WHO: Eight medical facilities attacked 136 times
Lapa checkpoint opening delayed… relief supplies disrupted
On the 19th (local time), the Associated Press reported that the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyry in the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, was attacked by an airstrike. Following the rocket attack on the nearby Al-Ahlia Arab Hospital on the 17th, this church, which was used as a civilian refuge, was also attacked two days later, and civilian casualties are expected to be significant. According to CNN on the 20th, Israel admitted that it was responsible for this attack, unlike the hospital attack. It was revealed that the church also suffered damage during the airstrike on Hamas’ command and control center.
This church has embraced all people who have become refugees since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on the 7th, regardless of religion. At least 500 people were evacuated during the air raid. The number of deaths is currently estimated at 200, but the possibility of further increases cannot be ruled out.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, “We condemn the airstrike on the church,” and criticized the targeting of the church, which was used as a shelter for innocent citizens who lost their homes, as a war crime. On the same day, the Gaza Strip’s Interior Ministry said, “Israel shelled several houses near the Anwar Aziz Mosque in the Jabalia refugee camp. “At least 18 people died and dozens were injured as a result,” he claimed.
Attacks on medical facilities are also increasing, heightening the humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on the 19th that since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on the 7th, there have been at least 136 attacks on medical facilities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. At least 16 medical staff also died.
The hardships of Gaza residents continue. While Israel is coordinating the timing of deploying ground troops to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the bar at the Rafah border checkpoint, which is virtually the only relief route connecting the southern part of the Gaza Strip and Egypt, is also not being easily opened. It was initially reported that the checkpoint would be opened on the 20th, but this was canceled and CNN and others reported that it would be opened on the 21st at the earliest.
In particular, Egypt is maintaining its stance that it will allow relief supplies, but will not allow refugees from Gaza to flow into its country. Accordingly, about 150 truckloads of relief supplies sent from all over the world have been waiting for several days in front of the Egyptian gate of the Rafah checkpoint.
Paris =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.