Gaza-based factions urge Palestinians ‘to remain vigilant’ to Israeli attempts to spread chaos

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Gaza-based factions on Sunday called on the Palestinians to remain vigilant to Israeli attempts to “spread chaos” in the war-battered enclave.

In a statement, a coalition of Palestinian factions said some “suspicious” voices backed by Israel seek to “tamper with our internal front and attack relief convoys and the capabilities and property of our people."

“Israel is trying to spread chaos, threaten national unity, and stir up strife and divisions through suspicious calls that are raised at a time when we are in dire need of unity,” the statement added.

The statement, however, did not provide any further details about these calls.

The factions called on the Palestinians in Gaza “to be patient, steadfast, arm themselves with awareness and unity, strengthen their internal front, and block all futile attempts that seek to provide a free service to the enemies of our people, the killers of children and women."

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The ensuing Israeli attacks have killed nearly 29,000 and caused mass destruction and shortages of necessities, while less than 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli war on Gaza has pushed 85% of the territory's population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi