Gaza as Refugee Front; 85% homeless, 21,507 dead

 

Gaza - 21 lakh of Gaza's 2.3 lakh residents have become homeless due to the constant attacks by the Israeli forces. Ground and air attacks continue to intensify. Those fleeing for refuge are living in tents and makeshift shelters. Most of the refugees are concentrated in the southern Gaza town of Rafah. There was an attack here too. Without food, water and medicine, they face death. The main aid arriving in Gaza now is water cloths and other items for burying the dead.

The Gaza Health Ministry announced that 187 more people were killed yesterday, bringing the death toll from Israeli strikes to 21,507. 35 people were killed in a single attack in Nuseerium. In many places, the rescue workers are struggling to retrieve the dead bodies from under the bombed-out buildings and bury them. The city of Deir al-Balah was almost completely destroyed. 40 people including 28 women were killed here. Hamas is putting up a strong resistance in northern Gaza. Elsewhere there is only isolated resistance.

Friendly countries, including the US, have asked Israel to stop the killing of innocent people, but they have not relented. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that this is the decisive phase of the war. Meanwhile, the US said it had shot down a drone and missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting ships in the Red Sea. US assets of an organization helping the Houthis have been frozen. Strong sanctions were also imposed.

India transferred the second tranche of aid

 Jerusalem - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has said that India's stance in helping the Palestinian refugees will encourage other countries to help. Spokesperson Tamara Alrifai thanked India for its generous support. Indian diplomatic representative in Ramallah, Elizabeth Rodrigues, handed over the second tranche of India's aid of $25 lakh. India has promised 50 lakh dollars to UNRWA this year.