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Editor's Notes:
Here are some
initial (not final) statistics, which show the Israeli
war crimes against humanity, during the current Israeli genocidal war on
Gaza Strip, based on the
By November 7, 2024,
the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the
Israeli genocidal war on
Gaza
Strip is
53,469+.
This includes the accounted for deaths (43,469), those who are still missing under the rubble (an estimate of at least 10,000+).
Since September 23, 2024, the Lebanese death toll rose to 2,160 and the injuries to 6,871. *** *** ÈöÓúãö Çááåö ÇáÑøóÍúãóÜٰäö ÇáÑøóÍöíãö "ãöäú ÃóÌúáö Ðóٰáößó ßóÊóÈúäóÇ Úóáóìٰ Èóäöí ÅöÓúÑóÇÆöíáó Ãóäøóåõ ãóäú ÞóÊóáó äóÝúÓðÇ ÈöÛóíúÑö äóÝúÓò Ãóæú ÝóÓóÇÏò Ýöí ÇáúÃóÑúÖö ÝóßóÃóäøóãóÇ ÞóÊóáó ÇáäøóÇÓó ÌóãöíÚðÇ" (ÇáúãóÇÆöÏóÉõ ¡ 5: 32). "æóãóäú íóÞúÊõáú ãõÄúãöäðÇ ãøõÊóÚóãøöÏðÇ ÝóÌóÒóÇÄõåõ Ìóåóäøóãõ ÎóÇáöÏðÇ ÝöíåóÇ æóÛóÖöÈó Çááøóåõ Úóáóíúåö æóáóÚóäóåõ æóÃóÚóÏøó áóåõ ÚóÐóÇÈðÇ ÚóÙöíãðÇ" (ÇáäøöÓóÇÁõ ¡ 4: 93). "Åöäú ÃóÍúÓóäÊõãú ÃóÍúÓóäÊõãú áöÃóäÝõÓößõãú ۖ æóÅöäú ÃóÓóÃúÊõãú ÝóáóåóÇ ۚ " (ÇáÅÓúÑóÇÁõ ¡ 17: 7). In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had killed humankind entirely" (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma-ida, 5: 32). "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him, and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great torment" (Al-Nisa, 4: 93). "If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, (you do it) to yourselves" (Al-Isra, 17: 7). *** While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written human history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of Prophets David and Solomon , peace be upon them, and Solomon's son). After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD. By the Time Jesus, peace be upon him, started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents. No matter what the Zionists and their supporters do, they cannot change the will of God, Who promised the Holy Land to Abraham and his descendants, basically the Palestinian Muslims and Christians. No matter how much persecution and aggression the Zionists and their supporters inflict upon the Palestinian people, they will never be able to force them out of the Holy Land, which Allah, praise to Him, promised for them, and kept His promise ever since. This is a necessary brief background to understand the US-Backed Zionist Israeli continuous wars against the Arab nation generally, and the Palestinian people in particular, which included the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1978, 1982, the brutal crushing of the two Uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2004), 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the current genocidal war on Gaza (Since October 7, 2023), which has culminated a blockade of Gaza since 2007. In addition, the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime launched so many covert operations, raids, and air strikes on many Arab states since 1948. The following news stories are just examples, not a systematic record, of the Israeli occupation government abuse, mistreatment, and violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.
