Gaza genocide

Israel, Hamas close to reaching ‘small’ cease-fire deal

World /

Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a “small” cease-fire deal, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Sunday, citing political sources. The broadcasting authority quoted the unnamed Israeli sources as saying that the two sides are close to finalizing a deal that would include a two-month cease-fire. The deal would also involve the release of prisoners under “humanitarian cases,” including the elderly, women, the wounded and the sick, and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from parts of the Gaza Strip, the sources said, without providing further details. Hamas and mediating countries Egypt and Qatar have not commented on the report. A Hamas delegation led by deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya left Cairo late Sunday after a meeting with the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad, during which they discussed efforts to implement a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The delegation emphasized its commitment to ensuring the success of these efforts and ending the aggression against the Palestinian people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed earlier in a conversation with families of Israeli hostages in Gaza that the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime on Sunday might contribute to an agreement on a hostage swap in Gaza. Israel estimates that there are currently 101 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza. Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to reach a cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed due to Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the ongoing conflict. Israel has been conducting a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of more than 44,600 people, the majority of whom are women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year. Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

Israel, Hamas close to reaching ‘small’ cease-fire deal Read More »

Israeli army surrounds Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza

World /

The Israeli army encircled Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Friday, advancing under heavy fire and imposing a siege from all directions, sources and witnesses said. Military vehicles approached the hospital’s vicinity, supported by intense gunfire and artillery shelling, effectively isolating the facility. Intense gunfire and the sound of Israeli artillery shells were heard in the area around the facility. Israel launched a large-scale ground operation in northern Gaza since Oct. 5 to “prevent” the Palestinian resistance group Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents. More than 3,500 people have since been reported dead and missing, according to local health authorities. The onslaught was the latest episode in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 44,500 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023. Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on Gaza.

Israeli army surrounds Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Read More »

Egypt hosts conference on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

Africa, Egypt /

On Monday, Egypt hosted an international conference in Cairo to garner humanitarian support for Gaza, which has been devastated by over a year of conflict between Hamas and Israel. The event was attended by numerous senior regional and Western officials, as well as UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and other top UN representatives, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The conference was convened amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly in the northern regions, which have been nearly cut off from the rest of the Strip for almost two months. Discussions at the conference focused on the political, security, and humanitarian challenges in Gaza, with a particular emphasis on supporting the operations of UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees. On Sunday, UNRWA announced it would suspend aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing, Gaza’s main cargo entry point, due to the threat of armed groups looting aid convoys. The agency cited the breakdown of law and order in Gaza, which it attributed to Israel’s policies. This move by UNRWA could exacerbate Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation, as a second cold and rainy winter approaches. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain in overcrowded and unsanitary tent camps, heavily dependent on international aid. Experts have warned of the potential for famine in Gaza’s northern regions, which have been almost entirely isolated by Israeli forces since early October. In response, Israel’s military body responsible for coordinating humanitarian aid to Gaza stated on X (formerly Twitter) that it would continue to work with the international community to increase aid deliveries through Kerem Shalom and other crossings. It also claimed that in November, UNRWA coordinated less than 10% of the aid that entered Gaza.

Egypt hosts conference on Gaza’s humanitarian crisis Read More »

2024 deadliest year for humanitarian workers, 281 Killed

Discover /

The United Nations reported Friday that 2024 has become the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with 281 deaths so far—surpassing the previous high of 280 in 2023. This tragic milestone is primarily driven by violence in the Middle East, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the exceptional risks faced by aid workers, healthcare staff, delivery personnel, and other humanitarians operating in conflict zones. “Humanitarians are working courageously and selflessly in places like Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and beyond. They show the best humanity has to offer, and they are getting killed in return,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke. He stressed that these deaths would send shockwaves through the humanitarian community, particularly those working on the front lines of conflict. According to the U.N., most of the victims were national staff (268 people), while 13 were international personnel. The majority of these deaths occurred in Gaza, where 230 aid workers have been killed. The figures come from the Aid Worker Security Database, a project funded by the U.S. and managed by the U.K.-based group Humanitarian Outcomes. While Gaza is the epicenter of this violence, the U.N. noted that threats to humanitarians extend to other conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, where incidents of violence, kidnapping, harassment, and arbitrary detention have been reported. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, a total of 333 humanitarians have lost their lives, with the war itself causing more than 44,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health officials.

2024 deadliest year for humanitarian workers, 281 Killed Read More »

Number of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza rises to 188

World /

The number of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 has soared to 188, media office in the blockaded enclave said on Saturday. While Israeli forces killed on Saturday two journalists in Gaza City, another two targeted earlier were identified by the authorities, the media office said in a statement. Al-Zahraa Abu Sukheil and Ahmed Abu Sukheil, who worked for the News Media Network, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a school sheltering the displaced in Gaza City. The other two were identified as Mustafa Bahar and Abdulrahman Bahar, who worked for local news agency Ajel Palestine. Mustafa, a reporter was killed on March 31 near the Kuwait Roundabout south of Gaza City, while Abdulrahman, a photographer, was killed on Oct. 6 in the Al-Karama neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City. The media office condemned the targeting of Palestinian journalists, holding Israel fully responsible. It urged the international community to pressure Israel to stop the killing of media personnel. Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict, including devastating Israeli airstrikes, famine, displacement of population and destruction of buildings. According to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, the Israeli war on Gaza has killed more journalists over the past year than any other conflict over the past three decades. Overall, Israel has killed more than 43,000 people since the Hamas attacks last October, and rendered the enclave almost uninhabitable. It faces charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the territory.

