During the last 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 82 Palestinians and wounded 122 others…reports Asian Lite News
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,960 with 72,524 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement.
During the last 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 82 Palestinians and wounded 122 others, it added on Saturday.
The statement noted that some victims remained under the rubble amid heavy bombardment and a lack of civil defence and ambulance crews, Xinhua news agency reported.
Dozens of Palestinians, the majority of whom are children and women, were killed and others injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted multiple areas across the Gaza Strip since Friday night, Palestine’s official news agency WAFA reported.
The report said at least 23 people were killed in intense airstrikes that targeted a number of houses in the southern Gaza Strip cities of Khan Younis and Rafah.
Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage.
The official stated that the project, primarily centered around a temporary pier, is anticipated to be operational within a few weeks…reports Asian Lite News
US President Joe Biden will announce in his State of the Union address that the country’s military will build a temporary port in Gaza for the delivery of additional humanitarian aid to civilians, senior officials have said.
“Tonight in the speech, the President will announce that he’s directing the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a port in the Mediterranean, on the Gaza coast, that can receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters,” one of the officials said during a call with reporters on Thursday.
The official added that the project, “the main feature of which is a temporary pier”, is expected to become operational in “a number of weeks”, Xinhua news agency reported.
US forces involved in the mission “are either already in the region or will begin to move there soon”, the official said.
The officials didn’t provide much detail about the plan, with one noting that it won’t require “US troops on the ground” to build the port. Instead, the US military will work “from just offshore”, collaborating with partners and allies and “working on commercial options”.
Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and has been pushing to put in place a truce by the start of Ramadan…reports Asian Lite News
Vice President Kamala Harris has demanded Palestinian militant group Hamas agree to an immediate six-week ceasefire while forcefully urging Israel to do more to boost aid deliveries into Gaza, where she said innocent people were suffering a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
In some of the strongest comments by a senior leader of the US government to date on the issue, Harris pressed the Israeli government and outlined specific ways on how more aid can flow into the densely-populated enclave where hundreds of thousands of people are facing famine, following five months of Israel’s military campaign.
“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire,” Harris said at an event in Selma, Alabama. “There is a deal on the table, and as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let’s get a ceasefire.”
“People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act…The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses,” she said.
On Sunday, a Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo for the latest round of ceasefire talks, billed by many as the final possible hurdle for a truce, but it was unclear if any progress was made. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth’s online version reported that Israel boycotted the talks after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages who are still alive.
Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and has been pushing to put in place a truce by the start of Ramadan, a week away. A US official on Saturday said Israel has agreed on a framework deal.
An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented its full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters that Hamas had so far rejected that demand.
After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was “not yet there.” There was no official comment from Israel.
In past negotiations, Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the well-being of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.
In other diplomatic moves, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz will meet Harris at the White House on Monday and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday. US envoy Amos Hochstein will visit Beirut on Monday to pursue efforts to de-escalate the conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday, expressing hope that the discussions would lead to a cessation of hostilities…reports Asian Lite News
Israel has decided not to send a delegation to Cairo for discussions regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages from Gaza.
The decision stems from Hamas’ failure to respond to two key Israeli demands — providing a detailed list of hostages, specifying those who are alive and those who are deceased, and confirming the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages.
The Israeli official, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic negotiations, revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in coordination with Mossad director David Barnea, made the decision after receiving information that Hamas had not addressed these conditions. This move follows Netanyahu’s outlined terms in a speech last Thursday, where he emphasised the need for clarity on the identities of the hostages before progressing with any agreements.
Despite a statement from a senior Biden Administration official indicating that Israel had “basically accepted” a proposed six-week ceasefire, the lack of response from Hamas has led to the cancellation of Israel’s participation in the Cairo talks.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday, expressing hope that the discussions would lead to a cessation of hostilities. However, a high-ranking Hamas official has yet to respond to CNN’s inquiry about whether the group has addressed Israel’s conditions.
The remaining sticking points in the negotiations, according to a Hamas source, include establishing a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops – referred to as “occupation forces” – from the Gaza Strip, and facilitating the return of displaced individuals from the south to the north.
Despite optimism, a diplomatic source downplayed the prospects of an immediate breakthrough, citing slow progress and suggesting that a deal might not materialise within the next 48 hours. (ANI)
The senior UN aid official has informed the Security Council that nearly, 5,76,000 people in the Gaza Strip are facing hunger and famine….reports Asian Lite News
A senior aid official of a UN body has warned that a quarter of the population of the war-trodden Gaza is one step away from an imminent famine.
According to reports available from the United Nations’ aid agencies in Gaza, Rajesh Rajasingham, director of coordination for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has informed the UN Security Council on the danger awaiting the strip in the days to come.