More detailed news stories can be found at
the following sources:
http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/ *** Israeli Aggression on Lubnan (Lebanon) *** ý ýý3,102 Lebanese martyrs and 13,819 wounded since the start of the Israeli aggression, yesterday's toll was 52 martyrs and 161 wounded ý Lebanese Ministry of Public Healthý Date:ýý 7/11/2024ý ýThe Public Health Emergency Operations Center of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health issued the daily report on the outcome and repercussions of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon. ý ý ý ý In it, the Israeli enemy raids yesterday, Wednesday, November 6, 2024, resulted in 52 martyrs and 161 wounded. ý ý ý ý The total number of martyrs and wounded since the beginning of the aggression until yesterday reached 3,102 martyrs and 13,819 wounded.ý *** Violent Israeli raids target several areas in Beirut’s southern suburb Thursday 7-November-2024 BEIRUT, (PIC) The Israeli occupation apartheid regime army continued on Thursday its bloody aggression on Lebanon for the 46th consecutive day, launching several airstrikes on different areas in the southern suburb of Beirut. The Lebanese News Agency reported that the enemy warplanes launched nine raids on the southern suburb, targeting several areas. These raids came shortly after the Israeli army issued a warning to the residents of four neighborhoods in southern Beirut to forcibly evacuate their buildings, one of which is located near Beirut International Airport. At least 25 people were martyred, and 14 others were injured in two Israeli airstrikes carried out on two towns in central and southern Lebanon, according to the Ministry of Health and the official news agency. The ministry reported that the raids on the Biqaa' and Baalbek resulted in the martyrdom of 40 people and the injury of 53 others. On the other hand, Hezbollah announced that it targeted for the first time Israel’s Haifa naval base, which includes a fleet of missile boats and submarines in the Gulf of Haifa. The party also targeted the Bilu base of the reserve paratroopers brigade of the 98th Division of the Israeli army south of Tel Aviv, for the first time, with a squadron of suicide drones. Earlier, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said in a statement, “The preliminary death toll from the Israeli enemy’s raid on the town of Barja has surged to 20 martyrs and 14 wounded.” It added that “rescue operations and rubble removal are still ongoing,” which means the number of victims may rise. Meanwhile, the Israeli army acknowledged on Thursday the killing of a soldier during battles in southern Lebanon, following its nightly raids on various areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut, while 'Hizbollah announced that it had targeted “for the sixth time” an Israeli force in the town of Maroun Al-Ras. The Israeli army confirmed the injury of another soldier in northern Gaza, noting that its air forces had targeted more than 110 of Hezbollah and Hamas targets in Lebanon and Gaza within 24 hours. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority explained that the soldier whose death was announced on Thursday was killed by missiles fired by 'Hizbullah yesterday at Avivim in the Galilee. *** *** Killing and Injuring of Palestinians in Ghazza (Gaza) by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces*** On November 7, 2024, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qidra, the Spokesperson of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment on the Gaza Strip resulted in 6 main massacres, in which 78 Palestinian civilians were killed, and the 214 others were injured, in the past 48 hours (from a specific time of yesterday to a specific time of today). This increased the accounted for death toll in Gaza Strip to 43,469 and the injuries to 102,561, since the start of the Israeli genocidal war on October 7, 2023. *** Death toll across Gaza Strip surges to 43,469, over 102,561 injured GAZA, November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation forces committed six massacres against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip over the last 48 hours, resulting in the killing of at least 78 Palestinians and the injury of 214 others, according to medical reports. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli onslaught since October 7, 2023 has risen to 43,469 reported fatalities, with an additional 102,561 individuals sustaining injuries. The majority of the victims are women and children. According to the Ministry, emergency services are still unable to reach many casualties and dead bodies trapped under the rubble or scattered on roads across the war-torn enclave, as Israeli occupation forces continue to obstruct the movement of ambulance and civil defense crews. Meantime, in a serious escalation, Israeli occupation forces have ordered residents in several neighborhoods of Gaza City to abandon their homes immediately, as part of an ongoing military attack on the region. According to WAFA correspondent, the Israeli occupation forces instructed the Palestinian civilians living in the Al-Nasr, Al-'Awda, and Al-Karama neighborhoods to leave their homes and move to southern Gaza. The forced evacuation order comes as part of Israel's broader offensive in the region, which has resulted in widespread displacement and destruction. Israel's genocidal attacks continue unabated despite calls from the United Nations Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. M.N. *** 27 Palestinians killed in a new massacre in Jabalya refugee camp Thursday 7-November-2024 GAZA, (PIC) At least 27 Palestinians were killed in a new Israeli massacre against the Al-Mab'hou'h family in Jabalya refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip. Harrowing pictures showed two girls under the rubble of their collapsed family home in the Jabalya refugee camp. The Gaza Civil Defense affirmed that people killed and wounded are still trapped under the rubble of the Al-Mab'hou'h family home in the Jabalya refugee camp. “We condemn the ongoing obstruction by the Israeli occupation of the Civil Defense and medical teams’ work in northern Gaza and their prevention from responding to citizens’ calls in the homes being bombed there,” spokesman Ma'hmoud Basal said. Since the early morning hours, 46 Palestinian have been martyred in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, 36 of them in the northern part of the Strip. *** Gaza doctors protest against Israeli attacks on the health system Thursday 7-November-2024 GAZA, (PIC) Dozens of doctors and health workers in the Gaza Strip participated in a protest sit-in on Thursday to denounce the ongoing Israeli violations against the health system in the enclave, which has been subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing for 13 months. The participants in the protest, which was organized at the “Gaza European Hospital” in Khan Younus, south of the Strip, raised banners, some of which read: “Targeting ambulances and civil defense vehicles is a war crime,” “To whom it may concern, the health system in the northern Gaza Strip is at a standstill,” and “Save Gaza hospitals, where is the international community?” Sali'h Al-Hems, spokesman for the Gaza European Hospital, said, “We stand before a crime committed by the Israeli occupation that aims to disrupt the health system in the Strip by targeting hospitals and ambulances, in violation of international laws.” “The Israeli occupation’s ongoing targeting and destroying of hospitals, and abusing the patients and medical staff, the latest of which was besieging and storming hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip, is a complex crime within a systematic policy against hospitals carried out with the US support and the silence of international organizations,” he added. Al-Hems called on the World Health Organization and international organizations to “immediately head to hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip to see the difficult health situation, in which the provision of services has been suspended due to being besieged by Israeli occupation forces’ and targeting its medical and ambulance staff.” On Wednesday, the director of Kamal 'Udwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, 'Husam Abu Safiya, announced that “wounded Palestinians are losing their lives due to the lack of surgical specialties capable of saving them, after the Israeli army arrested most of the medical staff during its storming of the hospital.” *** ý*** Killing, Injuring, and Abduction of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces *** Palestinian martyred, others injured in clashes with IOFs in Toulkarm Thursday 7-November-2024 Toulkarm, (PIC) A Palestinian young man was martyred, and others were injured in confrontations and clashes with Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) in Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem in the northern West Bank. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said on Thursday its crews have transferred to hospital a martyr and five injured people, including a woman, since the IOFs began its storming of the refugee camp. The PRCS explained that they transferred the body of the 22-year-old 'Harith' Awfi, from inside the camp to Martyr Thabit Governmental Hospital in the city. Eyewitnesses revealed that the martyr 'Awfi was injured while he was in one of the camp’s courtyards by an IOFs sniper stationed in one of the houses, hitting him in the heart. He was carried outside the camp by ambulance volunteers and handed over to a PRCS’ ambulance, because the IOFs prevented it from entering the camp, they added. On Thursday morning, an Israeli drone bombed sites in the camp twice, resulting in five shrapnel injuries, two of whom were a woman and her disabled son. *** Palestinian martyred, others injured in IOFs raid in Jineen Thursday 7-November-2024 WEST BANK, (PIC) A Palestinian citizen was martyred after the Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) stormed Jineen City and its refugee camp in the north of the West Bank on Wednesday evening. According to the Palestinian health ministry, a Palestinian young father called 'Abdullah Al-Sa'di was shot dead during an IOFs raid in 'Harsh Al-Sa'ada neighborhood in Jineen City. Three other citizens, including a woman, were injured in the same IOFs campaign in Jineen City, which started at dawn. Eyewitnesses reported that a large number of Israeli troops with some bulldozers stormed Jenin City and clashed with resistance fighters. They added that the IOFs bulldozed roads and infrastructure in different areas of Jineen City and kidnaped two young men from Jeninrefugee camp. They also said that Israeli forces encircled the house of martyr Amjad Al-Qaniri’s family in 'Harsh Al-Sa'ada, and asked his brother, Ibraheem, via a megaphone to surrender. The IOFs also fired bullets at the house, while a drone was flying over the area. In the south of the West Bank, Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Khadir town on the same day and clashed with local youths, particularly near the Grand Mosque. A number of citizens, including five children, suffered from their exposure to tear gas during the clashes with Israeli soldiers in Al-Khadir town. On Tuesday, eight citizens, including resistance fighters, were martyred during IOF raids in Qabatya town, south of Jenin, and Tammoun town, south of Toubas. *** Palestinian dies