Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, asserted that Israeli authorities targeted civilian sites in the Gaza Strip, arguing that such actions appear aimed at pressuring Palestinians to relocate. He described the measures as deliberate and aimed at weakening civilian infrastructure across the territory, including essential services, and he framed them as part of a broader policy to relocate Gaza’s population. He further claimed that these actions constitute war crimes under international law, raising serious concerns about the humanitarian impact on noncombatants.
The conflict escalated on October 7, when Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel and announced the initiation of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In the days that followed, militants reportedly breached Israeli territory, capturing equipment and detaining a number of hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war, triggering a layered military reaction from the Israeli state.
The Israeli Defense Forces launched an operation described as Iron Swords, with one of its stated aims being the degradation of Hamas’s capabilities. The Israeli Air Force conducted widespread strikes against numerous targets in the Gaza Strip. Concurrently, Israel’s National Security Council decided to restrict resources flowing into Gaza, including water, food, medical supplies, electricity, and fuel, to impose pressure on the region. On October 13, Israel announced to the United Nations that about 1.1 million Palestinians would be evacuated to southern Gaza in advance of a potential ground operation, a plan that intensified concerns about civilian safety and displacement within the densely populated area.
The situation has drawn statements from regional actors, including Türkiye, which has emphasized a belief that broader international responsibility lies with Western and allied governments for the events unfolding in Gaza. These remarks reflect ongoing regional tensions and the contrasting narratives about accountability, humanitarian access, and the duties of parties involved in the conflict.