Day 205: 34,454 Martyred, 77,575 Injured in Gaza

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced in its daily report today that the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza due to the Israeli genocidal war ongoing since October 7 has now reached 34,454 and those injured 77,575.

Additionally, it confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces committed seven massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 66 and injuring 138 in 24 hours only.

The Ministry stressed that thousands of victims are still under the rubble on the streets, as the occupation forces continue to deliberately prevent ambulances and civil defense crews from reaching them. 

Earlier, our correspondent reported that 10 Palestinians were killed due to Israeli shelling on multiple residences to the east of Rafah city.

Israeli artillery strikes also targeted the eastern districts of Rafah and Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In another development, an Israeli airstrike bombarded land in Abu Hujair, located north of the al-Bureij refugee camp.

Internal US memo suggests ‘Israel’ violating int’l law

Some top US officials warned on Saturday Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find “credible or reliable Israel’s assurances” that it is deploying US-supplied weaponry in compliance with international humanitarian law, Reuters reported.

Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 on whether he believes “Israel’s” assurances that its use of US weaponry does not violate US or international law.

By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had submitted contributions to an early “options memo” to Blinken. Parts of the document that had not been previously publicized were classified.

According to Reuters, a combined statement from four bureaus – Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; Population, Refugees, and Migration; Global Criminal Justice, and International Organization Affairs – expressed “serious concern over “Israel’s” violations of international humanitarian law in the war on Gaza.

Also cited were 11 occurrences of the Israeli occupation forces “arbitrarily restricting humanitarian aid”, like denying whole trucks and “Artificial” inspection limitations in addition to targeting humanitarian sites.

All four agencies concluded that “Israel’s” promises were “neither credible nor reliable”, citing eight examples of activities the diplomats say raise “serious questions” concerning violations of international law. Included were repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure and protected areas; “unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage”; barely investigating violations or holding those responsible for significant civilian harm accountable; and “killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate.”