The senior UN aid official has informed the Security Council that nearly, 5,76,000 people in the Gaza Strip are facing hunger and famine.
He has also warned that widespread famine could be almost inevitable if proper action was not taken.
He said that one in six children under 2 years of age in northern Gaza is suffering from acute malnutrition.
The official added that all the 2.3 million people in the Palestinian enclave rely on “woefully inadequate” food aid to survive.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau, told the 15-member council that it was ready to swiftly expand and scale-up the operations if there is a ceasefire agreement.
The WFP official has also informed that the risk of famine was being fueled by the inability to bring critical food supplies into Gaza in sufficient quantities.
The UN official has also said that the operating conditions faced by the WFP staff on the ground was on almost impossible conditions.
Meanwhile, UN officials said that 75 ton of freight, 10 ambulances, food rations, 300 family tents, etc, had arrived in el-Arish airport in Egypt, near the Rafah crossing to Gaza.
Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7 after the Hamas’s ravage in Southern Israel killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 people as hostages into the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza-bound airlift is the first of a series of such missions this year, with three to four additional missions scheduled to deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza….reports Asian Lite News
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued directives to facilitate the dispatch of urgent relief supplies mobilised by the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai as part of a vital relief airbridge to Gaza through El Arish Airport in Egypt.
Giuseppe Saba, CEO of IHC, said, “We are proactively supporting the international humanitarian community to respond to the ongoing humanitarian emergency and ease suffering in Gaza. The mission of Dubai’s International Humanitarian City resonates deeply with its dedication to saving lives by fulfilling urgent medical needs in coordination with the World Health Organisation. Together with our partners, we remain dedicated to standing by the most vulnerable everywhere, aligning with Dubai and the UAE’s efforts towards our humanitarian duties.”
Highlighting Dubai’s unwavering commitment to humanitarian missions, a flight carrying approximately 11 metric tonnes of medicines and medical supplies obtained from the stocks of the World Health Organisation (WHO) took off early Wednesday for El Arish Airport where the crucial aid consignment is to be transferred to a WHO team, which coordinates onward dispatches into Gaza.
The Gaza-bound airlift is the first of a series of such missions this year, with three to four additional missions scheduled to deliver desperately needed aid to the people of Gaza. The shipment includes essential supplies, such as non-communicable disease kits and medicines, necessitating strict compliance with temperature controls during their transportation. IHC and its partners meticulously oversee the logistics of the operation to ensure the safe and timely delivery of aid to those in need.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, stated that WHO’s logistics hub, which is hosted in IHC, provides a lifeline to countries affected by health emergencies across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and beyond. “As the health crisis in the Gaza Strip unfolds and as hostilities in Rafah escalate, these medicines are critical for people whose access to medical care has been severely restricted owing to shortages facing the health system as a whole,” said Dr Balkhy.
“WHO is grateful for the support of Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, the Government of Dubai, and the Government of the United Arab Emirates to deliver life-saving supplies to the world’s most vulnerable populations in their greatest time of need,” Dr. Balkhy added.
IHC moved swiftly last year to establish an airbridge to facilitate urgent relief supplies to populations affected by the escalating crisis in Gaza. It facilitated six air shipments within ten days, leveraging its vast network and resources to bolster humanitarian efforts and ensure a rapid response to the crisis, reaffirming its standing as a leading humanitarian hub in the region.
Prosthetic Limb Centre Opens at UAE Field Hospital
The Prosthetic Limb Centre opened today at the UAE Field Hospital in the Gaza Strip, as part of Operation “Gallant Knight 3”, launched by the UAE under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support the Palestinian people.
This initiative comes in response to the urgent need to support the injured and assist them with a comprehensive set of the latest medical devices in the field of orthopedics, to provide and manufacture high-quality prosthetics, and to rehabilitate patients and enable them to lead normal lives.
The centre will operate in several stages, starting with the first stage of taking measurements to manufacture the prosthetic limb, followed by the manufacturing stage, and the physical therapy and rehabilitation of the injured
On the first day, measurements were taken for 36 cases in preparation for the manufacture of their prosthetics. The number of cases is expected to reach more than 100 within a few days.
The number of trucks entering Gaza is significantly fewer than the target number of 500 trucks per day…reports Asian Lite News
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has warned that food insecurity in the northern Gaza Strip had reached an “extremely critical state” because of the restrictions imposed on the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The agency said on Wednesday in a press statement that 51 per cent of missions planned by the UNRWA and other humanitarian institutions to deliver aid to and undertake assessments in northern Gaza this year have been denied access by Israeli authorities, Xinhua news agency reported.
The number of trucks entering Gaza is significantly fewer than the target number of 500 trucks per day, with great difficulties in sending supplies through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings, it said.