Number of journalists killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza rises to 188 Read More »

Iranian foreign minister arrives in Egypt amid tensions with Israel

Egypt /

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Cairo late Wednesday, according to an announcement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on X. His visit comes amid heightened anticipation of an Israeli strike on Iran following a retaliatory missile attack by Tehran against Israel earlier this month. Baghaei shared a picture of Araghchi’s arrival in Cairo, saying, “We just arrived in Cairo. Iran and Egypt are significant countries with rich histories and civilizations, and they are influential players in the region.” He added that “important discussions will take place on Thursday with senior officials in Egypt.” The official Iranian news agency, IRNA, reported Araghchi’s arrival as part of a regional tour to meet senior Egyptian officials, noting a formal reception. IRNA pointed out that the last visit by a senior Iranian official to Egypt occurred 14 years ago when Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the late Iranian foreign minister, traveled to the Egyptian capital for the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Cairo is the eighth stop on Araghchi’s tour, which began two weeks ago “to coordinate efforts aimed at halting the crimes of the Zionist entity and activating a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon,” according to IRNA. The top diplomat’s visit is his first since he assumed his foreign minister’s post two months ago. He arrived from Jordan and is expected to visit Türkiye, following stops in Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Oman. Earlier Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty disclosed in statements that Araghchi’s visit is part of “Egyptian efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.” Regional tensions have escalated due to Israel’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 42,400 people, mostly women and children, following a Hamas attack last year. The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country, which have killed more than 1,500 people and injured over 4,500 others since last month.

Iranian foreign minister arrives in Egypt amid tensions with Israel Read More »

Egypt, Spain renew calls for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon

Egypt /

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno renewed calls for cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon during a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday, October 16. Abdelatty emphasized that true security and peace cannot be achieved without addressing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, stating, “There is no security or stability in this region without the establishment of a Palestinian state.” Albares echoed the sentiment, advocating for an “immediate permanent cease-fire in Gaza and a truce in Lebanon,” stressing that Spain, along with Egypt and other international partners, has consistently called for these measures since the outbreak of violence. Spain is one of three European countries to have recognized Palestine as a state and has recently urged the EU to reconsider its trade relations with Israel. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also called for an end to arms exports to Israel.

Egypt, Spain renew calls for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon Read More »

Egypt, Saudi Arabia call for cease-fire in Gaza, Lebanon

Egypt /

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday called for “steps towards de-escalation” and a cease-fire in Gaza and Lebanon. During a meeting, the two leaders emphasized that “the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, is the only path to achieving sustainable ceasefire, peace, and security in the region,” said the Egyptian Presidency in a statement. Al-Sisi and bin Salman called for “steps towards de-escalation, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as addressing the worsening humanitarian conditions, and halting policies that push the region to the brink of further conflict.” “Attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause would lead to the continuation of conflict in the region,” they pointed out. The two leaders also discussed several regional issues, with a focus on the security of the Red Sea region, as well as the situations in Sudan, Libya, and Syria. They agreed to form an Egyptian-Saudi Supreme Coordination Council and signed an agreement to encourage and protect mutual investments between the two countries, according to the statement. Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday upon arrival at Cairo airport. On Sept. 16, bin Salman met with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Riyadh to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two countries. In June 2022, during a visit to Egypt, bin Salman held talks with Sisi during which they affirmed their shared stance and common destiny, culminating in the signing of 14 investment agreements. In November 2023, the Egyptian president and the Saudi crown prince met in Riyadh and called on the international community to intervene to halt Israeli military escalation in the Gaza Strip.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia call for cease-fire in Gaza, Lebanon Read More »

Paris demonstration demands end to Gaza genocide

World /

 Supporters of Palestine gathered at the Place de la Republique in Paris to protest the violence in the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli attack for one year. Demonstrators demanded an end to the genocide and insisted that the Israeli military halt its assaults on Gaza and Lebanon. The protest, organized by supporters of Palestine and Lebanon, drew a large crowd who carried Palestinian and Lebanese flags. Protesters held banners with poignant messages such as “Toys in Gaza are losing their children” and “Free Palestinian political prisoners,” while chanting: “Free Palestine” and “Long live Palestinian resistance.” One of the most striking parts of the demonstration was the display of two trees adorned with a banner that read: “Israel’s favorite targets.” Red-painted children’s clothing and toy dolls, symbolizing the blood of children affected by the conflict, were hung beneath the banner, serving as a powerful visual condemnation of the violence. Notable figures in attendance included Marine Tondelier, leader of the Green Party (EELV), Thomas Portes, a far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) Member of Parliament and Salah Hamouri, a Palestinian-French lawyer and author of The Prisoner of Jerusalem. Tondelier voiced deep frustration and sorrow about the continued violence in Gaza in her speech. “This helplessness is terrible because we have been protesting for a year, and this atrocity has been going on for a year,” said Tondelier, accusing world leaders of turning a blind eye to the actions of the Israeli military. She specifically criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for what she described as his lack of meaningful action. “After a year of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, Macron now says: ‘We must listen to the United Nations.’ It’s been a year. Who is he fooling?” she asked.

Paris demonstration demands end to Gaza genocide Read More »

Scroll to Top