Voices against the Israeli war on Gaza are rising to the highest institutional positions. “Nothing justifies collective punishment” and “catastrophic hunger” in the Strip, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced yesterday from Brussels.
She herself joined the public concerns and stressed the need to avoid launching a large-scale Israeli attack, “yes or no,” on Rafah, at the southern end of the Strip, which is home to 1.4 million Gazans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself said that the entry of his forces into Rafah “will take some time.” For its part, the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) yesterday presented its initial report on Israel’s accusations of collusion with Hamas, which it recognizes as “sensitive areas.” [que han de] It is strengthened and improved,” but generally approves of its activity.
Just yesterday, 27 people were killed in an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the heart of the Strip, and 23 others were killed in another bombing on an aid distribution point in Gaza City. The government media office in the Palestinian enclave reported that more than 100 aid workers were killed and dozens injured over the past week in eight attacks carried out by Israeli forces. Hebrew forces continue to besiege Al-Shifa Hospital, arresting more than 350 people after killing and wounding dozens over the past few days.
“Silencing the guns.”
Added to all this violence is the spread of hunger. “More than half the population [més d’un milió de persones] Guterres warned that they are facing catastrophic hunger, which is unprecedented and getting worse every day. We must act before it is too late. He called on the Israeli authorities to ensure “full and unrestricted” access to humanitarian goods. Throughout Gaza, the international community must provide “full” support to the humanitarian efforts of the United Nations. The Portuguese leader is in Brussels to attend the European leaders' summit today and tomorrow. They plan to call for an immediate humanitarian truce leading to a sustainable ceasefire.
“We meet at a particularly dark time when Europe's role on the global stage has become more important than ever,” Guterres noted, stressing the need to “unite to silence the weapons.” Just like Canada did. The US state will halt future arms sales to Israel after a non-binding vote in the House of Commons. Along with Guterres, von der Leyen expressed that the European Union is “deeply concerned” about the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” and the fact that Gaza faces “unacceptable hunger.”
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