UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, has expressed deep concern as the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 40,000, with an average of 130 people being killed every day over the past 10 months. Türk attributes this situation to failures by the Israeli Defense Forces to comply with the rules of war, resulting in the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship. He has called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, as well as an end to Israel’s illegal occupation and the implementation of a two-State solution.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces stated that they have eliminated over 17,000 Palestinian militants in Gaza, emphasizing their commitment to continue their actions against Hamas. The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has announced plans to travel to Israel to hold talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, in an effort to secure a ceasefire and promote stability in the region.
ActionAid has expressed outrage and heartbreak over the situation in Gaza, criticizing governments worldwide for their inaction in protecting civilian lives. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, has denounced the US for prolonging the “catastrophe” by supporting Israel and has called for legal punishment against Israel for war crimes.
The UN children’s agency describes the conditions in Gaza as beyond description, with whole neighborhoods destroyed and 90% of the population displaced at least once. The UK has condemned alleged links between Yemen’s Houthis and al-Shabaab militants in Somalia, calling for action to counter this activity. Ceasefire talks in Qatar involving top US officials have been deemed as having a promising start by the White House, with efforts to secure the release of hostages and bring relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
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