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At Least 65 Killed in Gaza as Israel Escalates Attacks on Gaza City On Friday

Fola Badmus4 weeks ago4 weeks ago03 mins

At least 65 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera. Among them, 37 were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has intensified airstrikes ahead of a broader planned offensive. An Israeli airstrike targeted a school in Sheikh Radwan, a Gaza City neighborhood where many Palestinians sought shelter in makeshift tents. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that at least 12 civilians died in the attack. Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows an Israeli quadcopter dropping an explosive on a building in Sheikh Radwan, followed by smoke rising from the site. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza’s largest city would be destroyed unless Hamas agrees to Israel’s terms for ending the war. Katz wrote on X: “The gates of hell will soon open on the heads of Hamas’ murderers and rapists in Gaza — until they agree to Israel’s conditions for ending the war.” Israel’s ceasefire demands include the release of all captives and Hamas’s complete disarmament. Hamas has expressed willingness to release captives if the war ends but rejects disarmament without Palestinian statehood. Despite accepting a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had instructed officials to “begin immediate negotiations” to release captives and end the war. However, Netanyahu also confirmed plans to authorize a major military operation to seize Gaza City, potentially starting within days.

South Sudan Reportedly Approves Israeli Plan to Resettle Gazans

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

South Sudan’s cabinet has allegedly approved an Israeli request to receive Palestinians from Gaza, despite official denials, The Telegraph has reported. According to a foreign ministry official in Juba, the deal — brokered with Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates — would see the UAE provide funding, Washington lift sanctions on South Sudan, and Israel invest in health and education. The official claimed South Sudan has “enough land” and could benefit economically from the arrangement, but acknowledged strong domestic opposition. On Wednesday, the government dismissed claims of any such agreement as “baseless,” yet multiple sources told Associated Press that talks are ongoing. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel’s visit to Juba this week, following earlier diplomatic exchanges, has fueled speculation. The reported plan aligns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s renewed push for the “voluntary” relocation of Gazans — an idea first floated by Donald Trump and widely criticised as a form of ethnic cleansing. Critics argue that given Gaza’s devastation, relocation could hardly be considered truly voluntary, and warn displaced Palestinians may never be allowed to return. South Sudanese lawmakers have voiced strong resistance, citing the country’s economic struggles and fragile political situation. “We are not able to feed ourselves — how can we take more people?” one MP said. Israel has reportedly approached other nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Libya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Somaliland, but without success. Egypt has lobbied Juba not to participate in the plan. Observers say large-scale migration from Gaza after the war may be inevitable, regardless of formal policy, due to the enclave’s catastrophic destruction.

Israel Condemned Over Killing of Five Al Jazeera Journalists in Premeditated Attack on Press Freedom

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Israel is facing global condemnation following the killing of five Al Jazeera employees, an act the broadcaster has described as a “blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom.” According to Al Jazeera, the journalists were on assignment when Israeli forces targeted their location, despite their identities and press status being clearly marked. The network alleges the strike was intentional and aimed at silencing independent coverage of the ongoing conflict. International media rights organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have called for an urgent, independent investigation into the killings. Human rights groups have also warned that deliberate attacks on journalists may constitute war crimes under international law. Israel has yet to issue a detailed response to the accusations but has maintained that its operations target hostile threats and not journalists. The incident has further strained Israel’s relations with international media outlets, while Al Jazeera has vowed to pursue legal action through the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Israel Strikes UN Clinic in Gaza, 23 Killed Since Dawn

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago01 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: Gaza | August 6, 2025 Israeli forces have killed at least 23 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip since dawn, including in a strike on a United Nations clinic sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City, according to reports from the ground. The attack comes amid escalating military operations, with aid agencies warning of a worsening hunger crisis and over 50 Palestinians reportedly killed in recent strikes on Gaza aid distribution sites. At the UN Security Council, UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported plan for the full occupation of Gaza “deeply alarming”. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera condemned the move as an “unacceptable provocation.

Israel Kills Over 40 in Gaza as Aid Agencies Call for Immediate Ceasefire

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

More than 41 Palestinians have been killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since dawn on Monday, including at least 20 people who were reportedly seeking humanitarian aid, according to local health authorities. The escalating violence has drawn urgent calls from international aid agencies, who warn that Gaza is on the brink of irreversible humanitarian collapse unless an immediate ceasefire is implemented. Speaking to Al Jazeera, aid organisations painted a dire picture of the situation in Gaza, where hunger and desperation continue to deepen amid near-total destruction and a critical shortage of supplies. “Without a cessation of hostilities, Gaza is spiralling into a humanitarian catastrophe that may soon become irreversible,” one aid official said. Despite a partial easing of the Israeli blockade since July 27, humanitarian access remains severely limited. Officials in Gaza say over 22,000 aid trucks are waiting outside the Strip, while an average of only 84 trucks per day are currently entering—far below the 600 daily trucks aid groups say are needed to meet basic human needs. Photos emerging from the ground show scenes of devastation and displacement. Among them is Zainab Dakka, a displaced mother seen standing outside her makeshift tent in Gaza City with her daughter and a bag of flour from a rare aid delivery. As food scarcity worsens, many Palestinians are now risking gunfire by scavenging for scraps to feed their families—underscoring the deadly consequences of the ongoing siege. Global pressure is mounting for a ceasefire, but diplomatic efforts so far have failed to yield progress.

Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Ship Handala as Strikes Kill 71 in a Day

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa | July 27, 2025 Gaza Strip – The Israeli military has intercepted and surrounded the Handala, a humanitarian aid ship en route to Gaza in an effort to break Israel’s blockade of the besieged enclave. The move comes as Israeli airstrikes intensified across Gaza, killing at least 71 Palestinians since dawn on Saturday—including 42 civilians reportedly attempting to access humanitarian aid. Among those on board the Handala is a former member of the European Parliament from France, who confirmed via satellite link that the vessel had been blocked in international waters by Israeli naval forces. The ship, bearing Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Handala”, had attracted global attention for its symbolic and direct challenge to Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza. Organizers said it was carrying medical supplies, food, and basic necessities intended for civilians suffering under what many international observers describe as a “man-made famine.” Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies continue to push back against Israeli claims that aid is being distributed effectively. The United Nations and other relief groups argue that access restrictions, targeted strikes near aid centers, and red tape are preventing life-saving supplies from reaching those in desperate need. “This is not a logistics failure—it’s a deliberate policy choice,” said one UN official who requested anonymity for security reasons. The rising death toll on Saturday follows weeks of escalating violence and worsening humanitarian conditions. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 200,000 people have been killed or wounded since the beginning of the conflict, with food insecurity now reaching catastrophic levels. Despite mounting international pressure and growing outrage over civilian casualties, Israel continues to defend its operations, citing ongoing security threats from Hamas and other armed groups. As of Saturday evening, the fate of the Handala and its crew remains uncertain.

Horrors Upon Horrors: US Congress Reacts to Mounting Hunger Crisis in Gaza

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa | July 27, 2025 Images of starving children emerging from Gaza are beginning to stir discomfort—and in some cases, condemnation—among members of the United States Congress, as the humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian enclave worsens under Israel’s ongoing blockade. While a growing number of Democratic lawmakers have issued urgent appeals for humanitarian access to the territory, few have directly held Israel accountable for the deepening crisis, despite widespread international criticism of the siege. In a rare and scathing rebuke, Senator Bernie Sanders described Israel’s actions as part of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing, saying on Friday, “Having already killed or wounded 200,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, the extremist Israeli government is using mass starvation to engineer the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.” He further accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of pursuing an “extermination campaign.” Sanders’ statement came as outrage builds over the controversial GHF food distribution mechanism—backed by the US and Israel—which has reportedly led to the deaths of over 1,000 Palestinians attempting to access aid. Despite this, most members of Congress have stopped short of attributing blame. Many have instead opted for generalized calls for aid to enter Gaza, avoiding criticism of Israeli policies directly responsible for restricting access. The lack of accountability is striking given that the United States continues to supply military support to Israel. Just last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill approving $500 million in missile defense funding for Israel, reinforcing the strong bipartisan support the country has long enjoyed on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies and rights groups continue to sound the alarm, calling the situation in Gaza “man-made” and demanding immediate political intervention to lift the siege and allow aid to flow freely. As the death toll rises and hunger escalates, pressure is mounting on Washington to not only speak out—but to act.

Israel-Induced Starvation Worsens in Gaza as Children Die from Malnutrition

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached a devastating peak, with reports confirming the deaths of a baby and a young child due to starvation. The worsening crisis is fueled by Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has severely restricted the entry of food, medical supplies, and other essential aid into the enclave. On Monday, Israeli forces killed over 60 Palestinians in a series of attacks across Gaza, including 11 people who were seeking aid. Tanks also advanced into the southern and eastern districts of Deir el-Balah for the first time, intensifying fears of further escalation. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned of the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Gaza, with thousands of children facing acute malnutrition. The blockade, now compounded by relentless military operations, has left families struggling to find food and safe shelter. International organizations are calling for immediate humanitarian access and a ceasefire to prevent more civilian deaths.