The United Nations, United States, and Canada have called for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war to allow safe deliveries of aid to Civilians in Gaza who are suffering from shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity. The health ministry in Gaza reported that Israeli air strikes had killed over 700 Palestinians overnight, marking the highest 24-hour death toll since the start of the siege. U.N. agencies are urgently requesting unimpeded aid to be allowed into Gaza, stating that current deliveries are insufficient to support the population. The United States is in negotiations with Israel, Egypt, and the U.N. to facilitate emergency deliveries, but there are disagreements over inspection procedures and bombardments on the Gaza side of the border. The Palestinian health ministry claims that over 5,700 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli bombardments since October 7, including 2,360 children. However, these figures have not been independently verified by RushHourDaily. The Israeli military has reported killing dozens of Hamas fighters and targeting over 400 Hamas sites, but acknowledges that it will take time to fully dismantle the militant group. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern about violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and called for the protection of civilians. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow urgent aid shipments to reach Gaza civilians. He emphasized that Palestinian civilians should not be blamed for the actions of Hamas and that both Hamas and Israel have a responsibility to protect civilians. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has echoed these sentiments.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his support for humanitarian pauses during the conflict in Gaza. He emphasized the importance of providing aid and assistance to those in need.
The World Health Organization joined other U.N. appeals by calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. This was necessary to prevent shortages of food, medicine, and fuel supplies.
Hospitals in Gaza reported that overcrowding and poor sanitation in temporary shelters were causing the spread of diseases among patients. Additionally, the lack of fuel for electricity generators was hindering their ability to provide medical treatment. Many medical centers had to cease operations due to these challenges.
UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, announced that it would suspend its operations in Gaza due to the fuel shortage. This further highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.
Despite these pleas for aid, the Israeli military maintained its stance of not allowing fuel into Gaza to prevent it from falling into the hands of Hamas.
The U.N. had planned to deliver aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing from Egypt, but the trucks were unable to do so. However, there was hope that the aid convoy would be able to enter Gaza the following day.
French President Emmanuel Macron, during his visit to Israel, expressed solidarity with the country in its conflict with Hamas. However, he emphasized the importance of conducting the war within the boundaries of international rules and norms.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that Israel would make efforts to protect civilians and end Hamas’ control over them.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be little hope for an immediate ceasefire, as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continued to escalate, causing immense suffering among civilians.
When asked about the difference between a humanitarian pause and a ceasefire, White House spokesman John Kirby explained that it depended on the duration, scope, and size of the cessation of hostilities.
The devastating impact of the conflict was evident in the heart-wrenching scene of a father, Abdallah Tabash, holding his deceased daughter, Sidra, after an airstrike in Khan Younis. He refused to let go, wanting to cherish her memory for as long as possible.Israeli tanks and troops are currently positioned on the border between Israel and Gaza, awaiting orders for a potential ground invasion. This operation may face complications due to concerns for the hostages’ well-being and the presence of heavily armed militants supported by Iran, who are entrenched in a densely populated urban area and utilize an extensive network of tunnels.
Hamas recently released two Israeli women who were among the more than 200 hostages taken by gunmen during a mass infiltration on October 7. These two women are the third and fourth hostages to be freed. One of the released hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz, shared her harrowing experience of being beaten by militants during her abduction and struggling to breathe. She described how the militants stormed into their homes, indiscriminately beating and kidnapping people. Lifshitz, seated in a wheelchair, spoke softly to reporters outside a Tel Aviv hospital, stating, “I’ve been through hell.” The hostages were led into a complex network of damp tunnels within Gaza, which Lifshitz referred to as a “spider’s web.” Eventually, they reached a large hall where they were kept under constant guard, receiving medical visits every other day and necessary medications.
The timing of a full-scale invasion of Gaza by Israel remains uncertain. Israel, possessing the most powerful military in the region, is up against a group that has acquired a formidable arsenal with the assistance of Iran. The international community is concerned that this conflict could potentially ignite the entire Middle East. While urging Israel to exercise restraint, world powers affirm its right to self-defense.
Violent clashes have escalated between the Israeli military and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as well as between Israel and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group along their volatile border. The fear of regional escalation centers around Iran’s network of proxies in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Any further escalation could jeopardize security in a region that plays a crucial role in global energy supplies.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing that the United States does not seek conflict with Iran. However, he warned that swift and decisive action would be taken if Tehran or its proxies were to attack U.S. personnel anywhere.
This article was reported by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, with additional contributions from various reporters in Washington, Jerusalem, and Cairo. The writing credits go to Michael Perry, Angus MacSwan, and Mark Heinrich, with editing by Miral Fahmy, Toby Chopra, Philippa Fletcher, and Howard Goller. The article adheres to the standards set by Thomson RushHourDaily’ Trust Principles.With almost 25 years of experience, a senior correspondent has covered the Palestinian-Israeli conflict extensively, including multiple wars and the momentous signing of the first peace agreement between the two parties.
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