UNRWA added that the lives of about 400,000 people were threatened by starvation in the northern Gaza Strip, calling on international institutions to increase their assistance, especially to the areas in the northern part of the enclave.
In addition, the media office of the Hamas-run government in Gaza on Tuesday urged the World Food Program (WFP) to reverse its decision to suspend the delivery of food aid in the northern Gaza Strip.
The office said in a press statement that it considered the decision tantamount to “sentencing death to 75 per cent of a million people and further deteriorates the humanitarian situation exponentially”.
The WFP said in a statement on social media platform X on Tuesday that it’s “pausing the deliveries of life-saving food assistance to northern Gaza until safe conditions are in place for our staff and the people we are trying to reach”.
The organisation said the decision “has not been taken lightly,” adding “the safety and security to deliver critical food aid — and for the people receiving it — must be ensured”.
Although it is the first US draft that supports a “ceasefire,” it is referred to as a temporary one “as soon as practicable” and “based on the formula of all hostages being released”…reports Asian Lite News
The US on Monday tabled its own UN Security Council draft resolution on Gaza, ahead of Tuesday’s vote on an Algerian resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Although it is the first US draft that supports a “ceasefire,” it is referred to as a temporary one “as soon as practicable” and “based on the formula of all hostages being released.”
The US draft resolution underscores that the Israeli offensive against the Gazan town of Rafah should not proceed, citing circumstances under which such an attack “would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries, which would have serious implications for regional peace and security.”
On Sunday, the US had said it would veto the Algerian resolution as it could jeopardize Washington’s diplomatic efforts aimed at brokering an end to hostilities in Gaza.
The Algerian text rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians and demands full, rapid and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.
Since the start of the war, the US has twice vetoed ceasefire resolutions that were backed by an overwhelming majority of countries, and has abstained from two others, allowing the council to call for increasing aid convoys into Gaza.
UNSC resolutions need at least nine votes in favor and no negative votes by the five permanent members — the US, UK, France, China and Russia — to be adopted.
Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said he does not see any reason for the US to veto the Algerian resolution.
“The killings are going on, the humanitarian catastrophe is continuing to unfold, and we’ve heard the loud cries all over the world for ending this tragic situation, so I don’t know why they’ll vote against it,” he said. “They’ve always been calling for protection of human rights.”
The US draft, condemns “all acts of terrorism, including the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, as well as Hamas’ taking and killing of hostages, murder, and sexual violence including rape.”
It emphasizes “grave concern” for the well-being of the 130-plus Israeli hostages held by Hamas and other groups, as well as for the well-being of the civilian population of Gaza, including the more than 1.5 million Palestinians now taking refuge in Rafah.
It calls for the lifting of “all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale,” and for parties to the conflict to allow “the immediate, safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.”
The text also stresses the urgent need for “a viable plan to ensure the protection of and prevent the displacement of civilians in the event of a major ground military offensive into Rafah,” and calls on all parties to “refrain from depriving Palestinians in Gaza of assistance indispensable to their survival.”
It further stresses that Gaza constitutes “an integral part of the territory occupied in 1967,” and reiterates the vision of a two-state solution with the Gaza Strip as part of a Palestinian state.
The US text reiterates demands that Hamas and other armed groups immediately grant humanitarian access to all remaining hostages, and calls on UN member states to intensify their efforts “to suppress the financing of terrorism, including by restricting financing of Hamas.”
Richard Gowan, the UN director for the International Crisis Group, said on social media: “I suspect that Israel will worry a lot more about this draft resolution from the [US mission to the UN] than louder or stronger demands from other UN members.”
It was not clear that the draft would be passed or even submitted to a vote. A resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members – the US, France, Britain, Russia or China – in order to be adopted. But it could be the basis for negotiations with other council members in the coming days.
The US draft begins by condemning Hamas for its 7 October attack, specifically the “taking and killing of hostages, murder and sexual violence including rape”. The US mission had previously complained that earlier security council resolutions had omitted explicit blame of Hamas.
The US text calls for protection of civilians and for the provision of humanitarian aid, but does not specifically mention the role and responsibilities of the Israeli government or armed forces.
The UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, also called for “a stop to the fighting right now” and moves towards a lasting peace rather an offensive in Rafah.
Speaking to reporters on a visit to Stanley in the Falkland Islands on Monday, he said: “We are calling for a stop to the fighting right now, we think that what we need is a pause in the fighting and the hostages to come out and aid to go in. That should happen straight away.
“Let’s have the stop to the fighting now, have that hostage release and then build on it from here,” Lord Cameron said. “That’s what we need to happen rather than an offensive in Rafah.”
The resolution rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians and demands full, rapid and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza…reports Asian Lite News
The US has said it will veto an Algerian resolution at the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as it could jeopardize Washington’s diplomatic efforts aimed at brokering an end to hostilities.
