09 October 2023 , 20:59
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Amid the bombings and the bloodshed, innocent victims of the war raging across Gaza and Israel continue to suffer unimaginable horrors.
As the UN begged both sides to stop targeting civilians, fears were growing for thousands of people, including women and children, caught up in the bitter conflict. Pictures emerged of bloodied Palestinian tots being pulled from the rubble of buildings in Gaza, while Israelis told of their hell as relatives were snatched in the Hamas massacre on Saturday.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday night: “I recognise the legitimate grievances of the Palestinians. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I recognise Israel’s legitimate security concerns, but also remind Israel civilians must be respected and protected at all timed.”
The UN has begged both sides to stop targeting civilians (AFP via Getty Images)But any hopes of peace look a long way off as Israel continued pounding Palestine and Hamas kept up the shelling of its neighbour, as the death toll grows. Right-wing Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu warned attacks on enemy targets have “only started” and the terror group continued shelling its neighbour.
Mr Netanyahu added: “What we will do to our enemies in the next few days will echo for generations.”
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Tel Aviv continued to pound Palestine and cut off food, water and electricity supplies to the 2.1 million people who live in impoverished Gaza, as it claimed the Hamas attack left 900 Israelis dead. Among those missing, feared dead, are 10 Brits.
Many have been wounded (AFP via Getty Images)But Mr Guterres said he was “deeply distressed” by Israel’s complete siege of Gaza. He added: “The humanitarian situation was extremely dire before these hostilities, now it will only deteriorate exponentially.”
Hamas claimed four out of more than 130 hostages it took in Saturday’s raid had died as a result of Israeli strikes. And the group warned others would be murdered if there are any further air raids.
The Health Ministry in Gaza Strip said more than 680 people Palestinians been killed in Israel’s retaliatory strikes and at least 3,700 wounded. The UN added more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza.
A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike (AFP via Getty Images)Well-stocked Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon are said to have infiltrated the north of Israel and are poised to attack as Hamas continued attacks on the country. It would leave Netanyahu with battles on two or possibly three fronts within days. Palestinian rocket barrages on Israel continued as sirens blared throughout Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Israelis are being warned to prepare for three days of escalation in the war by stocking up food, water and batteries for power cuts. Military chiefs called up 300,000 reservists in preparation for a possible ground assault into Gaza – a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. The US deployed aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford to support Israel. It can fire guided missiles and carrying special forces troops.
Shani Louk was among the dead at a festival massacre (Instagram)Harrowing tales from Israelis caught up in the Hamas raid also emerged. Yoni Asher, 37, said his wife Doron Asher Katz, 34, and their daughters, aged two and four were snatched. She was on the phone speaking to him when she yelled: “There are terrorists inside the house.” Doron has not heard from her since.
Pictures of the aftermath of the massacre of 260 festival goers near Kibbutz Re’im in Israel also emerged, showing blood-stained cars and belongings of fleeing revellers trampled into the dirt. Among those killed was German tattoo artist Shani Louk, 30, whose semi-naked body was paraded in the back of a Hamas pick-up truck.
Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip (AP)Images of hostages taken away by Hamas fighters were also shown, along with pictures of the dead and injured on both sides and Gaza buildings being blown up. Divorced mum-of-two Mayyan Zin said she learned her two daughters aged eight and 15 had been snatched when a relative sent her photos showing them on mattresses in captivity. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in the massacre.
Labour’s Tom Watson laid the blame at the feet of Iran. He said: “There are allegations as yet unproven, but from the modus operandi it seems that this is Iranian-backed action. They’ve masterminded this plan.”
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Scotland ’s First Minister Humza Yousaf revealed the parents of his Palestinian wife Nadia El-Nakla are “trapped in Gaza”. He also issued an “unequivocal condemnation” of the Hamas attack.