GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Gaza government’s media office said on Sunday that the Israeli army has dropped 40,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, with the apparent goal of rendering the enclave uninhabitable.

Salama Maarouf, the head of the media office, issued a statement on Telegram on the third day of the temporary humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect on Friday morning.

“The Israeli occupation forces have dropped 40,000 tons of explosives on the Strip (since Oct. 7), and the atrocities of the occupation (forces) have unfolded away from the scrutiny of cameras,” Marouf said.

He explained that “the bombs recently used by the occupation (forces) have never been used before, and hundreds of martyrs are buried in the places where they died. The devastation by the occupation (forces) reflects its intent to make Gaza uninhabitable.”

In the statement, Maarouf also discussed the temporary pause, emphasizing that "the days of respite have laid bare the enormity of the significant massacre, resulting in substantial destruction to infrastructure and residences."

"One-third of the Gaza Strip's population has yet to receive essential supplies, and the absence of all international institutions is evident," he stated, calling on the international community to act.

"There is a pressing need for the establishment of a sizable field hospital," he added.​​​​

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala