GAZA CITY, Palestine

The Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza reported on Friday that its operations in northern Gaza have been forcibly suspended for 24 days, leaving thousands of residents without medical or humanitarian services as Israel's assault continues.

In a statement, the Civil Defense explained that on Oct. 24, Israeli forces targeted its teams in northern Gaza, seizing their vehicles, displacing most personnel to central and southern parts of the strip, and detaining 10 staff members.

The agency called on international humanitarian organizations to urgently address the plight of thousands of civilians trapped in northern Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli offensive.

It also called for immediate action to restore Civil Defense operations and reactivate its vehicles in Beit Lahia.

Since Oct. 5, the Israeli military has launched a ground invasion in northern Gaza, claiming the aim is to prevent Palestinian group Hamas from regaining strength in the area. However, Palestinian officials argue that Israel intends to annex northern Gaza and turn it into a buffer zone by forcibly displacing its residents.

The Israeli assault has continued since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The offensive has killed over 43,700 people and rendered the Gaza Strip almost uninhabitable.

The ongoing Israeli onslaught has displaced nearly the entire population of the region, exacerbated by a blockade that has resulted in severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi