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Tag: Israel

  • ‘We have a lot of fighters, people who want to support us’, says Hamas: what we know about day six

    ‘We have a lot of fighters, people who want to support us’, says Hamas: what we know about day six

    No electricity in Gaza

    As fuel, food, and other necessities are halted by Israel in Gaza Strip, the besieged area’s only electric power plant is now exhausted. This means that 2.3 million people are now without electricity whereas hospitals and other necessary services have been affected.

    And with an increasing number of wounded people, people are left to wait for their turn. According to AL-Jazeera, 50 patients are waiting to get surgeries in Gaza’s largest hospital.

    United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres has called out the blockade of resources and necessities into Gaza, stating that fuel, water, and food “must be allowed into Gaza”.

    Hamas releases children, Israel calls it a farce

    Hamas’ Qassam Brigade has released a video showing the release of two children and a woman who were initially under their custody. This comes after the circulation of false news stating that Hamas beheaded 40 Israeli babies — Hamas denied the allegations.

    Nonetheless, Israel has deemed the video as a farce stating, Hamas is trying to change the truth through the theatrics of publishing a propaganda video through its media mouthpieces,”

    White House retract Biden’s claim

    Earlier, false news had been circulating on social media that Israeli women and children have been beheaded by Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades.

    Anadolu Agency reached out to the Israeli spokesperson on Tuesday who stated that the Israeli army has no information confirming allegations that “Hamas beheaded babies.”

    Nonetheless, in his address, US President Joe Biden stated that “I never really thought that I would see, have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.”

    However, The Washington Post reported that “A White House spokesperson later clarified that US officials and the president have not seen pictures or confirmed such reports independently,”

    Talks on releasing Israeli captives, Red Cross

    The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is currently in conversation with Hamas in efforts to free Israeli captives.

    “We are now in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials as part of the efforts on the hostage issue,

    “As a neutral mediator, we are ready to conduct humanitarian visits; and facilitate any eventual release.”

    According to Israel, 150 of their people are under Hamas’ custody including women, children, and soldiers.

    No attacks from Gaza but Israel continues airstrikes

    According to the Israeli army, no rockets were striked from Gaza and Lebanon last night.

    But airstrikes from Israel continue. At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, have been killed by an Israeli missile attack on the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

    ‘We are not afraid’, says Hamas

    Al-Jazeera spoke to a Hamas leader, Ghazi Hamad, who asserted that they are prepared to face Israeli troops who are reportedly going to be deployed in Gaza as they are apparently preparing for a ground operation.

    “We are not afraid. We are a strong people. We have a strong determination to continue. We have a lot of fighters and a lot of people who want to support us, Hamad said.

    Israel expels Palestinian employees in West Bank

    Many Palestinians from Gaza had been working in the occupied West Bank due to better job prospects.

    After the attacks, however, their employers took them to checkpoints and then to the occupied West Bank as directed by Israeli police.

    Al-Jazeera reports that there is no going back for them and reportedly, they were also attacked by Israeli police after getting picked up.

    They are currently stuck at the Palestinian Authority facility in Ramallah and have not been able to return to their homes even though some have lost their family members in Gaza in Israel attacks.

    Palestinians in occupied West Bank

    Palestinian health ministry has revealed that Israeli settlers have killed two Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

    Reuters reported that according to the witnesses, settlers shot the father and son who were at the funeral of four Palestinians who were also killed by settlers and soldiers on Wednesday.

    Casualties

    According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1,200 have been killed in Gaza and about 5,600 wounded.

    In Israel too, 1,200 have died while 3,000 have been injured.

    The UN reveals that as a result of Israel’s attacks, 338,934 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza.

  • Israel-Palestine war will not affect any economic agreements, UAE

    Israel-Palestine war will not affect any economic agreements, UAE

    The trade minister of the United Arab Emirates has clarified that the Israel war on Gaza will not affect any economic agreements.

    “We don’t mix economy and trade with politics,” Thani al Zeyoudi told reporters in Dubai on Tuesday.

    Amidst the decades long pro-Palestine policy of the Arab world, UAE was the first Gulf country to establish relations with Israel in 2020. Is also the first Arab state to have a free trade agreement with Israel as in March, as the two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

    The recent claim is followed by a statement issued by UAE on October 8, 2023, in which the country strongly condemned Hamas attacks on Israelis, stating that, “attacks by Hamas against Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza strip, including the firing of thousands of rockets at population centers, are a serious and grave escalation.”

