Aid calls as hospital siege into fifth day
ISRAEL’S assault on Gaza’s al-shifa hospital has become the longest raid of the war, reaching its fifth day with around 150 Palestinians killed.
Tank fire and intense gunfights have demolished many surrounding buildings and as many as 650 people have been seized by troops besieging the area.
The onslaught came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in a desperate bid to halt a feared ground assault on the Rafah enclave.
They discussed a US plan to avoid the attack, agree a ceasefire and save the lives of many of the 100 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
It came as Russia and China vetoed a Us-promoted UN Security Council resolution demanding an “immediate ceasefire with no time limit” across Gaza.
The move was slammed as “deeply cynical” by US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-greenfield, who claimed they rejected the proposal because it was America who put it forward.
Before the vote, Russia’s UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Moscow supports an immediate ceasefire, but he questioned the language in the plans. He also accused the US of “misleading the international community” for politicised reasons.
Some 650 terror suspects have been captured in the al-shifa assault, including “very significant” Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad commanders, according to the Shin Bet security agency.
And the Israeli military said at least 358 detainees were members of terror groups. They are said to include Hussam Salameh, commander of the PIJ’S intelligence unit and his brother Wissam Salameh, head of the propaganda unit.
The latest casualties bring the Palestinian death toll to 32,000 and 70,000 wounded since war was sparked by the October 7 Hamas murders.
EU leaders called “for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance”.
The UN Security Council’s resolution demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for Ramadan to be “respected by all parties leading to a permanent, sustainable ceasefire”.
One of the suggestions being debated for a cessation of the fighting is that Hamas release at first 40 of the 100 hostages, including women and children, that they captured on October 7.
Up to 60% of Gaza’s children under five are now malnourished, compared with fewer than 1% before the conflict, the World Health Organisation said.
[We want] an immediate humanitarian pause leading to sustainable ceasefire
EU LEADERS IN A STATEMENT ON THE ONGOING WAR IN GAZA