The conflict in Israel and Palestine has escalated overnight, as Israeli forces continue their bombardment of the besieged territory of the Gaza Strip.
According to health officials and Israeli medical services, at least 687 Palestinians and 800 Israelis have been killed, while more than 2,500 have been wounded.
Israel has declared it plans to impose a “total blockade” on Gaza, including a ban on the transportation of food and fuel — a war crime under United Nations statutes.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced, “I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly.”
Human Rights Watch described the decision as “abhorrent” on X, adding “This is a call to commit a war crime by @yoavgallant. The @IntlCrimCourt should take note.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at a press in New York on Monday, describing the announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip as “deeply distressing.”
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially,” he said.
“Medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. Relief and entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated and the UN will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to these needs.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has spoken to Guterres over the phone, urging the UN to intervene in the situation and carry out its duties recognised by the UN statutes to offer international protection for the Palestinian people.
Overnight, US President Joe Biden reinforced his support for Israel after revealing that 11 Americans had been killed in the attacks.
As we continue to account for the horrors of the terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of civilians murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy.
Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed. pic.twitter.com/64GmhuoRob— President Biden (@POTUS) October 9, 2023
“This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep,” he expressed in a statement. “It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people.
In joint statement with leaders of the UK, US, France, Italy and Germany, Biden backed Israel’s “efforts to defend itself,” and condemned the “unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism”.
“The terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,” the statement reads.
“Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities,” the statement continues, adding: “This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.”
“All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
“But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.”
In Sydney last night, hundreds of pro-Palestinian supports marched in solidarity with Palestinians while the Sydney Opera House lit up in blue and white in support of Israel.
Organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, supporters urged the public to “protest in solidarity with Palestine” while waving “Free free Palestine” banners and Palestinian flags.
NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong described the lighting of the Opera House in support of Israel as “appalling”.
“What about all of the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?” she wrote.
“But apparently lighting up the Aust Parliament and Sydney Opera House in support of those bombing Palestinian people in Gaza into oblivion is legit. Disgraceful to see political leaders fail to recognise the complexity and reality of this human rights and humanitarian crisis.”
The Lebanese Muslim Association penned a statement calling NSW Premier Chris Minns a “hypocrite” for supporting Israel.
“Where was the show of solidarity by the NSW government for the Palestinian people after 75 years of relentless oppression inflicted upon them by Israel?” the statement read.
“We ask that Premier Minns – and indeed all Australian politicians – be fair and impartial and call out the situation in Palestine as it really is…Palestinian lives matter too.”