Beyza Binnur Dönmez
31 October 2023•Update: 31 October 2023
GENEVA
Israel is not targeting civilians in Gaza, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said Monday.
Jonathan Conricus's remarks came during a briefing along with Israeli ambassador to the UN Meirav Eilon Shahar at the UN office in Geneva to members of the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the UN (ACANU).
"According to the laws of armed conflict, we are not targeting civilians," Conricus said. "Casualties in Gaza or civilian causalities are regrettable. They are not the aim of our operations."
"We do not target civilians. If we were targeting civilians, then of course the situation would be far, far worse. We are not," he added.
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has risen to 8,306, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said Monday, including 3,457 children and 2,136 women.
Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza since Oct. 7, when the Palestinian group Hamas carried out a surprise cross-border attack.
At least 1,538 Israelis have been killed since the outbreak of the Gaza war, public broadcaster KAN said Monday.
Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced Saturday that the army is "expanding its operations" and moving to the "next phase of our war against Hamas."
Gaza's 2.3 million residents are also grappling with shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine due to Israel’s blockade of the enclave. Only a handful of aid trucks have crossed into Gaza since the opening of the Rafah crossing point on Oct. 21.
