81. The Face of War
It was inevitable. I had this feeling from the very first day. I was sure that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was just buying time.
He might follow the first phase of Trump’s fragile ceasefire deal because he was under pressure from the families of hostages. But after getting back the hostages and bodies, he will change his tune.
That’s what happened. Two days ago, on Sunday, Israel launched waves of deadly airstrikes and cut off all aid to Gaza until further notice, blaming an attack by Hamas.
The deal had raised hopes of improving the severe humanitarian crisis, and in fact, a surge of aid was one of the key elements of the 20-point deal. The restrictions will mean renewed suffering for many in Gaza.
Palestinian officials have accused Israel of violating the ceasefire 48 times and being responsible for the death of 33 Palestinians since the deal brokered by Trump was signed.
Sam Rose, acting director of theUN agency for Palestinian refugees, said the volume of aid is still way below what is needed. At least 600 trucks are needed every day – at a minimum – to start addressing Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis. Many British NGOs are not currently permitted to bring those supplies in.”
The dispute between Hamas and Israel is over the return of the remains of 28 deceased hostages held by Hamas. However, both Hamas and the Israeli military issued statements saying they were committed to the agreement.
Hamas has handed over the bodies of some of the hostages who died during the course of the war, and Israel has so far transferred the bodies of 150 Palestinians killed after the 7 October 2023 attack.
The inhumane torture
A Palestinian journalist, Shadi Abu Seido, who was working for Palestine Today and was released after 20 months of detention in an Israeli prison, said in an interview with the Turkish public broadcaster TRT that “he remained handcuffed and blindfolded, many died in detention; others lost their minds and some suffered sexual and physical abuse. When I asked why I had been arrested, they answered: ‘We have killed all the journalists. They died once. But we brought you here and you will die hundreds of times.’”
The Prisoners and Detainees Department at Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHR) said: “The signs of torture and abuse found on the bodies of Palestinians recently returned by Israel to Gaza are horrifying – yet, sadly, not surprising. The unprecedented number of Palestinians who have died in Israeli custody, resulting from torture and medical neglect leave no doubt: an independent international investigation is urgently needed to hold those responsible in Israel accountable.”
What more can I add today after reading all these credible statements?