Gulf Cooperation Council calls for end to 'collective punishment' against Gaza
Group says Israeli attacks, forced displacement Gaza residents constitute ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law and international agreements’
Rania Abu Shamala |15.10.2023 -
Riyadh
A statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement pointed out the importance of joint international efforts to put a stop to Israel's practice of 'collective punishment,' which involves depriving residents of the Gaza Strip of basic necessities.
It noted that Israeli attacks and the forced displacement of residents in the Gaza Strip constitute "clear violations of international humanitarian law and international agreements."
The GCC urged the international community to swiftly and effectively intervene to halt attacks on Gaza, work toward a political solution to the crisis and uphold the legitimate rights of Palestinians to establish their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders.
One week ago, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
South African president expresses solidarity with Palestinians against Israeli offensiveGroup says Israeli attacks, forced displacement Gaza residents constitute ‘clear violations of international humanitarian law and international agreements’
Rania Abu Shamala |15.10.2023 -
Riyadh
A statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) statement pointed out the importance of joint international efforts to put a stop to Israel's practice of 'collective punishment,' which involves depriving residents of the Gaza Strip of basic necessities.
It noted that Israeli attacks and the forced displacement of residents in the Gaza Strip constitute "clear violations of international humanitarian law and international agreements."
The GCC urged the international community to swiftly and effectively intervene to halt attacks on Gaza, work toward a political solution to the crisis and uphold the legitimate rights of Palestinians to establish their own state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders.
One week ago, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
Red Cross 'Appalled' by Human Misery of Israel-Hamas War
October 14, 2023
Agence France-Presse
October 14, 2023
Agence France-Presse
Palestinians evacuate wounded after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Oct. 12, 2023.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND —
The Red Cross said Saturday it was "appalled" by the human misery unleashed by the war between Hamas and Israel, saying its volunteers would not abandon those who needed them most.
It called on both sides to abide by international humanitarian law, protect civilians and allow humanitarian organizations to alleviate the growing levels of suffering.
"The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is appalled to see the human misery that has unfolded over the last week in Israel and Gaza," with civilians paying the highest price, a statement said.
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND —
The Red Cross said Saturday it was "appalled" by the human misery unleashed by the war between Hamas and Israel, saying its volunteers would not abandon those who needed them most.
It called on both sides to abide by international humanitarian law, protect civilians and allow humanitarian organizations to alleviate the growing levels of suffering.
"The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is appalled to see the human misery that has unfolded over the last week in Israel and Gaza," with civilians paying the highest price, a statement said.
ICRC Director-General Robert Mardini speaks during a news briefing on the 2024 budget forecast and its effects on humanitarian operations, Geneva, Switzerland, September 11, 2023.
Thousands of Palestinians sought refuge Saturday after Israel warned them to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas, one week after the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
"Nothing can justify the horrific loss of civilian lives in Israel last weekend... but such tragedy cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza," the Red Cross statement said. "We are deeply alarmed by the call for relocation in Gaza. Our volunteers refuse to leave and abandon those who need them most. They must be protected -- so that they can protect others."
The joint statement was issued by the heads of both branches of the Red Cross Movement: Jagan Chapagain of the IFRC and Robert Mardini of the ICRC.
Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 people in the attack on Israel, sparking a massive retaliatory bombing campaign, targeting the Islamist group, that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza.
Alarm has grown over the fate of Palestinian civilians in blockaded and besieged Gaza if it becomes the scene of intense urban combat.
Thousands of Palestinians sought refuge Saturday after Israel warned them to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas, one week after the deadliest attack in Israel's history.
"Nothing can justify the horrific loss of civilian lives in Israel last weekend... but such tragedy cannot in turn justify the limitless destruction of Gaza," the Red Cross statement said. "We are deeply alarmed by the call for relocation in Gaza. Our volunteers refuse to leave and abandon those who need them most. They must be protected -- so that they can protect others."
