Women and children among dozens killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza
Israeli strikes in Gaza City and at a refugee camp have killed more than 40 people, including 19 women and children, health officials reported. Most of the bodies were brought to Shifa Hospital, where health officials confirmed that 14 people died in a strike late Saturday that hit a residential block in the southern side of the city. Among the dead was a nurse who worked at the hospital, along with his wife and three children.
Another strike targeted a group of people in front of a clinic in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. According to Al-Awda Hospital, at least eight Palestinians were killed, including four children and two women. Additionally, 22 people were wounded in the attack.
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On Sunday, several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK, formally announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the move aims to revive hope for peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the announcement.
Other prominent Western countries are preparing to recognise Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting on Monday. These countries include France, Malta, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry also declared it will recognise a Palestinian state.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned these moves, stating that calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state “endanger our existence” and constitute “an absurd reward for terrorism.” He added, “The international community will hear from us on this matter in the coming days.”
The latest Israeli military operation, which began earlier this week, has further escalated the conflict and likely pushed any ceasefire further out of reach. While the Israeli military has urged Palestinians to leave certain areas, it has not provided a clear timeline for the offensive. There are indications the operation could last for months. Israel says its goal is to pressure Hamas into freeing hostages and surrendering.
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Ahead of the UN assembly, peace activists in Israel have welcomed the planned recognition of a Palestinian state. On Sunday, more than 60 Jewish and Arab organisations representing about 1,000 activists—a coalition known as Its Time—called for an end to the war, the release of hostages, and recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“We refuse to live forever by the sword,” the coalition said in a video statement. “The UN decision offers a historic opportunity to move from a death trap to life, from an endless messianic war to a future of security and freedom for both peoples.”
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On Saturday night, tens of thousands of people in Israel protested, calling for an end to the war and a hostage deal. Despite this, a ceasefire remains elusive.
Over the past 23 months, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, destroyed vast areas of the strip, displaced around 90% of the population, and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Experts warn that Gaza City is currently experiencing famine.
As attacks continue, Israel has ordered hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City to move south to what it calls a humanitarian zone. It also opened a corridor south of the city for two days this week to allow more people to evacuate.
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Palestinians have been streaming out of Gaza City by car and on foot. However, many are unwilling to be uprooted again, are too weak to leave, or cannot afford the cost of moving. Along the coastal Wadi Gaza route, exhausted evacuees stopped to catch their breath and give their children a much-needed break from the difficult journey.
Aid groups have warned that forcing thousands of people to evacuate will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis. They are appealing for a ceasefire to enable aid to reach those in need.
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Pope Leo XIV criticized what he described as the forced exile of Palestinians from Gaza. During his Sunday noon blessing, he said there was no future for the martyred Gaza Strip based on violence and vendetta. The Pope issued a plea for peace and expressed appreciation for Catholic organisations actively supporting Palestinians, with representatives present in St. Peter’s Square.
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Meanwhile, families of hostages still held by Hamas have accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of condemning their loved ones to death by continuing military action rather than negotiating an end to the war.
At a recent cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated that Israel’s victories against Hezbollah in Lebanon “have opened a window for the possibility of peace” with neighbors to the north. “We are holding talks with the Syrians; there is some progress, but still a vision for the future,” he said.
Israel has occupied parts of southwestern Syria since the overthrow of former President Bashar Assad in December. Relations with the new Syrian government have been tense, with Israel carrying out air strikes over the summer, which it says were aimed at protecting Syria’s Druze community.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/women-and-children-among-dozens-killed-by-israeli-strikes-in-gaza-1809402.html
