Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
15 January 2024 | 13:00 CAT
4-min read
It has been over 100 days since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
The death toll has surged to nearly 24 000, constituting one of the deadliest conflicts in the 21st century. The daily death rate in Gaza surpasses that of any other conflict in recent history.
Humanitarian crisis
The relentless starvation crisis continues to plague Gaza, Moulana Ebrahim Moosa reports in this week’s edition of the Palestine Report on Radio Islam International. Despite the critical requirement for a minimum of 1 300 food and aid trucks daily, Israeli occupation forces persist in obstructing the entry of aid, supplies, food, and provisions into Gaza.
“There are systematic attempts at targeting water pipelines and wells and hindering all aspects of life,” Moulana Moosa said.
In addition, the transportation of aid convoys to hospitals faces delays due to extended Israeli inspections or outright denial of passage.
“They are still stopping supplies going to hospitals, which is a deliberate policy of death and a deliberate targeting of hospitals…” Moulana Moosa noted.
Aid trucks stationed at the Rafah border crossing are unable to proceed due to the fuel crisis in Gaza, further hampering relief efforts. Additionally, periodic communication blackouts since the start of the war have continued over the past few days, intensifying the isolation of Gaza while Israel attempts to deny their genocidal intent at the International Court of Justice.
The worsening sanitary conditions in the Gaza Strip have raised concerns about the likelihood of a health crisis in the enclave. With large segments of the population already vulnerable due to malnutrition and limited access to healthcare, the possibility of a pandemic poses a significant threat to the lives of countless individuals in the Gaza Strip. Immediate international action is imperative to address both the ongoing conflict and the looming public health emergency to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
Israel’s dismal failure
In a recent analysis by David Hearst of Middle East Eye, he contends that while Israel has successfully created a humanitarian disaster in Gaza over the 100 days of its genocidal onslaught, it has failed to achieve the mass exodus of Palestinians, a desire held by Zionist fundamentalists. Despite the challenging conditions, there have been no substantial attempts by Palestinians to breach the border with Egypt, and there is no evidence of a popular revolt against Hamas.
This indicates the failure of the Israeli war effort, Moulana Moosa notes. The situation in Gaza is evolving into a new phase, characterized by a lower-intensity war. Casualties persist on both sides, with the Israeli army and Palestinian civilians sustaining losses. This suggests that 100 days into the war, the ferocity of the conflict remains undiminished, mirroring the intensity of its initial days. Hamas has not surrendered and continues to inflict losses on Israeli soldiers.
The repercussions extend beyond the immediate battlefield, as the possibility of armed rebellion in the West Bank and other Palestinian territories looms larger once the onslaught stops.
The report indicates a failure to retrieve Israeli hostages from Gaza. The number of Israeli casualties continues to rise, contributing to growing public discontent. Prime Minister Netanyahu, aware that his political future is precarious once the war ceases, faces mounting opposition. Massive rallies calling for Netanyahu’s resignation and the release of hostages have intensified over the weekend, revealing apparent fractures within the Israeli government and strained relations between Israel and the United States. As the conflict persists, the internal challenges for Israel are becoming increasingly pronounced.Top of Form
Legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
The case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) called on the World Court to implement provisional measures to prevent Israel from committing further crimes in Gaza.
Moulana Moosa reports that four of the judges, including the presiding judge, were set to retire by 6 February 2024. It is anticipated that the court will issue its order before this date.
Even though ICJ orders are binding and cannot be appealed, there is a possibility that Israel might ignore the ruling, as seen in the 2004 Israeli Apartheid wall case.
Moulana Moosa reports on a valuable analysis by former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, who said that the ICJ judges face a moral dilemma to please influential nations- and compromise international law.
Murray posed the question of whether the judges have the moral fibre to do the right thing, suggesting that the court itself is on trial, Moulana Moosa reports.
“The fact of genocide is incontrovertible and has been plainly set out, but several of the judges are desperate to find a way to please the USA and Israel and avoid countering the current Zionist narrative, the adoption of which is necessary to keep your feet under the table of the elite,” Murray is reported to have said.
Qassam cyberwarfare division
In the midst of the ongoing military operation and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, a parallel battlefield has emerged in the Tufan al-Aqsa operation – the Qassam cyberwarfare division. Referred to as the “green hat hackers” by an Al-Jazeera analyst, this clandestine cyber unit utilises simple yet effective methods to achieve significant success in the realm of cyber warfare and military hacking.
The report emphasises the prowess of these hackers, likening their impact to that of traditional fighters. Their ability to employ straightforward techniques has proven instrumental in challenging conventional armies and state-run intelligence agencies.
Recalling the events of October 7th, the Qassam Brigades’ cyber unit demonstrated its capabilities by targeting precise military locations. In a strategic move, they anticipated and disrupted Israeli communication during the operation. This cyber offensive, coupled with military actions, showcased a coordinated and sophisticated approach.
The success of the Qassam cyber unit suggests meticulous planning over years, including gathering extensive intelligence on the Israeli military. Reports indicate that on October 7th 2023, Qassam fighters were not only instructed to take Israeli soldiers hostage but also to seize computers and communication devices from Israeli military bases belonging to the Gaza Division, potentially providing a wealth of valuable information.
What sets the Qassam Brigade’s cyber warfare operation apart is its ability to confront some of the world’s most sophisticated founders of social media and spying technology, such as the NSA group and Pegasus. Despite these challenges, they have infiltrated Israeli information probes, obtained personal details of soldiers, and effectively countered Israeli claims.
The Al-Jazeera analysis underscores the multi-layered nature of the ongoing war on Gaza. While the Qassam Brigades engage the Israeli Merkava tank on the physical battlefield with the Yassin 105, their cyber warfare division wages a sophisticated digital war. The youth of Gaza, besieged but resilient, employ all available means to achieve remarkable success across various fronts in this complex conflict.
Listen to the Palestine Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Habib Bobat.
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