THISDAY

Palestine Envoy Alleges 29,878 Persons Killed in Ongoing Gaza War

Raises the alarm over impending famine, humanitari­an catastroph­e

- Michael Olugbode ÓØ ÌßÔË

No fewer than 29,878 people have been killed in the ongoing Israeli -Palestinia­n war, the Palestinia­n Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh has alleged.

The envoy who expressed concern over possible famine and outbreak of epidemics in Gaza, told journalist­s over the weekend in Abuja, that 70,215 people have been injured and around 8,000 people still missing under the rubble since the October 7, 2023, siege on Gaza by the Israeli military began.

He said: “As of yesterday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip was 29,878 martyrs, with 70,215 injuries and around 8,000 people still missing under the rubble.

“The Ministry of Education declared that in the last 144 days, 5427 students were martyred, 5379 in Gaza and 48 in the OWB, while 9193 were injured, 8888 in Gaza and 305 in the occupied West Bank, (OWB), 97 was arrested in the OWB, including East Jerusalem. Also, 255 teachers and administra­tive staff were martyred and 891 were injured in the Gaza strip.

“A total of 286 government schools and 65 UN schools were subjected to bombardmen­ts and sabotage, with 40 of them completely destroyed in Gaza, while 57 schools in the OWB were attacked and sabotaged by the IOF.

“Also, 620,000 students in Gaza are still deprived of the right to learn, while the majority of students are suffering from trauma and facing devastatin­g health situations.”

He alleged that Israel's authoritie­s have a hidden agenda, which according to him was to make Gaza inhabitant­s uncomforta­ble living in their homeland.

He said, “The clear policy is to make Gaza an unlivable place after the war, so that even if the inhabitant­s are not forced to leave under the fire, they will do so voluntaril­y due to the lack of hospitals, schools, universiti­es, drinkable water, and other basic necessitie­s for human life.”

The envoy also alleged that within last 144 days, “more than 7270 in the OWB, 228 women, 460 children, 56 of journalist­s and issued more than 3,800 administra­tive detention orders.”

He also added, “Eleven of the detainees martyred in the Israeli prisons due to the torture and ill treatment. All this is only from the OWB including East Jerusalem.

“There is no specific number or informatio­n about the detention cases of Gaza and Israel is still hiding all the informatio­n about them.”

The total number of the Palestinia­n prisoners on the Israel detention camps was now around 9000 including 3484 administra­tive detainees, he said.

He equally alleged that more than 200 fanatic Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque guarded by the occupation force where they performed Talmudic ritual, insisting that meanwhile, the occupation authoritie­s continue to impose restrictio­ns on the Muslim worshiper’s entry to Al-Aqsa preventing all the young men and boys from entering while subjecting all others to be extensivel­y checks.

He added that: “We still insist that the Israeli fanatic and messianic regime is spared no efforts igniting a religious war that if erupted will spare no one.”

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