The Washington Post has recently reported that the war between Israel and Gaza has caused immense destruction, making it one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history. The evidence gathered by the newspaper suggests that the damage inflicted by Israeli forces on Gaza surpasses that of other conflicts in the 21st century.
The Impact of the War
According to the Washington Post, this war has resulted in the loss of over 20,570 lives, the displacement of a majority of the population, and the destruction of large areas in the besieged Gaza Strip. The most severe attacks were carried out through airstrikes, which completely destroyed residential blocks and left craters in courtyards and gardens.
Evidence of Destruction
The newspaper conducted a thorough analysis using satellite images, air strike data, and assessments from the United Nations. They also interviewed healthcare providers and experts in munitions and air warfare. The evidence collected indicates that Israel's war in Gaza caused destruction at an unprecedented pace and level, surpassing even the devastation caused by other conflicts such as the Syrian regime's battles in Aleppo and the US-led military campaign against ISIS in Mosul and Raqqa.
Targeting Hospitals
The Washington Post revealed that the Israeli army frequently launched airstrikes near hospitals, which are supposed to be protected under the laws of war. Satellite images reviewed by the newspaper showed numerous craters near 17 out of the 28 hospitals in northern Gaza, the area that experienced the heaviest bombing. Some of these craters indicated the use of one-ton bombs, the largest of its kind in continuous use.
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoliaric-Eger, who visited Gaza, stated that there was no safe area left, as civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, had been destroyed throughout the streets.
The Human Toll
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that more than 53,320 people were wounded and over 7,700 Palestinian children were killed during the war. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, women and children accounted for approximately 70% of the casualties. Additionally, 1.9 million people, equivalent to 85% of the population, were displaced from their homes.
Michael Lynk, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, expressed his concern, stating that the rate of civilian casualties during this conflict appeared to be the highest in the 21st century.
Israeli Perspective
The Washington Post reported that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant informed his forces that they were "liberated from all restrictions" and that Gaza would never return to its previous state. The Israeli army spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, also stated that they were focusing on causing the most damage.
Over a period of just over two months, the Israeli Air Force launched 29,000 surface-to-air missiles, with 40% to 45% of them being unguided, according to a recent assessment. The newspaper also revealed that the Israeli army openly acknowledged viewing Gaza's hospitals as military targets, claiming that Hamas was exploiting them as part of their war strategy.
Source: Washington Post
