Live blog: Hamas welcomes UN humanitarian pauses in Israel's war on Gaza

Thursday, August 29, 2024

1725 GMT — Hamas has welcomed UN-announced humanitarian pauses in Israel's war in Gaza to implement a polio vaccination campaign.

Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters that the group is ready to cooperate with international organisations.

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1905 GMT — 16 Palestinians, including children, killed in fresh Israeli air strikes

At least 16 more Palestinians have been killed, including children, and several others injured due to ongoing Israeli air strikes on Gaza, according to multiple sources.

A medical source at al-Awda Hospital told Anadolu that the facility received seven bodies, including four children, following an Israeli air strike that targeted a residential apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Israeli warplanes bombed an apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp, leading to the deaths, witnesses told Anadolu.

In separate incidents, Mahamoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, reported on Telegram that two Palestinians were killed and others injured when an Israeli warplane struck a house in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City.

Basal also noted that five Palestinians lost their lives when an Israeli drone targeted a tent sheltering displaced people in the Wadi Saber area east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

1715 GMT — Israeli army close to sinking in mud of Gaza: local media

The Israeli army is on the verge of "sinking in the mud of Gaza," the Israeli daily Maariv reported.

"In this black August, some 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in battles in Gaza and the north (with Lebanon), and this is the price of a war of attrition," reported the daily.

"August will be remembered as one of the bloodiest months," continued Maariv.

It further added that Israel "insists on maintaining the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Passage in the name of security, and this is currently the main point of contention in the negotiations."

"In a few weeks, the seasons will change, and the rain will come. Before we sink into the quagmire, let's take a moment… and truly consider security alternatives to close negotiations, release the hostages, and cease the fire."

1633 GMT — WHO announces limited pauses in Gaza war to allow for polio vaccinations

The World Health Organization has announced that there will be limited pauses in the Israeli war on Gaza to allow for polio vaccinations for hundreds of thousands of children after a baby contracted the first confirmed case in 25 years in the Palestinian territory.

Described as "humanitarian pauses" that will last three days in different areas of the war-ravaged territory, the vaccination campaign will start on Sunday in central Gaza, said Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories.

Read more here

1559 GMT — Israeli ops in West Bank threaten already fragile regional stability: Norway

Norway has issued a stern warning, stating that Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank are exacerbating an already fragile regional stability.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed concern over the escalating Israeli military activities in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, emphasising potential unforeseen consequences forr regional stability.

"The massive Israeli military operations in and around Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas escalate an already tense situation, with unforeseen consequences for stability in the region," Eide said in a statement.

1534 GMT — US support to Israel obstructing Gaza ceasefire: Hamas

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has said the US supports Israel's stance against a ceasefire, reflecting Washington's lack of seriousness in stopping Tel Aviv's attacks on Gaza.

Zuhri told Anadolu that the US isn't serious about pressuring Israel to agree to a Gaza ceasefire, noting that Israel keeps imposing new conditions with US backing.

He stated that the delays in achieving a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza are due to this situation.

"Hamas accepted the proposal from Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators on July 2, but Israel imposed new conditions, despite it being based on principles outlined in President Joe Biden's speech and UN Security Council resolutions," he added.

Regarding Hamas' stance, Zuhri said: "We reaffirmed our commitment to the proposal announced on July 2 and are waiting for a plan to implement this agreement."

1434 GMT — Israel waging 'war of extermination' in Gaza: Palestinian scholar

A prominent Palestinian academic has characterised Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide," urging immediate international intervention to halt the ongoing conflict.

Sami Al Arian, director of the Center for Islamic World and Global Affairs at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, told Anadolu Israel is waging "a war of extermination against the Palestinian people" in Gaza.

"The Zionist regime in Palestine is trying to resolve its demographic problem because they want Greater Israel, but also they want to claim a Jewish state and a democratic state," Arian stated.

1355 GMT — Egypt warns of 'extreme danger' from Israeli ops in West Bank

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi has warned of the "extreme danger" from an ongoing Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank.

The warning came during a meeting in Cairo between Sisi and a delegation from the US Congress led by Senator Joni Ernst to back efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

Sisi warned of "the gravity of the escalation and tension in the region due to the ongoing war in Gaza," the statement said. He underlined Egypt’s keenness to continue its efforts, in coordination with partners, "to put an end to the Israeli war that has caused a humanitarian disaster in Gaza," it added.

1339 GMT — 'We are witnessing total erasure of Palestine': UK politician

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has sharply criticised Israel's recent military actions in the occupied West Bank, accusing the nation of committing war crimes with impunity.

In a statement on X, Corbyn expressed his deep alarm over the ongoing violence, framing it as part of a broader, systematic campaign to erase Palestinian presence in the region. "Israel knows it can commit war crimes with impunity. That is why it has launched its largest assault on the West Bank since 2002," Corbyn said.

1313 GMT — EU seeks humanitarian pauses in Gaza war for polio vaccination

The European Union has called for humanitarian pauses in the war-torn Gaza to allow for a critical vaccination campaign against poliovirus, according to a statement from the EU High Representative's office.

"The EU joins the call by the United Nations Secretary-General and the World Health Organisation for immediate humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow for the polio vaccination campaign to take place," the statement read.

The EU expressed deep concern over the potential for a polio epidemic in Gaza, a region that has been polio-free for the past 25 years. The call for action aligns with the appeals made by the UN secretary-general and the World Health Organization, urging immediate pauses in the war to ensure the vaccination campaign can proceed.

1246 GMT — China 'deeply' concerned over escalation in occupied West Bank

China has voiced concern over Israel's escalations in the occupied West Bank, saying it opposes actions that fuel tensions.