of injuries sustained near Ramallah Thursday 7-November-2024 RAMALLAH, (PIC) The Palestinian young man who carried out a car-ramming and stabbing operation on Wednesday in northern Ramallah died of critical bullet injuries, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The health ministry said 'Harith Jubara from Dair Al-Ghusoun town, northeast of Toulkarm, was proclaimed dead on Wednesday after he succumbed to serious bullet injuries he sustained in the afternoon when an armed settler opened fire at him in the West Bank. Jubara reportedly carried out the operation on the Nablus-Ramallah road near the illegal settlement of Shilo before he was gunned down by a settler. Two settlers were injured in the incident. Following the operation, the Israeli occupation forces blocked the road and prevented Palestinian ambulances from reaching the young man, who was bleeding at the time. Later, the IOFs allowed settlers to attack Palestinian vehicles in nearby areas. *** Woman sustains wounds from the Israeli occupation army gunfire south of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem) Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – A Palestinian woman Thursday evening sustained wounds from Israeli army gunfire in Al-Khadir town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). PRCS said that its crews provided first aid treatment to a woman who sustained wounds in the face and hands from shrapnel and broken glass after Israeli occupation forces fired a teargas canister towards her vehicle. This came after the occupation forces barged their way into the town, deploying in several neighborhoods and firing barrages of teargas canisters and concussion bombs, resulting in suffocation cases. Israeli occupation forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost daily across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents. These raids, which also take place in areas under the full control of the Palestinian Authority, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers. Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised. K.F. *** Palestinian man shot, injured by the Israeli occupation forces during their ongoing incursion in Toulkarm refugee camp TULKARM, November, 7, 2024 (WAFA) – A Palestinian man was injured by the occupation forces' bullets in the eastern neighborhood adjacent to Toulkarm refugee camp, bringing the number of injuries to six since dawn today. Local sources reported that the young man was shot in the thigh while riding his motorcycle in the area and was transferred to the hospital by a Red Crescent ambulance. His condition was described as moderate. In the latest developments, the occupation forces surrounded a house on Al-Muqata'a Street adjacent to the camp, which is the eastern part of the city, and called on young men via loudspeakers to surrender themselves. Local sources added that the occupation forces deployed their mobile foot patrols in the neighborhoods of Abu Al-Foul, Al-'Akasha, Al-Murabba', Al-Khadmat, Al-Shaikh 'Ali, and Al-Hamam, amidst the sounds of explosions in the camp. The occupation bulldozers caused great damage to the infrastructure in Toulkarm and Nour Shams refugee camps, from which they had withdrawn earlier, in addition to destroying and vandalizing public and private property, including the walls of homes and shops. The ongoing aggression on Toulkarm refugee camp since the early hours of the morning resulted in the killing of Harith Muhammad Awfi by the occupation sniper in the middle of the camp, while five citizens were injured, including a woman and her disabled son by shrapnel from a missile fired by an occupation drone at a site in the services neighborhood. The occupation forces continue to prevent Red Crescent vehicles and ambulance crews from entering the camp, and are pursuing them, which prevented the transfer of injuries from inside the camp to the hospital. In the meantime, the occupation vehicles roamed the streets of Toulkarm city, specifically the vicinity of Khadouri roundabout in the western neighborhood, Jamal Abdel Nasser Square, the vegetable market in the city center and Al-Muqata'a Street. Y.S. *** *** Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers *** Illegal Israeli settlers attack house, torch vehicle south of Jineen Jineen, November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – A group of the illegal Israeli settlers Thursday attacked a Palestinian house and torched a vehicle in the Jaba' town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Jineen, according to eyewitnesses. They said that colonists mounted an attack on the house of Aysar Sali'h Khaleeliya, physically assaulted his family and set a vehicle belonging to his brother, Muntasir, ablaze. Settler’ violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities. Settler’ violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others. Over 700,000 Israeli colonists are living in colonies across Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem), and the West Bank in violation of international law. K.F. *** Israeli occupation forces erect checkpoints east of Qalqilya QALQILYA, November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces Thursday evening erected two checkpoints to the east of the occupied West Bank city of Qalqilya, according to local sources. They said that the occupation soldiers set up two checkpoints, one at the entrance of the Kafr Laqif village and the other at the entrance of the Al-Nabi Ilyas village, stopping Palestinian-registered vehicles, inspecting passengers’ identity cards and forcing them to endure lengthy delays. Israel severely restricts Palestinians’ freedom of movement through a complex combination of over 100 fixed checkpoints, flying