The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday described Gaza as “hell on earth” for children, Reuters has reported.
He also appealed Israel for rapid and unhindered aid access. The UN Secretary General also told that would launch an appeal for humanitarian funding.
“If there is a hell on earth, it is the lives of children in Gaza today,” said Guterres, adding: “The hostilities have caused serious damage to vital civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including roads and electricity lines, contributing to a humanitarian emergency. Crossings into Gaza have been closed and power shortages are affecting water supplies.”
“Access for humanitarian goods is paramount. Attacks by militant groups on areas surrounding crossing points are unacceptable,” Guterres said. “At the same time, Israel has a duty to allow and facilitate rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian aid, into Gaza.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office yesterday, announced a ceasefire on Friday in Gaza after 11 days of violence, Al Jazeera has reported. As per media reports, Israel’s PM office issued a statement from the security cabinet called the truce “mutual and unconditional”.
The ceasefire will be monitored by Egypt, which has been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas
Maya Ali called out Kangana Ranaut for supporting Israeli forces’ brutality in Palestine.
Replying to Ranaut, The Teefa In Trouble star said: “I feel sorry for you. Get well soon Kangana Ranaut. One should have some humanity.”
Taking to Instagram stories, Bollywood’s Kangana expressed her views on the ongoing Israeli attacks, saying that “in the fight against radical terrorism India stands with Israel.”
She posted a series of pictures where she had written several statements supporting Israel’s stand in the entire incident.
The Israeli army bombed police headquarters and security buildings in Gaza. Authorities say 56 Palestinians were killed, including 14 children, since the escalation began.
On Monday, Israeli armed forces stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, ahead of a march by Zionist nationalists commemorating Israel’s capture of the eastern half of the city in 1967.
Confused about what’s going on in Palestine? Here is the breakdown:
It started in the early days of Ramzan when Israeli forces tried to block off areas where Muslim worshipers would gather after the evening prayer. After mass protests by Muslims in the area, the blockade was lifted. But that was not the end. Israeli police then tried to hamper the movement of buses carrying Muslim worshipers to the Old City in Jerusalem, where the third holiest mosque in Islam, Al-Aqsa is located. The police said they were trying to find specific people on the buses. But it was seen as an attempt to slow down Muslims from gathering at Al-Aqsa for prayers.
A man says his prayers while surrounded by Israeli police in the Old City
Parallel to what was happening in the Old City, fifteen minutes away, in the Palestinian neighbourhood of Al-Jarrah, Israeli settlers were trying to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homes. These homes had been given to the Palestinians in 1948 when Israeli was created, and the area was and has been predominantly Palestinian. A Jewish group is claiming that before the land was given to the Palestinians in 1948, the land belonged to the Jews. With what is being seen as help of the Israeli state, four Palestinian families were forcibly evicted from their homes. Protests erupted in the neighbourhood of Al-Jarrah and 15 minutes away, in the Old City, protests were ongoing against the Israeli state, leading to mass protests in Jerusalem.
Protests in Al Jarrah
During the protests, hundreds of Palestinians were wounded after being shot at, beaten and arrested. After seeing the protests in Jerusalem, Palestinians in Gaza also began to protest in solidarity. At least 24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air raids, according to the Palestinian health ministry, after Hamas launched rockets towards Israel. Nine children were killed in the attack with more than a 100 injured.
Israel destroyed this residential building w/ no military significance just as it blew up several apartment towers in middle class areas of Gaza in 2014. The purpose of this terror attack was to guarantee escalation and demonstrate total impunity. https://t.co/Ri0W887K03
Video of a residential building destroyed by Israel in Gaza
Meanwhile, in the Old City, Israeli forces stormed the compound where Al-Aqsa mosque is located, and Palestinians were praying and also peacefully protesting. Israeli police fired rubber-coated bullets, tear gas and sound bombs at the Muslim worshippers. More than 180 Palestinians were injured.
Israeli Jews gather to celebrate trees catching fire near Al-Aqsa Mosque
In the most recent news, the Israeli high court has postponed a ruling that allowed for forced expulsions of the four Palestinian families in Al-Jarrah, which is a victory for the Palestinians. How long it lasts is still to be seen.