    The ministry of foreign affairs was “appalled” by the reports of the abduction of Israeli civilians, calling for the protection of civilians on both sides

    “The UAE remains in close contact with all regional and international partners to swiftly de-escalate the situation and restore calm in Israel and the OPT and a return to negotiations for a final settlement within the parameters of the two state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, who deserve to live in peace and dignity.”, the statement concluded.

  • Israel is dropping white phosphorus bombs on Gaza: what we know about Day Five

    Israel is dropping white phosphorus bombs on Gaza: what we know about Day Five

    Use of white phosphorus

    The official channel of Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates have posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Israeli military attacked the Al-Karama neighbourhood in Gaza with white phosphorus bombs.

    White phosphorus bombs burn up oxygen and suffocate people in the area. Moreover, white phosphorus causes burns and can spread fire over an area of hundreds of square yards.

    Power supply to deplete

    Authorities have claimed that the electricity supply in Gaza can shut down “within hours” as “it is running out of fuel”.

    Palestinian enclave houses more than two million people. Hospitals and shelters are currently operating without electric power.

    Additionally, an ambulance in Gaza was attacked, killing two. The health ministry has accused Israel of “deliberately targeting” medical workers.

    Attacks on Gaza

    Hamas has stated that in the span of one night, at least 30 people have been killed and hundreds wounded after Israel launched hundreds of air raids.

    According to Salama Marouf, who spoke with AFP news agency, dozens of residential buildings, factories, mosques and shops were hit.

    On the contrary, the Israeli military has claimed to have hit several Hamas targets at night.

    Displaced, wounded, dead

    According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, more than 260,000 people have forcibly fled their homes following the Israeli attacks.

    “Over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes,” and “this number is expected to rise further”.

    Whereas the Palestinian health minister has reported that the death toll has reached 950 with more than 5,000 wounded.

    Moreover, at least 260 children have also been killed due to attacks on Gaza.

    As per the Palestinian foreign ministry, since Saturday, Israeli air strikes have destroyed more than 22,600 residential units and 10 health facilities and damaged 48 schools.

    Israel refuses food, medical supply

    The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) requested the delivery of food and medical supplies into Gaza “but Israel refused”.

    “We call on international humanitarian institutions and the international community to intervene urgently to stop the aggression and allow the entry of relief materials and restore electricity and water, because the Gaza Strip is facing a major humanitarian catastrophe,” PLO official Hussein al-Sheikh said on X.

    Israeli death toll rises to 1,200

    An Israeli military spokesperson has confirmed that the Israeli death toll has now risen to 1,200, with more than 2,700 injured.
    Biden’s speech in support of Israel

    The US president Joe Biden gave a speech on Tuesday, condemning the attacks by Hamas and deeming them as “sheer evil”.

    “Let there be no doubt: The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself — today, tomorrow, as we always have. It’s as simple as that,”

    He noted that 14 US citizens are also among those who died in Israel while others have been taken captives.

    Biden has committed to giving more military assistance to Israel, adding that the US has altered its military disposition in the region to warn anyone “seeking to take advantage” of the conflict.

    Biden said that he spoke with Neyhanyatu, “We also discussed how democracies like Israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law,” Biden added.

    What’s next?

    Jonathan Conricus, a spokesman for the Israeli military has announced that hundreds of thousands of troops are assembling near the Gaza Strip for the war with Hamas.

    In a video posted on X, he stated that Israel has sent infantry, armoured soldiers, artillery corps and soldiers — 300,000 in total.

    “And that is to make sure that Hamas, at this end of this war, won’t have any military capabilities by which they can threaten or kill Israeli civilians,” he said.

    Courtesy: Al-Jazeera

  • There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    Supermodels sisters Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid have consistently been vocal about supporting the liberation of Palestine on their platforms, even going to the extent of attending public marches and donating to causes providing aid to war-torn cities in Palestine. Bella has also revealed in a 2021 podcast interview that her activism has cost her jobs and even relationships, but refused to abandon her support for a liberated Palestine.

    “I had so many companies that stopped working with me…I have friends that completely dropped me…I know my family enough, I know my own history enough. And that should be enough.”

    But there is a painful history behind why the Hadid sisters have continued to advocate for a free Palestine, even at the risk of losing their prolific careers. It involves their own family members who were expelled from Palestine during the 1948 Nakba. During this period, more than 70,000 Palestinians were removed or expelled from their homes located in the area that was to be declared the state of Israel.

    Bella and Gigi’s father, Mohammad Hadid spoke at the #ABtalks podcast about his experience, sharing that he was born in Nazareth, the city where Jesus Christ was believed to have been born. In the interview, the real estate developer said that his family had taken in Jewish refugees who came on a ship from Poland, who were rejected from several countries before arriving at the Haifa port, that Hadid said his great-grandfather had rebuilt during the Ottoman Empire.

