Hamas: Systematic Israeli destruction of the Zaitoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza

Hamas warned of a systematic Israeli destruction of the Zaitoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City, where the Israeli aggression has been ongoing for 22 months. The movement confirmed in a statement that the attack is part of the genocide being perpetrated by the occupying state against the Palestinians.

For about a week, the occupation army has launched a continuous attack on the eastern and southern neighborhoods of Gaza City, particularly in the Zaitoun neighborhood, where warplanes, artillery, and explosive robots are being used to systematically destroy the area.

Hamas stated that this attack represents a new chapter of Israeli violations, pointing to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the bombing of the German city of Dresden during World War II, which reflect the intentions of the occupation in dealing with Gaza.

The movement condemned the complicity of the U.S. administration, which has provided the green light for the occupation to continue its crimes, and called on Washington to review its policies that make it complicit in the genocide.

Hamas urged the international community, the United Nations, and Arab and Islamic countries to take action to stop the crimes being committed by the occupation in Gaza, emphasizing the necessity of breaking the silence and taking immediate action to halt the aggression.

The movement also called on the peoples of the world to rise up and take to the streets and squares to exert greater pressure to end the ongoing genocide in the sector.

In a related context, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported that the occupation has destroyed about 400 homes in the Zaitoun neighborhood over six days, using explosive robots and warplanes.

On August 8, the Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to gradually reoccupy the Gaza Strip, and the wide-scale attack on the Zaitoun neighborhood began on the 11th of the same month, leading to the demolition of homes and forced displacement.

Since October 7, Gaza has been experiencing genocide that includes killing, starvation, and destruction, resulting in 61,897 martyrs and 155,660 injured, most of whom are children and women, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced persons.