Netanyahu Continues His Reign of Terror Targeting Residential Buildings and Journalists' Offices

Destruction of the Al-Jalaa building, which housed the AP

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City flattened three buildings and killed at least 42 people Sunday (including 10 children), Palestinian medics said, in the deadliest single attack in the latest round of violence. Despite the toll and international efforts to broker a cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled the fourth war with Gaza’s Hamas rulers would rage on.

The hostilities have repeatedly escalated over the past week, marking the worst fighting in the territory that is home to 2 million Palestinians since Israel and Hamas’ devastating 2014 war.  “I have not seen this level of destruction through my 14 years of work,” said Samir al-Khatib an emergency rescue official in Gaza. “Not even in the 2014 war.”

Among those reported killed was Dr. Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, the head of the internal medicine department at Shifa Hospital and a senior member of the hospital’s coronavirus management committee. Two of Abu Al-Ouf’s teenage children and two other family members were also buried under the rubble of their home.  The death of the 51-year-old physician “was a huge loss at a very sensitive time,” said Mohammed Abu Selmia, the director of Shifa.

Gaza’s health care system, already gutted by an Israeli-led lockade imposed after Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, had been struggling with a surge in coronavirus infections even before the latest conflict.

  Rubble of the Yazegi residential building

Israel also began targeting international media.  Yesterday, Israel gave occupants of an 11-story high rise residential building one hour to evacuate before an airstrike leveled the building, which contained the office of the Associated Press and other apartments.  The Israeli government said the building contained Hamas military intelligence assets.  The Associated Press called on the Israeli government to put forward the evidence, but none has been provided. The AP said in a statement that its bureau has been in the building for 15 years, and never had any indication Hamas was present or active in the building. 

This latest round of violence was triggered last Monday when Israeli police stormed the Al-Asqa mosque, firing rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas.  The mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam and sits on a sprawling plateau that is also home to the iconic golden Dome of the Rock. Muslims refer to the compound as the Noble Sanctuary. The walled plateau is also the holiest site for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount, because it was the location of biblical temples.  Neighboring Jordan serves as the custodian of the site, which is open to tourists during certain times but only Muslims are allowed to pray there. The Western Wall is the holiest site where Jews can pray.

In recent years, groups of nationalist Jews escorted by Israeli police have been visiting the compound in greater numbers and holding prayers in defiance of rules established after 1967 by Israel, Jordan and Muslim religious authorities. The Palestinians view the frequent visits and attempted prayers by Jews as a provocation. Some Israelis say the site should be open to all worshippers. The Palestinians refuse, fearing that Israel will eventually take over the site or partition it, as Israel has similarly done with its illegal settlements in the West Bank and with its policies in East Jersusalem. 

Israel has built (illegal) Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and severely limited the growth of Palestinian neighborhoods, leading to overcrowding and the unauthorized construction of thousands of homes that are at risk of demolition.  The Israeli rights group B'Tselem and Human Rights Watch cited the discriminatory policies in east Jerusalem in recent reports arguing that Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid. Israel rejects those allegations, saying Jerusalem residents are treated equally.