    The Jewish refugees lived with Hadid’s family for two and a half years, after which Mohammad was born. The senior Hadid recalled when his mother came back to their home in Safad, they were told by guards to leave, and weren’t even allowing his mother to get a blanket to wrap her baby.

    Mohammad Hadid is the descendant of the Arab ruler of Northern Palestine Zahir al-Umar al-Zaydani, the Prince of Nazareth from his mother’s side.

    According to an article, the monarch was the first Arab ruler of Nazareth, Haifa and Jabba of Palestine to introduce a mandate that allowed Muslims, Jews and Christians to live in harmony under his rule. Today, his ancestors still live in Northern Palestine, where he is celebrated as a national hero.

    Alongside Mohammad Hadid, his children have spoken about the trauma of Nakba and called for a liberated Palestine. In 2022, Bella reshared a clip by Al-Jazeera detailing the significance of Nakba Day, and wrote that it was heartbreaking how elders are still not allowed to return to their homeland today.

    Alana shared a picture with her father holding the Palestinian flag and wrote they were remembering the trauma of 1948. Gigi shared the image and added hearts.

  • Malala issues statement on the Israel-Palestine war

    Malala issues statement on the Israel-Palestine war

    Nobel Prize winner and education activist Malala Yousafzai has issued a statement on Israel’s war on Palestine.

    In her letter, she called for both sides to hold a ceasefire and prevent innocent lives from being lost, writing that it is cruel how Palestine and Israel children have been caught in the middle.

    The Nobel Prize winner reflected on her own upbringing during a wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkha, writing “We woke up to the sounds of mortar shells, saw our schools and mosques destroyed by bombs. Peace became something we could only dream about.”

    “War never spares children,” Malala further wrote. “Not those kidnapped from their homes in Israel, not those hiding from airstrikes or without food and water in Gaza.”

  • Hamas calls for Muslims to stand with Palestine on Friday: what we know about Day Four

    Hamas calls for Muslims to stand with Palestine on Friday: what we know about Day Four

    In the latest update, Hamas has called on people all over to come out in solidarity with the Palestinian cause coming Friday.

    Flee to Egypt

    The Israeli military has suggested the Palestinians flee to Egypt to escape air attacks in the Gaza Strip.

    Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht, chief military spokesperson of Israel addressed foreign media, stating, “I am aware that the Rafah crossing (on the Gaza-Egypt border) is still open. Anyone who can get out, I would advise them to get out,”

    Soon after this, news came in that the Rafah border was closed.

    1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters with Israel

    The Israeli army has claimed to have about 1,500 bodies of Hamas fighters that they found in Israel and Gaza Strip.
    According to Hecht, control over the border has “more or less” been restored along the besieged Gaza Strip.

    200 areas in Gaza bombed

    The Israeli military has bombed more than 200 targets in Gaza Strip including an alleged weapons storage site inside a mosque as well as an apartment used by Hamas’s antitank guided missile forces.

    Situation in Gaza ‘extremely worrying’: UNRWA

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees has revealed in an interview with Al-Jazeera that thousands of people in Gaza who left their homes to escape the Israeli attacks have been “unable to access basic services”.

    “It is extremely damaging for people. For us, it is extremely worrying that they cannot access any of these basic services,” al-Rifai said.

    14 of UNRWA distribution centres have been bombarded while on the other hand, at least 137,000 people have been displaced and seeking shelter since Saturday.

    Israeli forces ‘taking revenge’ by killing civilians

    The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor posted on social media that Israeli forces are committing “mass killing crimes against civilians” in Gaza.

    “The Israeli forces are taking revenge on Palestinian armed factions by committing mass killing crimes against civilians,” the group said of Israel’s relentless bombardment of densely populated areas, as it posted a photo on social media of a levelled neighbourhood.

    “Even in cases of military necessity, Israel must adhere to provisions of international humanitarian law in its attack on Gaza.”

    “We will purify the area and attack terrorists wherever they are,”

    The Israel Defense Forces’ spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, held a press conference, in which he stated that Hamas terrorists are in Israel, and that Israeli troops are on a hunt and killing them.

    “We will purify the area and attack terrorists wherever they are,” he says.

    Spain and France oppose blockade of aid to Palestine

    On Monday, EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s announced that payments from the development programme for Palestinians would be “immediately suspended”.

    This, however, was followed by rejection of the suspension from Spain, Ireland and Luxembourg.

    The EU then reconsidered its approach.

