Amnesty International on Friday called for an “immediate and lasting” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to end civilian deaths and mass suffering, following Israel’s resumption of attacks.
“We urgently reiterate our call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire by all parties to the conflict. Without a ceasefire, the death toll will soar and civilians in Gaza will once again be forced to endure the unimaginable horrors of recent weeks without safe access.” place to go, no shelter and no humanitarian aid,” Erika Guevara Rosas, director of Amnesty International’s Research, Advocacy and Global Policy Department, said in a statement.
According to Erika Guevara-Rosas, hostages still held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza are “at even greater risk,” as are civilians in Israel.
He said world leaders must “urgently increase” their pressure on the parties involved in the conflict to reach a ceasefire that is “the best way to guarantee the protection of civilians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.”
He added: “Even in the absence of a ceasefire, Israel and Hamas must protect civilians in full respect of the rules of international humanitarian law.”
Erika Guevara-Rosas said that while the release of hostages, Israeli and foreign citizens, and Palestinian prisoners and detainees is a relief for families and loved ones, “it is not enough.”
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired this morning and fighting in the Gaza Strip resumed, both sides of the conflict announced.
The Israeli military accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and announced the resumption of fighting minutes after the temporary ceasefire imposed on November 24 ended.
“Hamas violated the operational pause and also fired into Israeli territory. The Israeli army resumed the fight against the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” the army said in a statement.
The Gaza Strip’s Interior Ministry, controlled by Hamas since 2007, stated that “Israeli aircraft are flying over the Gaza Strip and their vehicles opened fire in the northwest of the enclave.”
The armistice expired at 7:00 am (5:00 am in Lisbon).
The break in fighting began a week ago, on November 24, initially for four days, until it was extended with the help of Qatar and Egypt, mediating countries.
During the ceasefire, Hamas and other Gaza militants released more than a hundred hostages, most of them Israelis, in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Source: DN
