Escalating Tension: Barbaric ‘israeli’ Regime Utilizes Gaza for Trial of Deadly US Weaponry

Israel has deviated from its previous tactics and objectives in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire, introducing new strategies and aims. As articulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leadership involves generating “momentum.” Fundamentally, the authorities have determined to safeguard their political standing by disrupting any potential for regional calm and fostering “momentum” that evades accountability, even if such momentum exacerbates the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have escalated significantly since March 18, resulting in the deaths of around 1,400 Palestinians and leaving approximately 3,300 others injured, primarily affecting children and women. This period is marked as the most intense and violent since the breakdown of the ceasefire, as reported by both local and specialized sources.

Recent developments have intensified the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, described as a “genocidal war” beginning October 7, 2023, with substantial backing from the United States. The hostilities have resulted in over 165,000 casualties and injuries among Palestinians, predominantly affecting children and women, and more than 11,000 individuals are reported missing.

The alarming escalation of bombing operations by the occupying forces in this phase has led to unparalleled devastation throughout the ongoing conflict. This development highlights that Gaza has transcended being merely a zone of war and conflict. It has seemingly transformed into a testing ground for Israeli military tactics, where all types of weaponry, including those prohibited in warfare, are reportedly being deployed.

The scene is reminiscent of a horror film, yet it is a grim reality. Bodies are propelled into the air, descending amidst devastation, in an event far from typical explosions. This is not fiction; it is a tragic outcome linked to munitions produced in American arms factories, now impacting women and children dwelling in dilapidated homes or makeshift shelters.

Medical professionals, government representatives, and human rights activists report that the occupation has escalated into a more brutal and criminal conflict, carrying out severe massacres with weapons and ammunition of significant destructive capacity. These attacks have been directed towards residential areas, civilian facilities, and shelters.

Experts suggest that the Gaza Strip is being utilized as a testing ground for military weaponry, predominantly consisting of American-manufactured arms, munitions, and explosives. The latest development in these transactions includes a deal authorized by the Trump administration, involving the sale of more than 20,000 assault rifles valued at $24 million. This transaction is relatively minor when compared to the multi-billion dollar military deals that Israel has secured since the conflict commenced.

Dr. Khalil Hamada, who oversees Forensic Medicine and the Criminal Laboratory in Gaza, reports that hostilities have resumed with intensified aggression following the ceasefire. The occupation is now deploying more destructive tactics, notably utilizing the American-manufactured MK-84 bombs. These massive explosives, each weighing approximately 2,000 pounds or around 1,000 kilograms, are engineered to pierce deep underground fortifications, contributing to the escalation of violence and bloodshed in the region.

Since the resumption of hostilities, the occupying forces have deployed these bombs in heavily populated neighborhoods, resulting in extensive devastation and leaving few survivors. The extensive damage is attributed to the substantial explosive shockwave and intense heat produced, affecting an area within approximately 100 meters of the target, as reported by Hamada.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamada detailed that many victims are brought to hospitals showing no apparent external injuries or shrapnel wounds, yet they succumb to the devastating impact of intense tissue damage, brain cell destruction, and ruptured blood vessels from the explosion’s force. Some bodies are found dismembered, while others have entirely disappeared.

Hamada highlighted that survival from these prohibited weapons is frequently short-lived, enduring mere hours or, at most, a few days for some of the injured due to the grave nature of their wounds and the shortage of essential medications and medical equipment necessary for life-saving efforts. For others, a lifetime of suffering ensues, marked by disabilities, disfigurements, or burns.

He stated that any weapon deployed against civilians is considered internationally prohibited. He referenced a tragic incident involving Dar Al-Arqam School in Gaza City, which was struck by airstrikes, leading to hundreds of casualties and injured individuals, predominantly civilians. He described it as a war crime that brings dishonor to humanity.

Dr. Ismail Al-Thawabta, the Director General of the Government Media Office, characterized the two weeks succeeding the breach of the ceasefire by the occupying forces as a return to what he termed the “criminal war,” marking it as the “most violent phase” of the conflict in Gaza.

In a conversation with Al Jazeera, Al-Thawabta described how this period witnessed an extraordinary intensification of occupation assaults, which targeted residential areas, medical facilities, educational institutions, as well as humanitarian aid personnel and medical centers offering critical services to civilians.