    “This cooperation must continue; we cannot confuse Hamas, which is in the list of EU’s terrorist groups, with the Palestinian population, or the Palestinian Authority or the United Nations’ organisations on the ground,” said Spain’s acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

    Similarly, the Foreign Ministry in Paris said, “We are not in favour of suspending aid that directly benefits the Palestinian people, and we made this clear to the European Commission yesterday,”

    Courtesy: Al-Jazeera News

  • Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Israel announces ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

    Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that authorities are to cut electricity and block food and fuel as part of “a complete siege” on Hamas-run Gaza which consists of a population of 2.3 million people — one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

    “We are putting a complete siege on Gaza … No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed,” Gallant said in a video statement.

    Israel-Hamas war

    On October 7, in an unexpected turn of events, Hamas fighters attacked Israeli bases and settlements.

    Hamas launched dozens of rockets into Israel as part of ‘Operation Al Aqsa Storm’ against illegal settlements in the occupied territory.

    From Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif gave a statement, stating, “Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls.”

    “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers,” Deif added.

    He also claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

    On the contrary, Israel has declared a “state of readiness”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war and we will win”

    “Our enemy will pay the type of price which it has never known,” Netanyahu said in video statement.

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  • ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’: Celebrities extend support as war rages on in Gaza

    ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’: Celebrities extend support as war rages on in Gaza

    As war rages on in Gaza, celebrities from Pakistan came forth in throngs to extend their solidarity to the Palestinian community, offering prayers to see them free from the oppressive Israeli occupation.

    Celebrities from Pakistan arrived in throngs to extend their solidarity to the Palestinian community, and are praying in their lifetimes to see a free country removed from the oppressive Israeli reign.

    Actress Saba Qamar wrote the rallying cry for Palestinian freedom: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

    Veteran actress Nadia Jamil applauded a clip where the Palestinian representative Husam Zomlot gave an interview to the BBC.

    Actress Armeena Khan lauded the bravery of the Palestinian people who were prepared to fight with all they had for their freedom.

    “The Palestinians, in my opinion are the bravest people on planet earth. Zero support and the entire world against them. My God, I am terrified for the little children about to lose their lives. Sigh..”

    Actress and VJ Anoushay Ashraf prayed that the international community would do more to help the Palestinian cause:

    “Goodness violence begets violence..I wish the world would do more to help Palestinian’s cause so we wouldn’t see such bloodshed.”

    Actress Ushna Shah expressed her disappointment with how many celebrities and politicians she had to unfollow after witnessing their reaction to the ongoing genocide of Palestinians

    “The amount of Hollywood celebrities and propaganda news publications I’ve had to unfollow…” she tweeted.

  • Hamas launches 5,000 rockets into Israel

    Hamas launches 5,000 rockets into Israel

    Hamas has launched dozens of rockets into Israel as part of ‘Operation Al Aqsa Storm’ against illegal settlements in occupied territory.

    In an unexpected turn of events, on Saturday, Palestinian fighters attacked Israeli bases.

    According to Israeli radio, Hamas fighters took 35 Israelis captive.

    AFP has reported that rocket fire was launched from multiple locations starting at 06:30 am in the morning from besieged Palestine and continued for nearly half an hour.

    From Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif gave a statement, stating, “Today the people are regaining their revolution,” he said in the recorded message, as he called on Palestinians from east Jerusalem to northern Israel to join the fight and “expel the occupiers and demolish the walls.”

    “We must set the earth on fire under the feet of the occupiers,” Deif added.

    He also claimed to have fired over 5,000 rockets into Israel.

    On the contrary, Israel has declared a ‘state of readiness’. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war and we will win”

    “Our enemy will pay type of a price which it has never known,” Netanyahu said in video statement.

    Previously, a Palestinian was killed during friction with illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank town of Huwara, where the settlers became violent during the victim’s funeral, resulting in nine hospitalised.

    Moreover, apart from the tensions along Israel’s border with Gaza, and clashes in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, at least 247 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces this year, whereas 32 Israelis and two foreign nationals have been killed in Palestinian attacks.

    World reacts

  • Palestinian and Israeli women come together for peace

    Palestinian and Israeli women come together for peace

    Hundreds of Palestinian and Israeli women rallied in the occupied West Bank to demand an end the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

    According to foreign media, the protesters were chanting “We want peace.”

    Many women wore white dresses and carried placards that read “Stop killing our children.”

    On this occasion, a Palestinian woman said, “We want our children to live instead of dying.”

    Palestinian activist and director of the Alliance for Middle East Peace NGO Huda Abu Arqoub said that this is the first association between Israeli and Palestinian women on an equal footing.

    According to Arab media, at least 243 Palestinians and 32 Israelis have been killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so far this year.