The joint statement was issued by the heads of both branches of the Red Cross Movement: Jagan Chapagain of the IFRC and Robert Mardini of the ICRC.
Hamas militants killed more than 1,300 people in the attack on Israel, sparking a massive retaliatory bombing campaign, targeting the Islamist group, that has killed over 2,200 in Gaza.
Alarm has grown over the fate of Palestinian civilians in blockaded and besieged Gaza if it becomes the scene of intense urban combat.
Palestinians gather for a vigil outside the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Beirut on October 11, 2023, in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Red Cross chiefs said there was "devastating" human suffering on all sides, and in international humanitarian law, "there is no hierarchy in pain and suffering."
"These rules exist to help preserve humanity in the darkest moments, and they desperately need to be followed today. They are and should remain our compass to ensure that we put humanity first," the statement said. "The Movement is committed to continuing to provide protection and life-saving relief to the people suffering the horrors of the ongoing violence.
"The needs are staggering and will only continue to increase if the hostilities persist. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians,” the statement said.
The Red Cross chiefs said there was "devastating" human suffering on all sides, and in international humanitarian law, "there is no hierarchy in pain and suffering."
"These rules exist to help preserve humanity in the darkest moments, and they desperately need to be followed today. They are and should remain our compass to ensure that we put humanity first," the statement said. "The Movement is committed to continuing to provide protection and life-saving relief to the people suffering the horrors of the ongoing violence.
"The needs are staggering and will only continue to increase if the hostilities persist. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to protect civilians,” the statement said.
Cyril Ramaphosa appears in video on X wearing Palestinian Kufiyah -- an icon of Palestinian resistance
Muna Asghar |15.10.2023 -
ISTANBUL
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed solidarity with Palestinians on Saturday in a video posted on X.
“The main way to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state,” Ramaphosa said in the clip, wearing the Palestinian Kufiyah -- an icon of Palestinian resistance.
"We extend our condolences to the families of the civilian victims during the recent clashes on both sides (Gaza Strip and Israel)," he said.
“The Israeli order to evacuate more than a million people from northern Gaza to its south would make the matter worse," he said.
He affirmed "South Africa's solidarity with the Palestinian people and its support for a peaceful solution,” and stressed that "a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine will reflect positively on the entire Middle East."
The Gaza Strip, which has been besieged since 2006, has been subjected to intense Israeli air strikes that destroyed entire neighborhoods, as the Israeli army launched its Iron Swords military operation last week.
At dawn Oct. 7, the Hamas movement and other Palestinian factions in Gaza, launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in response to “the continuing attacks by Israeli forces and settlers against the Palestinian people, their property, and their sanctities, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.”
Mexico, Ukraine press Israel to open humanitarian corridor to Gaza
"This is an urgent appeal to Israel because even war has rules," Barcena added
Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena speaks during a ministerial level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023.
Separately, Ukraine's embassy in Israel said on social media that 207 Ukrainian citizens, including 63 children, were evacuated from Tel Aviv to Romania on Saturday and another flight to take 155 people out of Israel was planned for Sunday.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling for world solidarity with Israel.
Mexico's foreign ministry has also condemned the Hamas attacks, and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he wants to keep his country neutral in the conflict.
On Thursday, the Mexican government said hundreds of its nationals were still waiting to get out of Israel.
"This is an urgent appeal to Israel because even war has rules," Barcena added
Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena speaks during a ministerial level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the crisis in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York, September 20, 2023.
REUTERS/Mike Segar
Mexican and Ukrainian officials on Saturday (14 October) separately urged Israel to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza to let people out as both countries work to repatriate their citizens from the area.
Responding to appeals from the family of Barbara Lango, a Mexican working for aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said she had been in touch with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for help.
"We're trying to get her out via Egypt, but Israel is not authorizing a humanitarian corridor, nor is it allowing anybody to get out," she said in a post on social media platform X
"This is an urgent appeal to Israel because even war has rules," Barcena added.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Ukraine's foreign ministry sent a note of protest to Israel after Ukrainian citizens were not allowed to evacuate from Gaza on Saturday.
