Only civilians are paying the price: Israel kills over 1,354 Palestinians as war on Gaza continues

The number of Palestinians killed, including women and children, by Israel has risen to 1,354, and the number of injured has reached 6,049, the Gaza-based health ministry announced on Thursday, 12 October.

At least 44 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed so far as Israel intensified airstrikes on the besieged coastal enclave throughout Thursday morning and afternoon.

"At least 12 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli airstrike on residential buildings in the al-Shatei refugee camp, one of the most densely populated areas in Gaza," the Gaza-based health ministry noted. 

In addition, the ministry noted that 17 Palestinians were killed when the Israeli warplanes struck homes in the north of Gaza. 

The health ministry warned that its staff may not provide medical treatments for the casualties in the upcoming days unless they receive more medical supplies.

For the sixth day in a row, the besieged coastal enclave has been subjected to brutal and violent Israeli airstrikes, mainly targeting residential houses and killing hundreds of civilians. 

Israel claimed that it is fighting Hamas, the Islamist group ruling the coastal enclave by force, but the Palestinians in Gaza argue that it is only civilians who are paying the price of this unprecedented conflict between Hamas and Israel. 

As a result of the ongoing Israeli attacks, more than 300,000 people were displaced and have become homeless and defenceless without having any chance to survive the consequences of the attacks, according to UN institutions operating in Gaza. 

Worsening the conditions is Israel's decision to tighten its blockade on Gaza and prevent food, water, electricity, medicine and aid from entering Gaza. According to international law, this is a war crime. 

As a result of this 'total blockade',  the only electricity power plant has been stopped since Wednesday afternoon because of the running out of fuel. The lack of electricity causes the stop of motors pumping water to homes, and thus, Palestinians in Gaza currently do not have access to water.