Algeria had over two weeks ago put forward a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The text rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians and demands full, rapid and unfettered flow of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza.
Algeria, which occupies the Arab seat at the UNSC, has requested a vote on the draft on Tuesday.
But Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US representative to the UN, issued a statement reiterating that Washington “does not support action on this draft resolution,” which therefore “will not be adopted.”
Since the start of the war, the US has twice vetoed ceasefire resolutions that were backed by an overwhelming majority of countries, and has abstained from two others, allowing the council to call for increasing aid convoys into Gaza.
UNSC resolutions need at least nine votes in favor and no negative votes by the five permanent members — the US, UK, France, China and Russia — to be adopted.
Thomas-Greenfield said the US has been intensifying efforts toward a sustainable resolution of the Gaza conflict, and in pursuit of this goal, is actively engaged in negotiations for a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, designed to bring about an immediate period of calm for at least six weeks.
This ceasefire would provide a window of opportunity to lay the groundwork for a more enduring peace, she added.
Thomas-Greenfield pointed to US President Joe Biden’s personal interventions over the past week, holding multiple discussions with Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari leaders.
While significant gaps persist, key elements of the deal are under negotiation, she said, adding that it is critical for all parties to give this process “the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it, and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities, in jeopardy.”
The Algerian resolution “would not achieve these outcomes, and indeed, may run counter to them,” she said, adding that the UNSC “has the obligation to ensure that any action we take in the coming days increases pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal on the table.”
On Wednesday, last week, Arab countries in the UN reaffirmed their support for the Algerian draft resolution, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and unimpeded humanitarian relief amid Israel’s looming ground invasion of Rafah.
In a press briefing alongside other members, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, urged the UN to act saying the group believes there is “massive” support for the proposed resolution.
In her statement on Saturday, Thomas-Greenfield called on the UN Security Council to, instead, ensure “any action we take in the coming days increases pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal on the table”.
Stating that the US would continue to engage in diplomacy, she added that the US “will be candid” with Israeli and regional leaders regarding expectations for the protection of Rafah’s more than one million civilians.
“It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it — and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities — in jeopardy,” the statement read.
Israeli cabinet rebuts Biden again
Further showcasing the growing friction between the US and Israel, the Israeli cabinet unanimously approved a declaration strongly opposing any plan for Palestinian statehood, the Times of Israel reported.
This comes in the wake of reports that the US and several Arab partners were preparing a detailed plan for a comprehensive peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians that includes a “firm timeline” for a Palestinian state.
“Israel utterly rejects international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians,” the cabinet decision read. “A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions.”
“Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,” the motion added. “Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would foil any future peace settlement.”
Responding to this, a US State Department spokesperson said that the best way to achieve an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza that provides “lasting peace and security” for Israelis and Palestinians alike, is our strong commitment to the “creation of a Palestinian state,” Times of Israel reported.
“As such, the US continues to support the two-state solution and to oppose policies that endanger its viability or contradict our mutual interests and values,” it added.
The Israeli cabinet statement echoed comments made by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in response to a Washington Post report on the matter.
Starmer has repeatedly shifted his position on the issue, at first calling for a “humanitarian pause” and then a “sustainable ceasefire.”…reports Asian Lite News
The Scottish Labour Party has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, BBC News reported.
Party leader Anas Sarwar has been calling for a ceasefire for several months, in a split with the head of the national party, Keir Starmer, who said he wanted a “sustainable end” to the Israel-Hamas war.
Starmer has faced significant pressure from the party ranks over his stance.
Now, Scottish Labour’s two members of parliament in Westminster — Michael Shanks and Ian Murray — will face pressure to back Sarwar in next week’s vote in the House of Commons calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a similar vote in November, the two MPs abstained.
Starmer has repeatedly shifted his position on the issue, at first calling for a “humanitarian pause” and then a “sustainable ceasefire.”
At the Munich Security Conference, he said that the fighting in Gaza “has to stop,” adding: “The question is how do we get there?”
Scottish Labour’s passing of the ceasefire motion was unopposed. It calls for an end to strikes into and out of Gaza, Hamas’ release of hostages and a pathway to peace.
In his appeal for support for the motion, Neil Bibby, Scottish Labour’s constitution spokesperson, said: “It is simply heartbreaking that countless children in Gaza are currently dying and there are heartbroken parents in Israel too.
“That is why we have a moral obligation to be unequivocal. There must be an end to the fighting now and a sustainable ceasefire. An end to the terror and end to the violence.”
Sarwar has attempted to play down his party’s split with the national Labour Party.
“I don’t think there’s as much distance in this as people now believe,” he said.
“Keir Starmer has said he wants the fighting to stop right now and for that to be a sustainable ceasefire. I think we ultimately have the same position.”