checkpoints, settler-only roads and various other physical obstructions. Closures besides other measures, taken under the guise of security, are intended to entrench Israel’s 57-year-old military occupation of the West Bank and its settler colonial project which it enforces with routine and frequently deadly violence against Palestinians. K.F. *** Israeli occupation forces to demolish the family house of slain Palestinian west of Al-Khaleel (Hebron) Al-Khaleel (Hebron), November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – Israeli occupation forces Thursday informed the family of a slain Palestinian of their intention to punitively demolish their house in the Idhna town, west of the occupied West Bank city of Al-Khaleel (Hebron), according to local sources. They said that the occupation forces stormed the house of Muhannad Al-'Asoud in the town, occupied its rooftop and infirmed his family of their intention to tear it down, all simultaneously while firing barrages of gunfire and concussion grenades. Fully equipped and furnished to be inhabited, the house consists of two storeys and covers an area of over 240 square meters. In early September 2024, the occupation forces broke into the house, took its measurements and made scores of holes in the walls of the house in preparation for the punitive demolition. On September 1, 2024, the occupation forces had gunned down Al-'Asoud, 34, during an attack with ammunition and shells on a house he was hiding in. Al-'Asoud opened fire in the morning of that day at the Tarkoumiya checkpoint in southwest Hebron, killing three Israeli soldiers. His body was withheld by the occupation forces afterwards. Israeli occupation authorities have long used to punitively demolish the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks on Israelis, a policy that Israel does not apply to Israeli settlers who are involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians. The policy has been widely condemned by human rights groups as a collective punishment and a war crime. B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, says: “The people who bear the brunt of the [punitive] demolitions are relatives – including women, the elderly, and children – whom Israel does not suspect of involvement in any offence.” “In the vast majority of cases, the person whose actions prompted the demolition was not even living in the house at the time of the demolition,” adds the group. K.F. *** *** News Related to the Israeli Genocidal War on the Palestinian People *** UN: Civilians in northern Gaza are starving while the world watches on Thursday 7-November-2024 NEW YORK, (PIC) The UN warned about “deadly” living conditions in northern Gaza, saying Palestinians are starving while the world keeps watching. “For the past month, north Gaza has been under a near-total brutal siege,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference, conveying acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Joyce Msuya’s message. “Israeli military ground operations have left Palestinians without the essentials to survive, forced them to flee for safety multiple times, and cut off their escape and supply routes,” according to the message by Msuya. Noting that “living conditions are deadly” in northern Gaza, she stressed that “civilians are starving while the world watches on. These atrocities must stop.” Dujarric also pointed out that 1,000 Palestinian homes had been destroyed in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem this year. The destruction has displaced more than 1,100 Palestinians, with 40 percent from east Jerusalem. In a related context, the UN says replacing its Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in Gaza and the West Bank is not its responsibility, signaling it was Israel’s problem, according to a letter excerpt seen by Reuters. The UN formally responded in a letter to Israel’s decision to cut ties with UNRWA, a move that the refugee agency has said leaves its operations in Gaza and the West Bank at risk of collapse. Under a new law, Israel told the UN on Sunday it was ending a 1967 cooperation agreement with UNRWA that covered its protection, movement and diplomatic immunity. The law will also ban UNRWA’s operations in Israel from late January. “I would note, as a general point, that it is not our responsibility to replace UNRWA, nor do we have the capacity to do so,” UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres’ chef de cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, wrote to a senior Israeli foreign affairs official late on Tuesday. The mention of responsibility is a veiled reference to Israel’s obligations as an occupying power. The UN views Gaza and the West Bank as Israeli-occupied territories. International humanitarian law requires an occupying power to provide relief programs for people in need and to supply them with all the means at its disposal. *** Lazzarini urges action from UN members to save UNRWA from Israeli ban Thursday 7-November-2024 NEW YORK, (PIC) UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini urged the world on Wednesday to save it from an Israeli ban that would have “disastrous consequences” for millions of people in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially those caught up in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. Lazzarini told the 193 nations of the UN General Assembly that they must take action to prevent Israel from implementing legislation that prohibits the agency’s operations in the Palestinian territories. The law, adopted by Israel’s parliament last month, takes effect in 90 days. “Without intervention by member states, UNRWA will collapse, plunging millions of Palestinians into chaos,” Lazzarini warned at a