Amid the ongoing Israeli bombardment over Gaza, reports emerged that Israeli warplanes dropped leaflets over Khan Younis, the Strip's second-largest city, containing excerpts from the Quran, stating, "The flood overtook them as they were wrongdoers."
This move, perceived by many as an attempt to weaponize religion, is not the first instance of Israel employing such tactics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an October 28 speech, invoked Biblical scripture to justify the scale of the country's attacks, drawing parallels to an explicit Biblical story of genocide.
The leaflet drop coincided with reports of Israeli soldiers flooding Gaza's waterways with seawater. Palestinian journalist Mohammed El-Kurd shared images of soldiers on the beach with a large hose, while an anonymous American official claimed Israel was considering flooding tunnels in the Gaza Strip with seawater. This plan, if executed, could have devastating consequences for urban infrastructure in the region.
According to a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) update, 78% of Gaza's population—1.93 million Palestinians—have experienced internal displacement since October 7. Out of over 16,000 Palestinian fatalities, nearly 12,000 were women and children, highlighting the severe toll on civilian lives.
As tensions rise, the situation in Khan Younis worsens. The occupying force's incursion into Gaza's south, described by Israel's Southern Command Army General Yaron Finkelman as "the most intense day since the beginning of the ground operation," has resulted in 40 Palestinians killed and dozens more injured due to a series of airstrikes.
On December 5, UN Secretary-General António Guterres invoked Article 99, the most powerful diplomatic tool at his disposal, expressing deep concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
Guterres highlighted the lack of safety in Gaza, stating, "Amid constant bombardment, and without shelter or the essentials to survive, I expect public order to completely break down soon due to the desperate conditions."
Calls for urgent intervention and humanitarian aid intensify, with the UN Secretary General's invocation of Article 99 signalling the gravity of the situation. The use of religious references in military tactics adds a concerning dimension to an already complex and volatile scenario, raising questions about the ethical implications of such strategies in modern warfare.