Palestinian officials say Israeli strike on Gaza shelter has killed at least 27 people
Deir al-Balah, Oct 10: An Israeli strike on a school sheltering the displaced in the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 people on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said.
The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas group hiding among civilians, without providing evidence.
Israel has continued to strike at what it says are Hamas members targets across the Palestinian enclave even as attention has shifted to its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon and rising tensions with Iran. The military launched a large-scale air and ground operation against Hamas in northern Gaza earlier this week.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the bodies were brought, said the strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah killed 27 people, including a child and seven women. It said several other people were wounded.
An Associated Press reporter saw ambulances streaming into the hospital and counted the bodies, many of which arrived in pieces.
“We appeal to the world. We are dying!” one man screamed.
The Israeli military said it carried out a precise strike targeting a Hamas command and control centre inside the school. Israel has repeatedly attacked schools that were turned into shelters in Gaza, accusing Hamas group of hiding out in them.
Witnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons said the strike occurred while school managers were meeting with representatives of an aid group in a room normally used by Hamas-run police who provide security. They said there were no police in the room at the time.
The Hamas-run government operated a civilian police force numbering in the tens of thousands. They largely vanished from the streets after the start of the war as Israel targeted them with airstrikes, but plainclothes Hamas security personnel still exert control over most areas.
Hamas has continued to launch attacks on Israeli forces and fire occasional rockets into Israel more than a year after its October 7 attack ignited the war.
Hamas-led group stormed into Israel and rampaged through army bases and farming communities in that attack, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 others. They are still holding around 100 captives, a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Israel's offensive has killed over 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many were fighters but say women and children make up more than half of the fatalities. The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of its population of 2.3 million people, often multiple times.
The Hezbollah group in Lebanon began firing rockets into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in support of Hamas and the Palestinians, drawing Israeli airstrikes in retaliation.
The fighting steadily escalated, and eventually boiled over into all-out war in recent weeks, with Israel carrying out waves of heavy strikes across Lebanon and launching a ground invasion. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire to more populated areas deeper inside Israel, causing few casualties but disrupting daily life.
Iran supports Hamas, Hezbollah and other armed groups across the region that refer to themselves as the Axis of Resistance against Israel. Iran launched some 180 ballistic missiles at Israel last week in retaliation for the killing of top Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that its response to the Iranian missile attack will be “lethal” and “surprising,” without providing further details, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President Joe Biden.
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Man threatens acid attack on Journalist Shahbaz Ansar’s wife’s over clothing choice in Karnataka
Bengaluru: In a disturbing incident, an individual named Nikith Shetty allegedly threatened Journalist Shahbaz Ansar on social media, claiming he would splash acid on Ansar's wife's face due to her choice of clothing, especially in the context of Karnataka. The exact background of the conversation is still unclear, but the threat has sparked serious concerns.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Shahbaz shared a screenshot of the message, stating, "This is serious. @DgpKarnataka @CMofKarnataka @DKShivakumar. This person is threatening to throw acid on my wife's face for her choice of clothes. Please take immediate action against this person to prevent any incident from happening."
This is serious. @DgpKarnataka @CMofKarnataka @DKShivakumar . This person is threatening to throw acid on my wife's face for her choice of clothes. Please take immediate action against this person to prevent any incident from happening. pic.twitter.com/N6fxS59Kqm
— Shahbaz Ansar (@ShahbazAnsar_) October 9, 2024
In another post, Shahbaz revealed that the person threatening his wife worked at Etios Digital Services, further raising safety concerns about the work environment at the company.
The person who was threatening my wife with acid attack works for Etios digital services. I don't think women are safe in this organisation. pic.twitter.com/xgpqGt2XyJ
— Shahbaz Ansar (@ShahbazAnsar_) October 10, 2024
Following public outrage, Etios Services released a statement condemning the actions of their employee and announced that Nikith Shetty had been terminated for five years. The company also confirmed that they had filed a case against him to ensure legal accountability.
Local police also replied to Ansar’s tweet and asked him to send details on the incident and his contact number. They also asked Ansar to reach nearest police station and file a complaint against Shetty.
The company’s statement read:
Important Announcement from Etios Services
We are deeply saddened to address a serious incident involving one of our employees, Nikith Shetty, who made a threatening statement regarding another individual’s choice of clothing. This behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and goes against the core values we uphold at Etios Services.
As a company committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment, we have taken immediate action. Nikith's employment has been terminated for a period of five years, and we have filed a case against him to ensure accountability for his actions.
At Etios Services, we believe in promoting respect and dignity for all individuals. We stand firmly against any form of harassment or violence. Our commitment to creating a safe workplace is unwavering, and we will continue to take all necessary measures to uphold this standard.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this situation. Together, let’s work towards a more respectful and inclusive community.