General Assembly session held to highlight the Israeli measure against the agency. Lazzarini noted that recent legislative moves by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) target UNRWA as a “war goal” intended to dismantle its services. He said the measure goes beyond undermining UNRWA’s mission, aiming to “end Palestinians’ right to self-determination and aspiration for a just political solution” by “shifting unilaterally long-established parameters for resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict.” Lazzarini described the Gaza Strip as a “dystopian horror,” devastated by “the most intense bombardment of a civilian population since World War II.” Saying that humanitarian aid has been severely restricted, Lazzarini said the obstructions have led to widespread deprivation. “Palestinians are being burned and buried alive by airstrikes,” while brutal sieges, attacks on hospitals and detention of men and boys in undisclosed locations further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, he said. Highlighting the spread of violence in the occupied West Bank, Lazzarini said that “settler violence and military incursions are a daily occurrence. Public infrastructure is destroyed, deliberately inflicting collective punishment on Palestinians.” He emphasized that the Palestinian economy is on the brink of collapse, and stressed that “for the past year, UNRWA has been a lifeline for the people of Gaza. It is the only pillar of their lives left standing.” “Dismantling UNRWA will not terminate the refugee status of Palestinians — this status exists independently of the agency — but it will severely harm their lives and future,” he said. Talking about Israeli army attacks on the agency, he said that “at least 239 UNRWA personnel have been killed, others detained and reportedly tortured, and more than two-thirds of our premises have been damaged or destroyed.” Lazzarini urged member states to take immediate steps by preventing “the implementation of the legislation against UNRWA” and asked members to “ensure that any plan for a political transition delineates UNRWA’s role.” “Finally, I ask that member states maintain funding to UNRWA and do not withhold or divert funds on the assumption that the agency can no longer operate,” he stressed. For his part, General Assembly president Philemon Yang told members at Wednesday’s meeting that Israel’s legislation “constitutes an intolerable affront to the authority of this assembly, an affront to international law and, most importantly, an affront to the human dignity of innocent Palestinian civilians.” Yang said the assembly extended UNRWA’s mandate — most recently in December 2022 — by an overwhelming majority until June 30, 2026. He urgently called on Israel to comply with its international legal obligations, the UN Charter and resolutions. *** Armed Israeli police break into French-owned church in Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem) Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem), November 7, 2024 (WAFA) – Armed Israeli police Thursday evening broke into The Church of the Pater Noster in the occupied city of Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem), prompting French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to abandon a scheduled visit to the site. “Without authorization, Israeli police entered the site carrying weapons. The Minister did not wish to visit the compound in these conditions,” the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement. “When the delegation had departed, two staff members of the Consulate General of France in Jerusalem were arrested by Israeli police, despite the fact that they are officials with diplomatic status. They were then released following the intervention of the Minister,” it added. Minister Barrot stated that “these actions are unacceptable” while affirming that “France strongly condemns these actions, with particular emphasis on the fact they took place in a context whereby France is doing everything it can to work towards the de-escalation of violence in the region.” The Ministry affirmed that “the Israeli Ambassador to France will be summoned to the Ministry in the coming days.” Situated to the right of the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Pater Noster is a Roman Catholic church, which was originally established by the Byzantines at the site where tradition holds that Jesus Christ taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, "Our Father, who art in heaven." Known as the "Alona" Church, "Alona" signifies the Mount of Olives in Greek. The current church was constructed in 1873 upon the foundations of earlier churches. One of its notable features is the presence of ceramic plaques displaying the Lord’s Prayer written in over 70 languages. K.F. *** =============================================================================================================================== Editorial
Notes about terms
& names of
people and places: *** Names of some of the Palestinian cities, as pronounced in standard Arabic, and their foreign names in parentheses: Al-Khaleel (Hebron) Al-Nusayrat Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem) Aree'ha (Jericho) Al-Zaytoun (al-Zeitoun) Bait (Beit) Bait La'hm (Bethlehem) Dair El-Bala'h Jineen (Jenin) Khan Younus (Khan Younis) *** Person's names as pronounced in standard Arabic: A'hmed, 'Hasan, Mu'hammed, Younus, Yousuf, 'Hasan Mulai'hat, *** Conflict terminology The Israeli occupation apartheid regime (the Israeli government) Illegal Israeli settlers (instead of settlers, colonists) A group of the illegal Israeli settlers *** Fair Use Notice This site contains copyrighted material the
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