"We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the (occupied) West Bank. China opposes actions that fuel tensions, and condemns all attacks on civilians," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, in response to a question by Anadolu during a news briefing in Beijing.

Commenting on the latest developments with over 10-month-long conflict spilling from Gaza to the occupied West Bank, Jian called upon all the parties concerned, Israel in particular, to "remain calm and exercise restraint, and prevent further escalation and deterioration of the situation."

12330 GMT — Israeli raids in West Bank to continue for days

Israeli military raids in the northern West Bank would continue for several days and may be longer, military spokesperson Ella Waweya told Anadolu.

1135 GMT — Germany open to EU sanctions against Israeli far-right ministers

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock did not rule out possible EU sanctions against Israel's far-right ministers, but underlined that this will require a unanimous decision by the member states.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, ahead of an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers, Baerbock expressed grave concern over growing violence by Israeli extremist settlers and inflammatory comments by Israel's far-right ministers.

"As Germany, we have always strongly criticised statements made by various Israeli ministers in recent months, when they called for acts of violence, when these statements were against international law, against the Oslo Accords," she said.

0849 GMT — Top Islamic Jihad commander killed in Israeli West Bank raid

Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has announced the death of its commander in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank.

Earlier, the Israeli military said it had killed five resistance fighters, including Muhammad Jabber, also known as Abu Shujaa.

"Abu Shujaa, commander of the Tulkarem Brigade of the Al-Quds Brigades," the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, which has a strong presence in the refugee camps in the north of the occupied West Bank, "died along with several brothers of his brigade after a heroic battle against the soldiers of the (Israeli) occupation", the group said in a statement.

0811 GMT — Death toll from Israeli attacks in northern West Bank rises to 17

At least 17 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire amid an ongoing military incursion in the northern occupied West Bank since Wednesday, the Red Crescent Society said.

The relief organisation said in a statement that a Palestinian man lost his life in eastern Jenin on early Thursday.

It came shortly after five Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire inside a mosque in Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern city of Tulkarem.

0833 GMT — Families of Israeli captives breach Gaza border fence to demand prisoner swap

Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza stormed the territory’s border fence to demand a prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

In a statement on X, a forum for the hostages’ families said they breached the border fence, using loudspeakers to cry out to the captives.

"The families in their great pain breached the fence to Gaza and ran towards the Gaza Strip to get close to their loved ones," the forum said.

A video published by Israeli media showed a number of people running towards the direction of Gaza through an open gate.

0805 GMT — Death toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks rises

At least 40,602 Palestinians have been killed and 93,855 wounded in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since October 7, the besieged enclave's Health Ministry said.

0753 GMT — Israeli minister's call to displace people from West Bank 'completely unacceptable': EU foreign policy chief

The Israeli foreign minister’s call to displace people from the West Bank is “completely unacceptable,” the EU foreign policy chief said Thursday.

Before attending the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Josep Borrell told reporters that UN’s Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag will brief the ministers on the situation in the field.

She will “explain the situation and the situation of even the United Nations, which are under strong pressure from the Israeli government, preventing all the United Nations organizations to do their work,” Borrell said.

0337 GMT — UN demands 'immediate' end to Israel's incursion in West Bank

Israel must "immediately" end its large-scale military offensive in the occupied West Bank, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, after 11 Palestinians were killed and several injured.

Guterres strongly condemned "the loss of lives, including of children," and called for "an immediate cessation of these operations."

The secretary-general "calls on Israel to comply with its relevant obligations under international humanitarian law and to take measures to protect civilians and ensure their safety.

He urges security forces to exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life," his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a lengthy statement.

0309 GMT — 20 Israeli soldiers refuse to return to Gaza, face trial

Twenty Israeli soldiers from an infantry brigade have refused to return to combat in Gaza, and some have been informed that they will face a military trial if they do not comply, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.

The agency noted that around 10 soldiers received notifications on Tuesday indicating that they would face trial for disobeying military orders if they did not agree to return to Gaza.

Some soldiers have indicated that after 10 months of fighting in Gaza, they are no longer able to return but are willing to take on other duties.

The families of some of the soldiers have indicated that their sons are being forced to enter ground manoeuvres in Gaza or else face imprisonment, which they find unacceptable.

2143 GMT — Houthis agree to temporary truce to secure stranded oil tanker

Yemen's Houthis have agreed to a temporary truce to allow for an oil tanker targeted by them — now at risk of causing an oil spill — to be secured, Iran's mission to the UN said.

The Greek-owned Sounion was hit by the Houthis off the coast of Hudaida last week, sparking fires and the evacuation of its crew.

Houthis say they will continue to strike Israel-owned or Israel-bound ships around Yemeni waters in solidarity with Palestinians of besieged Gaza.

"Several countries have reached out to ask Ansarullah, requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area," citing the fires and "subsequent environmental hazards," Iran's mission said, using an alternate name for the Houthis.

"Ansarullah has consented to this request," it said, adding any "failure to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea stems from the negligence of certain countries" rather than the risk of being targeted by the Houthis.

2000 GMT — Israeli opposition parties agree to oust Netanyahu amid Gaza war

Chairman of the Democrats Yair Golan has called on leaders of opposition parties to convene an emergency meeting to discuss the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Golan said in a recorded message posted on his X account, "Today, I reached out to all my friends in the opposition with a clear call: let's embark on a shared path."

He added, "Israel is in an extraordinary state of emergency and is collapsing politically, security-wise, economically, socially, and constitutionally.

"Everything is falling apart around us. We must work in a coordinated, systematic, and consistent manner."

For our live updates from Wednesday, August 28, 2024, click here.