GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP – The Israeli military has been accused of committing serious human rights violations against civilians in Gaza, as reported by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, a Geneva-based human rights group. Allegations include field executions, torture, and threats of rape against Palestinians by Israeli ground forces in Gaza. Those arrested reported instances of being stripped naked and attacked with machine guns, electric cables, and cold water.
According to testimonies collected by the Euro-Med Monitor, the Israeli forces stormed homes and subjected families, including a 16-year-old boy and a pregnant woman, to violence and threats. The majority of those killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks are women and children, with more than 18,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed since October 7.
In response to Israel’s ground offensive, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, claims to have destroyed or damaged 180 Israeli military vehicles. This includes a failed attempt to rescue an Israeli captive, resulting in the man’s death, and the serious injury of two soldiers.
As the situation continues to deteriorate, concerns have been raised by the UN secretary-general and other humanitarian organizations regarding the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, the inability to receive incoming aid, and the widespread displacement of the population. The Israeli military’s use of humanitarian aid as a weapon in Gaza has been condemned, as reports emerge of civilians dying from malnourishment and a lack of essential supplies.
The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis have prompted calls for an immediate ceasefire and urgent international intervention to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza.