Jeremy Bowen: Israel’s allies see evidence of war crimes in Gaza mounting up

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Reuters

Two years ago, Hamas was putting the finishing touches to its plan to attack Israel. In Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed that the Palestinians were a problem to be managed. The real threat, he insisted, was Iran. Netanyahu’s rhetoric opposing Hamas was undimmed, but he had also given permission for Qatar to funnel money into Gaza. It gave him space for his real priorities in foreign policy – confronting Iran and finding a way to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia. In Washington, then-President Joe Biden and his administration believed they were close to hatching a deal between the Saudis and Israelis. It was all a series of illusions. Netanyahu has refused to establish an enquiry to look into the mistakes he made alongside his army and security chiefs that gave Hamas its opportunity to attack with such deadly effect on 7 October 2023. The century-long conflict between Jews and Arabs for control of the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean was unresolved, festering, and about to explode into a war that looks to be as consequential as its other landmarks, in 1948 and 1967. The Middle East has been transformed since 7 October, and almost two years into the war, the conflict in Gaza is at another inflection point.

This has been a hard war for journalists to report. They were taken by surprise on 7 October when Hamas attacked, and since then Israel has banned international journalists from Gaza to report freely. Palestinian journalists inside the Strip have done valiant work, and nearly 200 have been killed doing their jobs. But key facts are clear. Hamas committed a series of war crimes in the attacks it launched on 7 October, killing 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians. Hamas took 251 hostages, of which perhaps 20 who are still being held inside Gaza are believed to be alive. And there is clear evidence that Israel has committed a series of war crimes since then. Israel’s list includes the starvation of Gaza’s civilians, the failure to protect them during military operations in which Israeli forces killed tens of thousands of innocents, and the wanton destruction of entire towns in a manner that is not proportionate to the military risk Israel faces. Netanyahu and his former defence minister are the subject of arrest warrants for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court. They insist on their innocence. Israel has also condemned a legal process at the International Court of Justice which alleges that it is committing genocide against Palestinians. Israel denies the accusations, and claims they are antisemitic “blood libels”. Israel is running out of friends. Allies who rallied around after the 7 October Hamas attacks have lost patience with Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Even Israel’s most important ally, Donald Trump, is reported to be losing patience with Netanyahu after being taken by surprise when the Israeli leader ordered the bombing of Damascus – attacking Syria’s new regime, which Trump has recognised and encouraged. Other western allies of Israel ran out of patience months ago. Another joint statement, condemning Israel’s actions, was signed on 21 July by foreign ministers from the UK, much of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. They used strong words to describe civilian suffering in Gaza, and the failing and deadly aid distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) that Israel introduced to replace tried and trusted methods used by the UN and leading global relief groups. “The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,” the statement said. “The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. “The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Reuters The Israeli military launched a ground assault on Deir al-Balah on Monday, triggering a fresh wave of displacement

Israeli operation in central Gaza continues amid warnings of a severe hunger crisis

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, People watch smoke rise over Khan Younis after an attack today

Furious outcry over the way Israel distributes aid to people in Gaza has continued today, as we heard more and more stories of Palestinians describing an unprecedented hunger.

The day began with David Lammy telling the BBC he was “sickened” by the scenes in Gaza, a day after the UK joined over two dozen countries calling for an end to the war. As the day progressed, the UN said that Israel had killed more Palestinians seeking food at distribution sites, bringing the total number killed since May to over 1,000.

Israel has disputed those death tolls, and both Israel and the US say the distribution system is necessary to stop Hamas from stealing aid.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that 33 people, including 12 children, had died of starvation and malnutrition in the past two days alone.

Several hospitals in Gaza may have to close in the next 48 hours due to fuel shortages, the ministry warned, as Israel demonstrates its intent on continuing its ground offensive in the central city of Deir al-Balah.

The city is a place where many civilians were sheltering and humanitarian organisations base their operations. Israel’s chief of general staff said troops must be prepared for a “continued wide-scale and comprehensive campaign”.

This is where we will end our live coverage for now, but you can find further reporting below: