GMO reveals latest statistics on Israeli genocidal war on Gaza

Saturday 3-February-2024, GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Government Media Office (GMO) in the Gaza Strip revealed on Saturday the latest and most significant figures on the Israeli ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 7.

This announcement comes as the latest updates from the GMO, showing the scale of human and material damage that resulted from the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, on its 120th day.

The statistics demonstrated latest updates on the numbers of martyrs, missing, and wounded people in addition to the sick, displaced and prisoners as well as numbers of damaged structures and infrastructure.

Below are figures released by the GMO about Israel’s violations over the period of 120 days since the start of its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

(2,325) Massacres (34,238) Martyrs and missing people. (27,238) Martyrs who arrived in hospitals. (12,000) Child martyrs. (8,190) Female martyrs. (339) Martyrs of medical staff. (46) Civil defense martyrs. (122) Journalist martyrs. (7,000) Missing, 70% of whom are children and women. (66,452) Wounded.

(11,000) Wounded people in need of travel abroad for treatment, (life-saving and critical cases). (10,000) Cancer patients facing the risk of death. (700,000) Wounded with infectious diseases as a result of displacement. (8,000) Cases of viral hepatitis infection due to displacement. (60,000) Pregnant women at risk due to the lack of health care. (350,000) Chronic patients at risk due to blocked medications.

(99) Cases of arrest among health personnel. (10) Cases of arrests among identified journalists. (2 million) Displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

(140) Government headquarters destroyed. (100) Completely destroyed schools and universities. (295) Partially destroyed schools and universities. (183) Completely destroyed mosques. (264) Partially destroyed mosques. (3) Destroyed Churches.

(79,200) Completely destroyed housing units. (290,000) Partially destroyed and uninhabitable housing units. (66,000) tons of explosives dropped on Gaza. (30) Hospitals knocked out of service. (53) Health centers knocked out of service. (150) Partially targeted Health institutions. (122) Destroyed ambulances. (200) Destroyed archaeological and heritage sites.

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A Palestinian child on the rubble of his house which was destroyed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza Strip, April 6, 2024	A Palestinian man collapses while grieving the death of family members, who were killed by Israeli genocidal air strikes and bombardment on Gaza Strip, April 5, 2024
Most of Gaza's schools have been destroyed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip, leaving children's education in limbo, file, April 6, 2024	46 Palestinians were killed, 65 were injured on Day 183 of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip, file, April 6, 2024
Israeli genocidal air strikes on Jabalya, April 6, 2024	Burial prayer on a martyred Palestinian child, who was among those who were killed by the Israeli genocidal air strike and bombardment on Gaza Strip, April 6, 2024

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Borrell: Israel’s new aid corridors are not enough to stop starvation in Gaza

Saturday 6-April-2024

GAZA, (PIC)

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said on Friday that Israel’s move to allow new humanitarian aid corridors into Gaza will be insufficient to prevent starvation in the region.

“Following widespread condemnation of the killing of 7 World Kitchen staffers by IDF and mounting international pressure, the Israeli government will open some corridors for humanitarian aid. It’s not enough to prevent starvation in Gaza,” Borrell tweets.

“The binding UN Security Council Resolution 2728 must be implemented. Now,” he adds.

The UN Security Council resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and also calls for ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza. 

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Guterres calls for a probe into the killing of aid workers in Gaza

Friday 5-April-2024

NEW YORK, (PIC)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that the Israeli military aggression on Gaza has brought “relentless death and destruction” to Palestinians in the Strip, expressing his concern about reports on Israel using artificial intelligence to identify targets in Gaza.

“The Gaza war is devastating to civilians, health workers, and United Nations employees,” Guterres said in a press conference, pointing out that “the Israeli military campaign caused unprecedented destruction in the Gaza Strip over the course of 6 months.”

“Fixing [Israeli government’s] failures requires independent investigations as well as meaningful and measurable changes on the ground,” the UN Chief said.

“196 humanitarian workers have been killed and we want to know why each one of them was killed,” he added.

Guterres also said he was “deeply troubled” by reports that the Israeli military has been using artificial intelligence to help identify bombing targets in Gaza.

A report published by the +972 website indicated that the Israeli occupation army, using artificial intelligence, identified tens of thousands of Gaza residents as suspects in bombing and killing operations.

The website explained that during the early stages of the war, the Israeli occupation army gave blanket approval to officers to accept its proposed kill lists, without the need to carefully investigate why the machine made these choices or the need to examine the initial intelligence data.

