Description: The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have targeted the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis through artillery strikes on two separate occasions killing more than 20 civilians, 5 of whom were journalists. The attacks arrive as the Israeli security cabinet is set to meet on Tuesday and discuss the latest ceasefire proposal which mirrored the provision that US Special envoy Steven Witkoff proposed through earlier negotiations. The journalists pertained to outspoken media outlets such as The Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeera, which have all filed complaints to the United Nations and called for Israel’s accountability in the targeting of independent journalists covering the war. Netanyahu’s office has issued a statement claiming that the attacks were a tragic mishap and the military was targeting an alleged Hamas camera on the top of the hospital. Israel’s Army Leader, Eyal Zamir, has reportedly advised the country’s security cabinet to accept the latest proposal, while US President Trump, while hosting South Korean Leader, Lee Jae Myung in the White House, stated that he expected the war to be concluded in the next three weeks.
Impact: Israel’s indiscriminate targeting of Gaza’s civilian population and independent journalists continues on par with their latest military operation initiative which is targeting the complete occupation of Gaza City. Causing man – made famine, declared by the UN on 24th of August, Israel’s military now resorts towards silencing journalists reporting from the war zone while the international community remains resolute in their criticism but only through public narrative and with the absence of concrete actions. The ceasefire initiative despite being on the brink of faltering still has some potential according to the separate statements gathered from the US President and Israel’s Army Chief. Israel has so far resisted calls from the country’s population, which is protesting the latest military initiative for over two weeks and has refused to engage in the ceasefire under the pretext that it was only a temporary measure instead of a long-term solution. Even if the ceasefire comes into effect, core issues of the war still remain unresolved, such as the fate of the Palestinian people, long lasting security guarantees in the region and the role of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The war continues in the short to mid term with fragile potential for the ceasefire to ensue in the next couple of weeks.