CrossFireArabia
One-month-old Joma’a Batran is the latest Palestinian baby to have frozen to death in Gaza. His family reports that he died from extreme cold early this morning inside their displacement tent in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli genocide.
CrossFireArabia
Israeli forces set fire on Friday to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, which is the largest hospital in the area and serves over 400,000 citizens, according to local reports.
Witnesses confirmed that the Israeli military forcibly evacuated patients, the injured, medical staff, and journalists from the hospital. The hospital is the only operational medical facility in northern Gaza that provided critical medical services to the community before being set ablaze.
The fire destroyed key departments, including operating rooms, the laboratory, the emergency unit and the ambulance services according to the WAFA news agency.
Communication with those inside the hospital was completely cut off after Israeli forces surrounded the building.
Reports indicate that the army ordered the approximately 350 people inside, including 170 medical staff, to gather in the courtyard in preparation for a military raid. The fate of those individuals remains unknown.
CrossFireArabia
Civilian casualties and injuries continue to be reported across Gaza due to the ongoing hostilities, with most families unable to afford basic food as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, a UN spokesperson reported, Thursday. In Lebanon, the UN peacekeeping mission in the south of the country urged both Israel and Lebanon to prevent any actions that could threaten the fragile ceasefire.
The relentless fighting in the Gaza Strip, which began last October, continues to cause widespread destruction and drive displacement, according to a note issued by the UN Spokesperson’s Office.
“The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stresses once again that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, must be protected and spared from attacks,” the note stated.
The note also cited reports that Israeli authorities continue to deny and impede aid missions across the war-ravaged enclave.
“Out of 12 UN requests for coordinated humanitarian movements yesterday, six requests were denied outright, three were cancelled by the organizers due to security or logistical challenges, one was approved but faced impediments, and two others were facilitated and accomplished,” the note stated.
“One attempt to reach besieged parts of North Gaza governorate was denied yesterday and another one today,” it added.
Despite access restrictions and insecurity, aid organizations are working tirelessly to assist the most vulnerable as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
With most families unable to afford basic food, prices have skyrocketed. Reports indicate that a 25-kilogram bag of wheat flour is now priced between $160 and $190.
“Humanitarian partners working to address hunger in Gaza estimate that as of mid-December, 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat flour are needed to distribute one bag of flour to all families in Deir al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah,” the note said.
“Without this, food insecurity in central and southern areas of the Strip will only worsen.”
Meanwhile, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stressed that any actions threatening the fragile cessation of hostilities, agreed last month between Israel and Lebanon, must cease.
“Israel and Lebanon have recommitted to full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701,” UNIFIL in a statement, calling on both parties to use the newly established Mechanism as agreed to address outstanding issues.
UNIFIL also called for the timely withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in southern Lebanon as part of the full implementation of the resolution as a comprehensive path toward peace.
It also noted concern over destruction caused by the IDF in residential areas, agricultural land and road networks in southern Lebanon, adding that such actions violate resolution 1701.
“UNIFIL stands ready to play its role in supporting both countries meet their obligations and monitoring progress,” the Mission said.
“This includes ensuring the area south of the Litani River is free of any armed personnel, assets or weapons other than those of the Government of Lebanon and UNIFIL as well as respect for the Blue Line.”
It added that UN peacekeepers will continue their mandated tasks, including monitoring and reporting all violations of resolution 1701 to the Security Council.
CrossFireArabia
A Hamas fighter in the Hamas Al Qassam Brigades blew himself up wearing an explosive belt in a complex operation that involved five Israeli soldiers who were either killed and/or wounded.
However and as soon as the Israeli rescue forces advanced to the scene, they were met with other Hamas fighters who showered them with Zionist-made hand grenades.
This complex operation was carried out in the Tel al-Zaatar area, east of the Jabalia camp, north of the Strip.
CrossFireArabia
This is a tribute to Ken Livingstone from Ousman Noor:
A tribute to one of the first major targets of the worldwide Zionist smear machine. Ken Livingstone, a towering leader of authentic socialist principles, London’s first Mayor, a committed anti-racist, described as “the only truly successful left-wing British politician of modern times”. In 2016, Ken was suspended from the UK Labour Party for telling us the truth about Isreal’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, noting that Zionists had directly collaborated with the Nazis to break the international boycott led by Jewish communities, to finance Zionist settlement in Palestine (Haavara Agreement).
As a consequence, Ken was viciously targeted by the entire media establishment (including by the Guardian) and branded an anti-Semite, isolated and stigmatised across the political class. Under immense pressure and calls for his expulsion, Ken was defiant, stating “I’m not going to apologise for telling the truth”. After an entire lifetime of standing up for the oppressed, championing working class solidarity, mobilising against war, Zionists were able to brand Ken as racist and destroy his career and reputation.
Ken now has Alzeimers and is in a very poor condition. This past year we have all been witness to Isreal’s genocide in Gaza, apartheid against the Palestinian people, disregard for international law and use of malicious tactics to smear those calling them out as “anti-Semites”. We stand on the shoulders of people like Ken Livingstone and many others who always stood up for Palestinians with a commitment to the truth, no matter the cost to their career. Thank you Ken May you be at peace in this life and for all eternity.