For 181 days in a row, the Israeli occupation army has been committing massacres as part of its genocidal war against the people of the Gaza Strip, targeting inhabited homes and medical and journalistic teams, killing more than 33,000 people, and injuring more than 75,000 others, in addition to thousands missing under the rubble, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. 

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UNRWA: Israeli war destroyed 62% of buildings in Gaza

Friday 5-April-2024

NEW YORK, (PIC)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the destruction of approximately 62% of all buildings in the enclave.

The agency stated through its account on the “X” platform on Friday that vital infrastructure, including those belonging to the agency and buildings housing displaced families, have come under attack.

It pointed out that over 75% of the population in the Gaza Strip is displaced due to the war, and the majority of them have been displaced multiple times. UNRWA concluded the post with the question, “When will this war end?”

The Israeli occupation forces, supported by the United States and Europe, continue to commit acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip for the 182nd consecutive day. This includes carrying out dozens of airstrikes, artillery shelling, and fire belts, as well as committing massacres against civilians and committing crimes in infiltration areas. All of this is happening amidst a catastrophic humanitarian situation resulting from the blockade and the displacement of over 75% of the population. 

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Ireland to make significant divestments from six Israeli firms

DUBLIN, Saturday, April 6, 2024 (WAFA) –

Ireland's 15-billion-euro sovereign investment fund is set to divest from six Israeli companies, including major banks, due to their involvement in the occupied Palestinian territories, announced Finance Minister Michael McGrath on Friday.

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), which primarily invests domestically to bolster economic growth while also managing an international portfolio, faced pressure from Sinn Fein, the main opposition party, to disinvest from these assets.

Ireland, historically supportive of Palestinian rights, recently joined Spain, Malta, and Slovenia in taking initial steps toward recognizing Palestinian statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The ISIF will offload its shareholdings totaling 2.95 million euros ($3.20 million) in Bank Hapoalim BM, Bank Leumi-le Israel BM, Israel Discount Bank, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd, First International Bank, and Rami Levi CN Stores, one of Israel's prominent supermarket chains.

McGrath stated, "I have been advised by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that it has decided to divest from certain ISIF global portfolio investments in companies that have certain activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory." He further mentioned that the decision would be executed over the upcoming weeks.

Norway's $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, has previously divested from nine Israeli companies due to their involvement in the occupied Palestinian territories.

M.N. 

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Director of OCHA's Coordination Division at UNSC: Events of last week alone are evidence of the unconscionable brutality of conflict in Gaza

NEW YORK, Friday, April 5, 2024 (WAFA) -

Director of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ramesh Rajasingham, said the events of the last week alone are evidence of the unconscionable brutality of the conflict in Gaza, which so far has led to the killing of more than 32,000 civilians and the wounding of over 75,000 others.

He said addressing the UNSC that the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers who were killed despite informing the Israeli army of their movements and after having just unloaded more than 100 tons of much-needed lifesaving humanitarian supplies from the second World Central Kitchen maritime aid shipment to a warehouse in Dair Al-Bala'h, join more than 220 of humanitarian colleagues who have been killed, 179 of them UN personnel.

“Allegations of serious violations must be investigated, and the suspects prosecuted,” he stressed.

He said during the UNSC meeting, which was held at the request of Algeria, that all Member States can and must use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law — through diplomatic and economic pressure, conditioning arms exports on compliance with the rules of war, and cooperation in combating impunity.

“The undeniable lack of protection for aid missions has forced World Central Kitchen and at least one other aid organization — the NGO “ANERA” — to suspend their operations, he reported, warning that “Gaza is teetering on the edge of famine, if it hasn’t already fallen into it,” he added.

Detailing the dire situation of Gazans who are relying on woefully inadequate food assistance to survive, he urged immediate concerted action, stressing that “waiting for a retrospective famine classification is entirely indefensible.”

The UN Relief Agency, UNRWA, and all impartial humanitarian organizations must have safe, rapid and unimpeded access to all civilians in need, he said, stressing: “There is simply no replacement for the services UNRWA provides.” Pointing to the ongoing death and destruction in Gaza despite the international community’s efforts to date.

Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children USA, said that to date, 203 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza; the highest number of humanitarian casualties in modern times, adding: “They died serving their communities in, perhaps, the worst conditions of their lives, of their careers.”

More children have been killed in this conflict than in all armed conflicts globally over the past four years, she added, noting that after months of deliberate humanitarian access denial, children are dying from malnutrition and dehydration.  “Almost 350,000 children under the age of 5 are at risk of starvation as we speak,” she said, stressing that severe malnutrition is not a “quiet or painless death”.

Recognizing that aid organizations are overwhelmed with impediments and human lives are not being prioritized, she continued: “Give humanitarians safe access and a ceasefire, and we can save lives.”

While resolutions passed in the Security Council Chamber do not immediately lead to changing behavior on the ground, she noted that “what happens in this room does matter, for accountability, for setting standards we expect everyone to abide by.”

The representative of Algeria said a killing machine is acting with total impunity in Gaza.  The crime perpetrated against World Central Kitchen’s personnel is not an exception, he said, citing chef Jose Andres, founder of that organization, who said it was an attack that targeted them “systematically, car by car”.

Why do these seven deaths get apologies from the highest occupying authorities but not the thousands of innocent Palestinians massacred during these six months? he asked.  "The answer is the dehumanization of Palestinians."

Humanitarian workers cannot be asked to serve at the peril of their lives, he said, adding that the famine in Gaza will be worsened with the decision to freeze the World Central Kitchen’s operations and the maritime corridor from Cyprus, even as the occupying Power persists in its campaign to dismantle UNRWA.

T.R.

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Gaza's destroyed schools leave children's education in limbo

GAZA, Saturday, April 6, 2024 (WAFA) –

In a tent in southern Gaza, children play a make-believe "school" game after being cut off from education in the besieged territory, where eight out of ten schools have been destroyed, according to UNICEF, since the start of the Israeli aggression six months ago.

Jonathan Crickx, spokesperson for UNICEF in the Palestinian Territories, says that the initiative to establish the makeshift school allows children, especially, to cope with the trauma, describing the situation as "absolutely tragic."

"There are 325,000 school-age children who haven't attended a single class in six months," he adds.

Majd Halawa, 16, recounts how Israeli airstrikes hit his school in Gaza City, from which he and his family fled. He recalls that the Israeli occupation forces gave the family and some relatives a three-minute notice to evacuate the six-story building they inhabited in Gaza.

Speaking from Edmonton, Canada, where he sought refuge in mid-January, Majd tells AFP, "I left all my books and school supplies at home. I thought I would return to the country soon, but that didn't happen."

Schooling in Gaza has been halted since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7th. UNRWA's schools in the territory have turned into shelters for hundreds of thousands of displaced people, with 67% of schools directly hit and 82% damaged, according to a report by NGOs based on satellite images and field reports.

The reconstruction of schools will be a challenging first step in getting children back to school. But the real challenge will be healing the displaced children of Gaza and dealing with the psychological traumas resulting from death, destruction, and hunger, so they can return to learning, health workers say.

In Rafa'h, in the southernmost part of the Strip, over a million and a half people, mostly displaced, are crowded, according to the United Nations, with the humanitarian situation in the city becoming dire.

About half of Gaza's population is under 18. The education system in the Strip was already struggling after five wars Israel waged in the past twenty years, compounded by poverty and unemployment.

David Skinner of Save the Children says, "Rebuilding schools is extremely complicated... but it's simpler than rehabilitating education."

Temporary schools have been set up in tents in Rafa'h city.

In a small tent, a teacher stands next to a wooden board teaching first and second-grade students, saying, "We feel joy because we are trying to avoid illiteracy for hundreds of thousands of students."

Despite the lack of textbooks and pens, the teacher, Heba Halawa, says before 30 children trying to learn their first words, "Children are still happy to be in school."

Although there are preliminary plans by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to resume basic and secondary education after the cessation of aggression, Majd Halawa, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer, feels that it's not just about having a school to go back to. "No one can overcome all the memories of what happened, not even in a hundred years," he says.

Audrey McMahon, a child psychiatrist from Doctors Without Borders, says, "Learning requires being in a safe place. Most children in Gaza are currently operating under shock."

She adds, "The challenges they will face are immense and will take a long time to recover from. Younger children may develop lifelong cognitive impairments due to malnutrition, while teenagers are likely to feel anger at injustice."

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) says that Israeli forces kill about 4 children every hour in Gaza, and 43,349 children live without one or both parents, or guardians, due to the continuous Israeli aggression on Gaza for 182 days.

The PCBS added in a statement issued on the occasion of Palestinian Children's Day, which falls on April 5 of each year, that more than 14,350 children, accounting for 44% of the total number of martyrs in Gaza, have been killed due to the Israeli aggression, while women and children make up 70% of the missing in Gaza.

As a result of the continuous Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and the toll of martyrs among students and teachers and the destruction of the infrastructure of a considerable number of schools, around 620,000 students have been deprived of their right to school education for the 2023/2024 academic year.

The number of students enrolled in schools in the Gaza Strip who have been killed reached 5,994, according to the PCBS, while 9,890 other students have been wounded.

M.N.

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