A Palestinian man warms under his makeshift tent at a camp for displaced people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP
Doha, Qatar: Nearly 1.9 million people are now residing in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, according to the UN relief agency in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Humanitarian crisis still weighs heavy in the besieged enclave as large crowds wait for hours around aid distribution centres in desperate need for basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter. UN also added that aid distribution has largely stopped across the rest of Gaza.
Heavy rains and flooding worsen conditions for displaced families in Gaza as tens of thousands of displaced people struggle to stay dry in tents and makeshift shelters.
Watch this page for more live updates:
[8:40pm Doha Time] Minister of State for International Cooperation at Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs met today with the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, and the importance of forming an international team to coordinate an obstacle-free humanitarian aid delivery to all areas of the Strip. Read more.
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[8:20pm Doha Time] Total communication blackout with the Gaza medical teams: PRCS
"We have completely lost contact with the operations room in the Gaza Strip and all our teams operating there due to the fifth telecommunication blackout during the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip," Palestine Red Crescent Society wrote on X.
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[7:29pm Doha Time] Gaza is blacked out again
Palestine telecom company Paltel announced that telecommunication services is cut in Gaza. "We regret to announce that all telecom services in Gaza Strip have been lost due to the ongoing aggression. Gaza is blacked out again."
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[6:15pm Doha Time] The war, now in its third month, has destroyed Gaza. Despite rising international calls for a ceasefire, Israel continues to bomb and has now killed over 18,600 people.
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[2:30pm Doha Time] Australian cricketer Khawaja wears black armband in support of Gaza
Australia's Usman Khawaja staged a muted protest against the war in Gaza on Thursday, wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan and taping up messages on his shoes. The opening batsman had wanted to wear shoes emblazoned with the hand-written slogans "Freedom is a human right" and "All lives are equal" during the match at Perth. Read more
[1:56 pm Doha Time] David Cameron bans extremist Israeli settlers from entering UK
In a statement on X, published on Thursday, David Cameron stated that it is banning extremist Israeli settlers from entering the United Kingdom.
"Extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. Israel must take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable," he said on X.
"We are banning those responsible for settler violence from entering the UK to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these intimidating acts," he further added.
Extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) December 14, 2023
Israel must take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
We are banning those responsible for…
[12:38 pm Doha Time] WATCH: Cold winter rains and flooding worsen conditions for displaced families in Gaza.
Cold winter rains and flooding worsen conditions for displaced families in Gaza.
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) December 14, 2023
???? Watch this page for more live updates https://t.co/NKPo0IOy6Y#Gaza #Palestine pic.twitter.com/4PAnkOseJf
[12:30 pm Doha Time] Israeli forces detain 18 Palestinians, including a child: Wafa
The Israeli forces have detained 18 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including a child, according to the official Palestinian Wafa news agency.
The detentions took place in occupied East Jerusalem, Jenin, Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah, Hebron and Tubas.
A 12-year-old child was taken into custody with his 34-year-old father in Bethlehem, the agency said.
[9:45 am Doha Time] Almost half of Gaza’s population now in Rafah: UN
Almost half of Gaza’s population of nearly 1.9 million people is now estimated to be residing in the Rafah Governorate area in southern Gaza, the UN relief agency in the occupied Palestinian territory has said.
This picture shows tents and makeshift shelters at a camp for displaced Palestinian people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. Photo by Mahmud HAMS / AFP
“Large crowds wait for hours around aid distribution centres, in desperate need of food, water, shelter, health, and protection,” the UN said.
While limited aid is still being distributed in Rafah, aid distribution has largely stopped across the rest of Gaza, the UN added.
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[8:30 am Doha Time] Heavy rains, and flooding worsen conditions for displaced families in Gaza
Cold winter rains and flooding have added to the misery and death engulfing northern Gaza.
A Palestinian woman looks on from her makeshift tent at a camp set up on a schoolyard in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip where most civilians have taken refuge, on December 13, 2023. Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
Israeli attacks had already pulverised Gaza’s sewage system and the flooding has now filled streets with the decay of war.
Tens of thousands of displaced people are struggling to stay dry in tents and other makeshift shelters amid food and water shortages as well as the looming threat of disease and starvation.
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[8:00 am Doha Time] Biden administration staff protest outside White House
A group of people gathered in front of the White House for a candlelit vigil holding a sign that say, “President Biden, your staff demands a ceasefire”.
Josh Paul, who resigned from the State Department in October over the US’s “lethal assistance to Israel”, spoke at the event.
Information shared online before the protest encouraged staff members from the Biden-Harris administration to attend. Attendees were encouraged to wear masks and nondescript clothing and not to bring their work phones.
