The situation in Gaza remains dire, marked by extensive fatalities and mass displacement amid an ongoing Israeli incursion. Over the past days, this military operation has resulted in numerous casualties, while hospitals are struggling with severe fuel shortages that threaten their operations. Meanwhile, Israel has locked down the West Bank by closing its sole border crossing with Jordan indefinitely, while Spain has enacted a comprehensive ban on weapons supplies to Israel.
Israeli forces intensified their advances into densely populated areas of Gaza City yesterday, continuing their assault just a day after a significant gathering of world leaders at the United Nations to acknowledge Palestinian statehood. According to Gaza health authorities, Israeli fire claimed the lives of at least 22 individuals across the territory on Tuesday, with 18 fatalities occurring in Gaza City alone. The health ministry indicated that hospitals in the region are at risk of running out of fuel within days, jeopardizing countless lives. Israeli troops detonated vehicle bombs laden with explosives in the neighborhoods of Sabra and Tal al-Hawa, while tank movements have significantly advanced toward the western part of Gaza City, with residents reporting extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.
Furthermore, a health ministry official in Gaza announced that three hospitals in the city have ceased operating due to the ongoing Israeli invasion. Munir al-Barsh, the General Director of the Gaza Health Ministry, revealed that the Al-Awqaf, Hamad, and Rantisi hospitals, located in the northwest area, are no longer functional as the hostilities escalate. Al-Barsh warned of a critical fuel shortage that could lead to a complete shutdown of health facilities within two days, indicating that continued restrictions on fuel imports may precipitate a humanitarian disaster.
Additionally, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) affirmed its status as the leading provider of primary health care in Gaza. In a social media post, UNRWA mentioned that their aid is being obstructed from entering Gaza by Israeli authorities, yet 11,000 staff members continue to offer essential services.
The agency also indicated, “We are supplying displaced persons with water and shelter,” and called for the blockade to be lifted to facilitate the delivery of necessary resources. In a related development, a UN investigative committee stated yesterday that the Israeli government demonstrates a clear intention to establish permanent control over Gaza and ensure a Jewish majority in the West Bank. The UN report highlights large-scale and systematic demolitions executed by Israeli authorities targeting Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and the buffer zone, resulting in Israel expanding its jurisdiction to encompass 75% of Gaza by July of this year.
Moreover, the Palestinian Authority’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders announced yesterday that Israel has closed the Allenby Bridge connecting the West Bank and Jordan in both directions until further notice. The Jordanian Public Security Directorate confirmed the closure, stating, “The King Hussein Bridge will be closed to the movement of passengers and cargo from the Israeli side starting Wednesday until further notice.”
Arms Ban
In the meantime, the Spanish government approved a comprehensive ban on arms exports to Israel as part of a series of measures aimed at halting what Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez referred to as genocide in Gaza. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerbo announced in a press conference following a government meeting that the decision prohibits the export of all defense equipment and related products and technologies to Israel, along with imports.
Cuerbo further noted that the legislation also prohibits requests for the transfer of aircraft fuel that could potentially be used for military purposes, bans the import of products from illegal settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, and prevents their promotion. The minister emphasized that this decision marks a significant advancement and positions Spain as a leader on the international stage in enforcing a total arms supply ban to Israel.