Al-Thawabta highlighted evidence indicating that the occupation is deploying unconventional, highly lethal weapons with significant destructive potential. These actions are reportedly part of a broader strategy aimed at the systematic annihilation of both the population and the territory.

He stated that the arsenal comprises cluster bombs and munitions laced with prohibited chemical agents, which are deployed extensively by the occupying forces. Their usage results in widespread devastation of infrastructure and residences and leaves surviving civilians with severe and disfiguring injuries.

He stated that the occupation’s ambitions extend beyond physical ruin, aiming to obliterate the Palestinian spirit using lethal armaments that surpass ethical and legal limits. This, he contends, is part of an agenda to render Gaza uninhabitable and compel its residents to abandon their homes.

A recently uncovered document indicates that the Trump administration advanced a transaction last month involving the sale of over 20,000 assault rifles to Israel. This arms deal had previously been deferred by the Biden administration, which had cited worries that the weapons could potentially end up in the hands of extremist Israeli settlers.

The agreement is viewed as minor in comparison to the multibillion-dollar arms supplies the United States has delivered to Israel, with U.S. weapons shipments persisting without interruption since the onset of the conflict in Gaza.

On January 20, marking Trump’s initial day in office, an executive order was issued to lift U.S. sanctions on Israeli settlers. Following this, the administration has sanctioned arms sales to Israel, valued at several billion dollars.

In a decisive move last Thursday, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly against efforts to halt an $8.8 billion arms sale to Israel amid concerns over human rights implications. The Senate dismissed two resolutions aimed at stopping the transfer of large bombs and other offensive military equipment, with votes tallying 82–15 and 83–15 against the measures.

Dr. Salah Abdel Ati, leader of the International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights, accused Israel of engaging in acts of genocide in Gaza and committing systematic offenses in the West Bank through its military personnel and settlers, alleging that these actions occur with complete backing from the United States.

A legal expert has criticized the decision to proceed with a rifle deal, suggesting it was strategically tied to an encouragement for Israel to escalate its actions. The expert expressed concern about the provision of 2,000-pound bombs, currently deployed in Gaza, highlighting their devastating impact. These bombs, noted for causing tremors akin to earthquakes, are responsible for extensive destruction, significant environmental harm, and a sharply rising toll of casualties and injuries.

Abdel Ati has affirmed that substantial evidence exists regarding the occupation’s deployment of internationally prohibited weapons, especially in heavily populated areas. These include vacuum and concussive bombs embedded with chemical agents, aimed at annihilating entire neighborhoods and the inhabitants within. The use of such munitions has resulted in many victims’ bodies being entirely obliterated.

In addition to receiving military supplies from the United States, Israel is reportedly utilizing the Gaza Strip as a testing ground for weapons and ammunition manufactured within its factories. According to Abdel Ati, this has been a standard practice in previous Israeli conflicts, though the current situation is described as the most lethal, bloody, and destructive to date.

An individual asserted that Israel leverages its conflict in Gaza to advance its military weapons industry, particularly regarding internationally prohibited arms, while allegedly lacking oversight, restrictions, or global accountability. The nation’s economy significantly depends on the arms trade, positioning it as one of the foremost exporters worldwide.

Al-Thawabta concurred with Abdel Ati, asserting that the United States is entirely complicit with Israel in the alleged crimes being perpetrated. He remarked, “The weapons agreement followed immediately after the field execution incident carried out by the occupation army against civil defense and ambulance teams in Rafah.”

In a statement, Al-Thawabta expressed strong opposition to the recent deal, criticizing it as an endorsement of the occupation’s continued military actions against the Palestinian people. He described it as a clear breach of international laws that forbid the provision of arms to conflict parties involved in crimes against humanity. Al-Thawabta emphasized that these weapons are being utilized not only in heightened military operations against Palestinian resistance but also in targeting civilians, including those in medical and relief efforts.

The government official emphasized that the decision underscores the controversial role played by the U.S. administration in bolstering the military capabilities of the Israeli occupation. This move has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and jeopardized ongoing peace initiatives. The official asserted that the U.S. administration holds full accountability for the repercussions of its policies.