GAZA: Israeli air strikes continued to pummel Gaza as new year dawned and battles raged across besieged enclave’s towns and refugee camps, reduced to rubble after weeks of brutal bombardment, in war Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would take “Many more months” to end.

Netanyahu’s comments signal no let-up in campaign that has killed many thousands and levelled much of Gaza, while his vow to restore Israeli control over enclave’s border with Egypt raises new questions over an eventual two-state solution.

Air strikes pounded al-Maghazi and al-Bureij in centre of Gaza, killing 10 people in one house and driving more to flee to Rafah on border with Egypt from front lines where Israeli tanks are battling Hamas fighters. Rockets fired from Gaza raced toward central Israel overnight, triggering sirens throughout central and southern parts of country.

Palestinian Health Ministry casualty figures said that 70 percent of Gaza’s dead are women and people under 18. Israel blockaded most food, fuel and medicine after October 7.

Gemma Connell, an official with UN humanitarian agency OCHA, said that many of tens of thousands of people fleeing to Rafah had no possessions and nowhere to sleep.

United States, Israel’s main ally has urged it to scale down war and European states have signalled alarm at extent of Palestinian civilian suffering.

Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh in Israeli-occupied West Bank said via social media that Israel taking over border was evidence of decision “To completely return occupation.”

Hamas and Islamic Jihad-both sworn to end Israel’s settler colonialism have said that they continue to target Israeli forces operating in enclave.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 02 2024

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