Palestinian official says Israel has carried out 23 massacres against civilians in Gaza

Salameh Marouf, head of the media office of the Hamas-affiliated government in the Gaza Strip, stated that Israel is committing war crimes against the 2.23 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Noting that Israel has carried out 23 massacres in Gaza by targeting families who were safe in their homes without prior warning or notification, Marouf stated that more than 160 civilians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives in these massacres.

'COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT'

Emphasizing that Israel is collectively punishing 2.23 million people by blocking the supply of water, electricity, fuel, and food to the blockaded Gaza Strip, Marouf recalled that the number of deaths in Gaza has exceeded 1,000 so far, and that more than 5,000 people have been injured, most of them women and children.

While stating that the number of displaced people in Gaza has exceeded 250,000 so far, Marouf expressed that search and rescue efforts for those under the rubble of destroyed buildings are insufficient due to the increasing intensity of Israeli attacks and extremely limited resources.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND UNRWA SCHOOLS DESTROYED IN ISRAELI ATTACKS

Emphasizing that the loss of life is increasing because search and rescue operations cannot be carried out, Marouf said, "Israel has bombed 27 government buildings as well as dozens of public and service facilities in the Gaza Strip so far. For this reason, there is serious destruction in infrastructure such as electricity, water networks, and sewage systems."

Stating that some neighborhoods consisting of thousands of homes in Gaza have been completely leveled in Israel's destructive bombardment, Marouf said, "In addition, there was destruction in 48 schools belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). 10 educators were killed there, and approximately 300 children were injured."

Noting that 29 out of 52 primary healthcare centers in the Gaza Strip are out of service due to Israeli attacks, Marouf emphasized that the lives of thousands of chronic patients are also in danger due to these centers being out of service.

HISTORIC MOSQUES AND CHURCHES HIT

Stating that some hospitals and health centers, especially Beit Hanoun Hospital, are also out of service, Marouf said, "Israel destroyed 10 mosques and damaged dozens of mosques and shrines. Among these are 7 historic mosques and churches."

Pointing out that foreign journalists are prevented from entering the Gaza Strip, Marouf noted that 8 journalists have lost their lives and 20 have been injured in Israeli attacks, and that dozens of centers belonging to media organizations have been destroyed.

The Palestinian official said, "As a result of Israel hitting 13 ambulances, 6 health workers were killed and 18 were injured."

ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

The armed wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on the morning of October 7, dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood."

While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza toward Israel, Palestinian armed groups raided and seized the Beit Hanoun-Erez Border Crossing on the Gaza-Israel border. The armed groups later entered settlements inside Israel from there, and the Israeli army launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets.

It was reported that 1,200 Israelis lost their lives in the attacks from Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that 1,055 people lost their lives and 5,184 people were injured in Gaza in Israeli attacks. In the occupied West Bank, it was reported that 21 people lost their lives and approximately 130 people were injured in attacks by Israeli soldiers.