India Reiterates Need for Humanitarian Relief in War, Israel Claims to Have Captured Gaza Parliament, other Government Institutions

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Nov 16: Even as India reiterated the need for humanitarian relief in Gaza amidst the war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, the Israeli army on Thursday claimed to have captured Gaza’s Parliament and other government institutions and also to have bombed the house of a top Hamas leader.

As the Israel – Gaza war entered its sixth week, the Israeli Army said it has captured Gaza’s Parliament and other government institutions run by Hamas in Gaza City, as its forces deepened their offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Military units “took over the Hamas Parliament, the government building, the Hamas police headquarters and an engineering faculty that served as an institute for the production and development of weapons,” the Army said in a statement.

The statement said “government institutions of the terrorist organisation Hamas” had been used for “military purposes” including “for training in preparation for the attack on Israel” on October 7.

The Israeli troops also claimed to have struck the house of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza. The Israeli Defence Forces shared a video on Thursday of fighter jets bombing a house, which they claim is Ismail Haniyeh’s. Haniyeh is the head of Hamas’ political bureau and among the highest-ranking officials in the organisation that governs Gaza. He is regarded as the head of Hamas by several countries.

While Israel claimed that the Al Shifa and some other major hospitals in Gaza were used by Hamas as a command centres, India on Thursday reiterated the need for humanitarian relief in Gaza. On a question on the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the issue was not particularly about one single facility.

“…This is not about one specific facility, India has always underlined the need for humanitarian relief. We talked about de-escalating the tension. We condemn terror attacks. We have given humanitarian aid,” Bagchi said during a press briefing.

He also responded to a question about whether the Voice of Global South Summit, which will held in India on Friday, would discuss the Israel and Palestine issue. “…Of course, the challenges posed by global developments are also likely to be discussed. As I said, every country is free to say something that they feel bothers them. But I’m sure like in all high-level interactions, each participant will share their own perspective. The Objective is to hear from the Global South Summit…” the diplomat said.

Israel on Thursday renewed its military operation at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa. Tel Aviv claims that the hospital is used by Hamas as a command centre, which is hidden beneath thousands of patients, medics and displaced people. Besides Israel, the United States also claims that Hamas has built tunnels below the Al-Shifa complex, which has become a focal point in the war.

The Palestinian militant group and directors at the hospital, however, have denied the charge. Israel’s raid at the hospital has been criticised by several Arab nations and humanitarian agencies.

Before Israel first sent troops into the hospital complex on Wednesday, UN agencies estimated that 2,300 patients, staff and displaced civilians were sheltering at Al-Shifa. Media reports said witnesses have described conditions inside the hospital as horrific, with medical procedures performed without anaesthetic, families with scant food or water living in corridors, and the stench of decomposing corpses filling the air.

The United Nations human rights chief said on Thursday widespread outbreaks of disease and hunger seemed “inevitable” in Gaza after weeks of Israeli assault on the densely populated Palestinian enclave. Speaking at an informal briefing to states at the United Nations in Geneva after visiting the Middle East, Volker Turk said the depletion of fuel would have a “catastrophic” impact across Gaza. It would lead to the collapse of sewage systems, healthcare and end the scarce humanitarian aid being supplied.

“Massive outbreaks of infectious disease, and hunger, seem inevitable,” Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for Gaza hostages to be immediately freed, but asked Israel “not to be consumed by rage” in its battle with Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory. “I ask for their immediate and unconditional release,” Mr Borrell said on a visit to a kibbutz targeted by Hamas in the October 7 attacks. “I understand your fears and pain… I understand your rage. But let me ask you not to be consumed by rage.”

Meanwhile, an Indian woman, after being evacuated from war-torn Hamas-ruled Gaza with the help of Indian missions in the region, Lubna Nazir Shaboo is now looking forward to her homeward journey from Cairo to Kashmir. Lubna, an Indian from Jammu & Kashmir living in Gaza, and her daughter Karima had crossed the Rafah border on Monday evening and reached the Egyptian capital the next day.