Smoke rises above buildings in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on December 5, 2023. Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
Doha, Qatar: Israel ramps up bombardment across central and southern Gaza, with dozens reported killed in an Israeli attack on homes in Deir el-Balah. The death toll in Gaza has reached 16,248 since October 7.
The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani chaired the 44th Session of the GCC Supreme Council yesterday, as he issued a stinging rebuke of Israel, further criticising the international community ‘that does not sanction the genocide crimes committed by Israel’.
On a separate occasion, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani pointed out that the GCC leaders discussed the current regional and international issues, with the war on Gaza and crimes perpetrated by the occupation forces, coming at the forefront, which are in gross violation of international law.
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[11:20pm Doha Time] The Palestinian Foreign Ministry calls for international intervention to cancel a settlers’ march to Al-Aqsa Mosque tomorrow, Thursday. Read more.
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[10:33pm Doha Time] UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned “an even worse situation could unfold – including epidemic diseases and increased pressure for mass displacement into neighbouring countries”.
“The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and end this crisis,” he said.
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[9:30pm Doha Time] Qatar PM, UN chief discussed ceasefire
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani received today a phone call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. They discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, de-escalation, and ceasefire. Read more.
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[6:10pm Doha Time] On the 61st day of war on Gaza, Palestinians are living in complete terror as Israeli soldiers execute nonstop raids and bombs. The latest death toll stands at 16,510 Palestinians.
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[4:06pm Doha Time] Two girls stuck under the rubble for four days recovered alive
Two young sisters have been rescued from under the rubble of a poultry hatchery in the central town of Deir el-Balah that was targeted by Israeli tank shelling four days ago, said Al Jazeera.
“We stayed four days under the rubble, with no food or drink,” Maria said. “I was trying to get out, but there were many stones above us,” said Maria Abu Safi.
She heard her younger sister Lana screaming in pain, her feet stuck under a pile of boxes and stones. Maria said there were about 72 adults and 62 children sheltering in the hatchery.
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[2:30pm Doha Time] Gaza Palestinians living in 'utter, deepening horror': UN
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living in "utter, deepening horror", the UN human rights chief said Wednesday, as he called for an urgent ceasefire.
Volker Turk said that in such "apocalyptic" humanitarian circumstances, there was a high risk of atrocity crimes being committed. Read more
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[12:34 PM Doha Time] Gaza one of world’s ‘most dangerous places’
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns that the situation in Gaza is “getting worse each minute”.
UNRWA said people fleeing Israeli attacks have nowhere safe to turn, as all shelters are already beyond capacity.
“Another wave of displacement is underway in Gaza”, UNRWA said in a post on X, calling the entire Strip “one of the most dangerous places in the world”.
“There is nowhere to go as shelters, including [those of] UNRWA, are overflowing.”
Palestinians, including many displaced from other areas in the Gaza Strip, walk through a main square in Rafah near the border with Egypt on December 5, 2023. Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
[12:30 pm Doha Time] Displaced Palestinians in Rafah continue to face harsh conditions amid relentless bombardments by Israel across the Gaza Strip.
Displaced Palestinians in Rafah continue to face harsh conditions amid relentless bombardments by Israel across the #GazaStrip.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) December 6, 2023
"In these harsh moments, people in #Gaza find themselves displaced between streets and tents, leaving behind memories and dreams, after loss and pain… pic.twitter.com/BsP09srDrD
"In these harsh moments, people in Gaza find themselves displaced between streets and tents, leaving behind memories and dreams, after loss and pain have overshadowed them," said photographer Mahmoud Bassam on Instagram.
[8 am Doha Time] Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital ‘running out of essential supplies’
Doctors Without Borders has warned that Gaza's Al-Aqsa Hospital is running out of supplies. Hundreds of patients are sheltering in the hospital located in Deir el-Balah “due to unrelenting bombardment by Israeli forces”.
“There are 700 patients admitted in the hospital now, with new patients arriving all the time. We are running out of essential supplies to treat them,” says Marie-Aure Perreaut Revial, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza.