Wednesday , December 4 2024

UN calls northern Gaza ‘Hell on Earth’

12-11-2023

GAZA CITY: Israeli tanks surround several hospital in Gaza, health officials say, after several hospitals are among the civilian infrastructure targeted in another night of heavy bombardment.

The Israeli attacks have damaged more than 50 percent of housing units across Gaza, according to officials.

The UN’s humanitarian office issued statement saying if there is a hell on Earth, it is northern Gaza.

White House says Israel has agreed to a daily four-hour pause in fighting to allow Palestinians to leave northern Gaza.

At least 10,812 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the death toll stands at more than 1,400.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says there have been some “issues” getting aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

At a briefing, the agency said the crossing had been designed for pedestrians, not trucks.

Only 65 trucks carrying food, medicine, hygiene supplies and water, and seven ambulances, crossed from Egypt into Gaza on Wednesday, it said, adding that none of that aid can reach northern Gaza.

“We cannot drive to the north at the current point, which is of course deeply frustrating because we know there are several hundred thousand people who remain in the north,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.

“If there is a hell on Earth today, its name is northern Gaza,” he said. “It is a life of fear by day and darkness at night and what do you tell your children in such a situation, it’s almost unimaginable that the fire they see in the sky is out to kill them?” he said.

The head of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency says the number of its workers killed since the start of the war has exceeded 100.

“Devastated. Over 100 UNRWA colleagues confirmed killed in 1 month. Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, support staff. UNRWA is mourning, Palestinians mourning, Israelis mourning,” Philippe Lazzarini said, reiterating a call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Mohammed bin Salman made his remarks during an African-Saudi summit held in the kingdom’s capital, Riyadh.

“We condemn what the Gaza Strip is facing from military assault, targeting of civilians, the violations of international law by the Israeli occupation authorities, “we stress the need to stop this war and the forced displacement of Palestinians”, he said. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)

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