Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip for 34 consecutive days, causing a growing humanitarian disaster in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The Zionist state’s attacks have killed more than 10 thousand people, most of whom were children. It is recorded that Israeli air strikes in Gaza have killed one child every 10 minutes since the start of the war on October 7.

The following is an update regarding the hot situation in the Middle East region, as quoted by CNBC Indonesia from various sources on Friday (10/11/2023).

Number of Death Victims Until Now

The Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) recorded 10,812 deaths, including 4,412 children and 2,918 women, and 26,905 people injured, including 8,663 children and 6,327 women in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile in the West Bank, 183 people were recorded as dead, including 44 children and one woman. More than 2,400 were injured. Meanwhile, Israeli medical services recorded at least 1,405 Israelis killed and 5,600 injured.

As of November 9, at least 39 journalists had been killed since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), a total of 34 Palestinian journalists, four Israeli journalists and one Lebanese journalist have been killed.

More than 50% of housing in Gaza is damaged

Israeli bombing has caused damage to more than 50 percent of housing units in Gaza. In a statement, Gaza’s state media office said some 40,000 housing units in the besieged enclave were completely destroyed by the Israeli army.

It also said about 32,000 tonnes (29,000 tons) of explosives had been dropped on Gaza since the start of the war. The initial estimated losses in the housing and infrastructure sectors are each estimated at US$2 billion or around IDR 31.3 trillion.

Israel’s attack causes the Palestinian economy to fall into freefall

A report released by the UN Development Program paints a grim picture of the war’s devastating impact on the Palestinian economy. Here are the main takeaways:

– Within one month of the war, Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have fallen by around 4.2% compared to pre-war estimates in 2023, or a loss of around US$857 million (Rp. 13.4 trillion).

– If the war continues for a full two months, estimated economic losses will rise to 8.4% of GDP, or US$1.7 billion. In the third month, losses will increase to 12.2% of GDP or US$2.5 billion.

– Around 390,000 jobs have been lost since the start of the war across the Palestinian territories. Of these, 182,000 jobs were lost in Gaza and 208,000 in the occupied West Bank.

– Poverty is also estimated to increase sharply by 20% to 45% depending on the duration of the conflict.

The number of Friday prayer congregations at Al-Aqsa is decreasing

Congregants performing Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem reported delays in attendance and limited movement. Last week, around 5,000 people attended Friday prayers, while this week only 4,000 people.

The reduction in congregation is due to Israeli forces restricting movement based on age. This is proven by the large demographic of elderly people in the mosque.

Today’s prayer comes after a week of tear gas and water cannon outside Al-Aqsa, which were used this morning to disperse crowds of young people. Residents say they are afraid to leave their homes due to arbitrary detentions by Israeli forces.

Horrifying Situation at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Surrounded by Israeli Tanks

Residents at al-Rantisi Hospital in Gaza City have uploaded videos on social media about the situation they are facing. It is known that the hospital was surrounded by Israeli tanks from all directions.

“We were stranded inside al-Rantisi hospital. The area was surrounded by Israeli tanks, from all directions,” said one resident.

“We were given warnings to evacuate, but no representative from the Red Cross or any organization could guarantee the safety of all the patients and civilians here. Hundreds of people were trapped inside the hospital.”

Another resident added: “By God, we received a warning that we had to leave the hospital; we cannot do it without international protection; the Red Cross, the UN or any organization. Have mercy on us; help.”

On Thursday evening, al-Rantisi Hospital and the surrounding area were one of several medical facilities targeted by Israel.

Al-Shifa Hospital Bombed by Israel

A spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) said al-Shifa Hospital was bombed, and said as many as 20 hospitals in Gaza were now not fully functional.

“I don’t have any details about al-Shifa but we know they are being bombarded,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said when asked about the Israeli attack.

When asked to explain further, Harris said there was “intense violence” at the location. Earlier, Hamas said an Israeli strike hit a hospital compound, killing 13 people.

Dr Ahmed Mokhallalati, a surgeon at al-Shifa Hospital, told Al Jazeera that attacks in front of Gaza’s main medical complex had not stopped since last night.

“You could hear a lot of gunfire and then you knew that the tanks were getting closer to al-Shifa Hospital,” he said.

Mokhallalati added that repeated attacks on al-Shifa by the Israeli army had prompted many patients to leave “the hospital without undergoing treatment or surgery”.

“Over the last month, everyone has seen that this is an unsafe place,” he said. “Supposedly, this is meant to be the safest place.”

Mokhallalati also said the Israeli army’s call for its citizens to move south for safety was a “big lie”.

“The Salah al-Din road, which they think is one of the safest ways to head south, is full of corpses, and then they encourage people to walk long distances,” he added.

UN Human Rights Chief Urges Investigation into Israeli Attacks on Gaza

The UN human rights chief has urged an investigation into Israel’s use of “high-impact explosive weapons” in Gaza, which he said caused indiscriminate destruction.

Volker Turk said Israel must end the use of such weapons in densely populated areas.

Gaza is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom were forced to flee as a result of fighting in the past month.

Turk told a news conference during a visit to Amman that the use of these weapons “clearly has devastating humanitarian and human rights impacts.”

“The attack must be investigated. … We have very serious concerns that this is a disproportionate attack and violates international humanitarian law,” he stressed.

Israel Asked to Protect Palestinian Citizens in the West Bank

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Israel must take immediate action to protect Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Violence in the region has increased, including the deaths of more than 180 Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces, since the conflict with Hamas erupted on October 7.

“I also call, as a matter of urgency, for the Israeli government to take immediate action, to take steps to guarantee the protection of Palestinians in the West Bank, who are daily subjected to violence from Israeli troops and settlers, ill-treatment, arrests, evictions , intimidation and insults,” Volker Turk told journalists in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

Demonstrations in England Block BAE Systems Factory

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters have blocked the entrance to a BAE Systems factory in southeast England, targeting Britain’s biggest military supplier to call for an end to arms sales to Israel.

Holding signs reading “Stop Arming Israel” and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters stood in front of one of the entrances to the site in Rochester, Kent.

This location is where BAE tests and assembles electronic equipment used in military aircraft and surveillance systems.

BAE said it does not directly export any equipment to Israel, but the group is a major supplier of US-made F-35 fighter jets, which Israel flies.

[Gambas:Video CNBC]

(tfa/wur)