Cemetery was the word of the day in the war between Israel and Hamas, with the United Nations redoubling calls for humanitarian aid and a ceasefire. Indifferent to the death of its commander in a bombing that killed dozens of people, the Islamic organization in power defies Israel and says Gaza will be a “cemetery for the enemy.”
“Our worst fears that the number of children murdered would reach dozens, then hundreds and finally thousands, became reality in just a fortnight,” said UNICEF spokesman James Elder. “The figures are frightening: more than 3,450 children are reported to have been killed and, shockingly, this number is rising significantly every day. Gaza has become a cemetery for thousands of children. It’s hell for everyone else,” the UN children’s agency official continued. .
Elmer drew attention to the urgency of humanitarian aid, starting with drinking water. “Gaza’s water production capacity is only 5% of usual daily consumption. The death of children, especially infants, from dehydration is a growing threat.” UNICEF’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire was joined by the voices of the UN Secretary General António Guterres and the High Commissioner of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi.
Guterres also said he was “deeply alarmed by the intensification of the conflict,” in the context of the expansion of Israeli operations in Gaza and the continued bombings. “International humanitarian law sets clear rules that cannot be ignored. It is not an a la carte menu and cannot be applied selectively,” he said.
According to Hamas, more than 8,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7. More than 3,450 of them will be minors. Every day, 420 children are killed or injured, UNICEF says.
The day before, the head of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, told the Security Council that the reduced number of caravans allowed to pass through the Rafah border post “is nothing compared to the needs of over two million people” . people trapped in Gaza” and called for an immediate ceasefire to meet the “unprecedented needs”.
Also on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected any ceasefire. However, as the Israeli army moves into the Gaza Strip and the human situation worsens, authorities have responded to requests from the UN and Washington and will enter up to 100 trucks per day of humanitarian aid through Rafah, the spokesperson confirmed. John Kirby. This number is one-fifth of the traffic that reached Gaza via Egypt before the October 7 Hamas attacks.
As for Rafah, Egypt has announced that it will receive 81 wounded. A doctor said medical teams will examine these people and then send them to the most appropriate hospitals. Furthermore, a 1300 m2 field hospital is being set up in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, 15 kilometers from Rafah.
Cairo’s measure followed the airstrike that turned apartment buildings in Jabalia into ruins. “Israeli army warplanes killed Ibrahim Biari, commander of the Hamas terrorist organization’s Jabalia Brigade, who was one of those responsible for the murderous terrorist attack of October 7,” the Israeli army said in a statement. “After the attack, Hamas’s underground military infrastructure collapsed beneath these buildings,” stating that the attack had killed “a large number of Hamas terrorists.” More than 50 people have been killed and 150 injured, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.
This bombing took place at a time when Israeli forces are operating “on a large scale and within” Gaza, as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. The Israeli military said troops “engaged in fierce fighting against Hamas terrorists deep in Gaza” and that ground and air forces attacked several Hamas positions and anti-tank guided missile squadrons, killing dozens of fighters in urban areas. Tel Aviv also announced the deaths of two of its soldiers.
In view of Israeli progress, Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedin al Qassam Brigades, said Gaza “will be a cemetery and a swamp for the enemy, its soldiers and its political and military leaders.” At the same time, he promised the release of an unspecified number of foreign hostages in the coming days.
The margin
Blinken sees AP in Gaza
During a Senate hearing on financing Ukraine and Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the Palestinian Authority should take Hamas’s place in the Gaza Strip, albeit possibly with the help of international organizations. Blinken also said Putin is trying to take advantage of Hamas’ attack on Israel, hoping to “distract” the US from withdrawing its resources from Ukraine.
FBI warns of attacks
The war has increased the threat of terrorist attacks in the US, the FBI director warned. “The actions of Hamas and allies will serve as an inspiration unlike anything we have seen since the Islamic State launched its so-called caliphate years ago,” Christopher Wray said on the Senate floor. “We cannot and do not rule out the possibility that Hamas or another foreign terrorist organization will take advantage of the current conflict to carry out attacks on our territory.”
Huthi missile
Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels have vowed more attacks on Israel if the war continues, after saying they have already fired drones and ballistic missiles in three separate operations. Tel Aviv said the Arrow air defense system successfully intercepted a missile launched from the Red Sea area.
Israeli ambassador criticizedHolocaust memory authority Yad Vashem criticized the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, for displaying a yellow star on his chest as he addressed the Security Council. The emblem symbolizes the oppression of the Jews by the Nazis. “This act dishonors both the victims of the Holocaust and the State of Israel,” said Yad Vashem President Dani Dayan.
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Bolivia cuts ties
Bolivia announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel. The government “decided to sever diplomatic relations with the State of Israel, in rejection and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive being carried out in the Gaza Strip,” said the deputy head of Bolivian diplomacy, Freddy Mamani.
Source: DN
