Strikes across Gaza kill at least 31 as international scholars accuse Israel of genocide

DEIR AL-BALAH Gaza Strip AP Israel launched strikes across the Gaza Strip on Monday killing at least people as it presses ahead with a major offensive in the territory s largest city according to medical personnel Leading genocide scholars meanwhile accused Israel of genocide charges the administration vehemently rejects Airstrikes and artillery shelling have echoed through Gaza City since Israel declared it a combat zone last week On the city s outskirts and in the Jabaliya refugee camp residents have observed explosive-laden robots demolishing buildings Another merciless night in Gaza City mentioned Saeed Abu Elaish a Jabaliya-born medic sheltering in the northwestern side of the city Hospitals in Gaza commented at least people were killed by Israeli fire on Monday more than half of them women and children At least people were killed in Gaza City where Israel has carried out several previous large-scale raids since Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel to ignite the war on Oct Israel says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the militant group now largely reduced to a guerrilla organization operates in densely-populated areas Double threat of war and starvation Gaza City residents a multitude of displaced by war multiple times now face the twin threats of combat and hunger The world s leading authority on food crises reported last month that it was in the throes of famine a dilemma driven by ongoing fighting and Israel s blockade magnified by repeated mass displacement and the collapse of food production A total of Palestinians have been killed in the war according to Gaza s Wellness Ministry which says another people have been wounded The ministry doesn t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children make up around half the dead The ministry is part of the Hamas-run administration but staffed by health professionals U N agencies and a great number of independent experts consider its figures to be the the majority reliable estimate of war casualties Israel disputes them but hasn t provided its own toll Hamas-led militants killed people mostly civilians in the Oct attack and took people hostage Forty-eight hostages are still inside Gaza around of them presumed by Israel to be alive after majority of of the rest were issued in ceasefires or other deals Scholars accuse Israel of genocide The largest professional organization of scholars studying genocide reported Monday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza Israel which was established in the wake of the Holocaust in which million European Jews and others were killed vehemently rejects the allegation It says it takes every measure to avoid harming civilians and is fighting a war of self-defense after Hamas Oct attack which Israel says was itself a genocidal act A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars which has around members worldwide including a number of Holocaust experts noted that Israel s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes The resolution was supported by of those who voted The organization didn t release the specifics of the voting People who are experts in the research of genocide can see this situation for what it is Melanie O Brien the organization s president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia narrated The Associated Press The Israeli Foreign Ministry called it an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard It revealed the determination was entirely based on Hamas campaign of lies In July two prominent Israeli rights groups B Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel announced that their country is committing genocide in Gaza The organizations don t reflect mainstream thinking in Israel but it marked the first time that local Jewish-led organizations have made such accusations International human rights groups have also leveled the allegation Mourners vent anger at hostage funeral Thousands of Israelis gathered for the funeral of Idan Shtivi one of two hostages whose remains were recovered in a military operation last week A private funeral was held for Ilan Weiss the other captive Particular mourners expressed anger at the regime for not reaching a deal with Hamas to end the fighting and return the remaining captives It is very very infuriating that no one no one from this ruling body stands up and says enough explained Ami Dagan a mourner from Rishon Letzion It s a horror it s profound sadness and grief beyond words to describe the anger the insult to the hostages the insult to the fallen the insult to the soldiers sent once again to Gaza noted Ruti Taro another mourner No one knows why except for the power-hungry ruler Multiple Israelis accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prolonging the war for political purposes and mass protests calling for a ceasefire and hostage release have swelled in latest weeks Flotilla leaves Barcelona after storm delay An activist flotilla bound for Gaza left Barcelona hours after a last-minute delay caused by stormy weather The Global Sumud Flotilla consisting of around boats with participants from countries had earlier set sail and then turned back with organizers citing safety concerns The expedition includes situation campaigner Greta Thunberg who took part in a previous flotilla that was intercepted in July The flotilla is the largest attempt yet to symbolically break Israel s blockade of Gaza All previous ones have been intercepted at sea by Israeli forces Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms and that there are multiple other channels for sending aid to Gaza Israel has taken procedures to further restrict the delivery of food to northern Gaza as it presses ahead with its latest offensive in Gaza City Sam Metz published from Jerusalem and Samy Magdy from Cairo Molly Quell in The Hague Netherlands and Renata Brito in Barcelona Spain contributed to this analysis Follow AP coverage at https apnews com hub israel-hamas-war Source