"We do not understand why Ukrainian citizens are not allowed to evacuate, as well as other citizens of foreign countries," Lubinets said. "Especially - as everyone emphasizes - women and children were the first to ask for evacuation."
Mexican and Ukrainian officials on Saturday (14 October) separately urged Israel to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza to let people out as both countries work to repatriate their citizens from the area.
Responding to appeals from the family of Barbara Lango, a Mexican working for aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said she had been in touch with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for help.
"We're trying to get her out via Egypt, but Israel is not authorizing a humanitarian corridor, nor is it allowing anybody to get out," she said in a post on social media platform X
"This is an urgent appeal to Israel because even war has rules," Barcena added.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Ukraine's foreign ministry sent a note of protest to Israel after Ukrainian citizens were not allowed to evacuate from Gaza on Saturday.
"We do not understand why Ukrainian citizens are not allowed to evacuate, as well as other citizens of foreign countries," Lubinets said. "Especially - as everyone emphasizes - women and children were the first to ask for evacuation."
Separately, Ukraine's embassy in Israel said on social media that 207 Ukrainian citizens, including 63 children, were evacuated from Tel Aviv to Romania on Saturday and another flight to take 155 people out of Israel was planned for Sunday.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel, calling for world solidarity with Israel.
Mexico's foreign ministry has also condemned the Hamas attacks, and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he wants to keep his country neutral in the conflict.
On Thursday, the Mexican government said hundreds of its nationals were still waiting to get out of Israel.
Jordan: Palestinian Displacement Pushes Region to 'Abyss' of Wider Conflict
October 14, 2023
Reuters
October 14, 2023
Reuters
Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks during a news conference in Amman, Jordan
AMMAN, JORDAN —
Jordan said Saturday any move by Israel to impose a new displacement of Palestinians would push the region to the "abyss" of a wider regional conflict.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also said Israel's blocking of humanitarian aid to Gaza and forcing its residents to leave their homes as it escalates its military action were a "flagrant" breach of international law.
Israel had given the entire population of the north of the Gaza Strip a Saturday morning deadline to move south ahead of an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants. It has said it will keep two roads open until 4 p.m. to allow people to escape.
Safadi said the military campaign against Hamas was killing innocent civilians and would bring despair and destruction in its wake that would not bring security to Israel.
"The war is killing and displacing innocent Palestinians and will leave the region and the world facing the repercussion of an environment of destruction and despair that Israel will create in Gaza," Safadi said in comments after meeting his Canadian counterpart.
AMMAN, JORDAN —
Jordan said Saturday any move by Israel to impose a new displacement of Palestinians would push the region to the "abyss" of a wider regional conflict.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also said Israel's blocking of humanitarian aid to Gaza and forcing its residents to leave their homes as it escalates its military action were a "flagrant" breach of international law.
Israel had given the entire population of the north of the Gaza Strip a Saturday morning deadline to move south ahead of an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants. It has said it will keep two roads open until 4 p.m. to allow people to escape.
Safadi said the military campaign against Hamas was killing innocent civilians and would bring despair and destruction in its wake that would not bring security to Israel.
"The war is killing and displacing innocent Palestinians and will leave the region and the world facing the repercussion of an environment of destruction and despair that Israel will create in Gaza," Safadi said in comments after meeting his Canadian counterpart.
Palestinians with their belongings leave Gaza City as they flee from their homes following the Israeli army's warning, Oct. 13, 2023.
"It won't achieve security or lead to peace," Safadi said, in the toughest language from Jordan since the conflict that broke out after a devastating cross-border attack by Hamas a week ago.
Israel's push to move the entire population to leave their homes was a "red line" that Arabs would confront, Safadi said.
"This will bring the region into the hell of war ... we have to end this madness," he added.
The war's continuation also threatened to lead to its spread on other fronts, Safadi said, adding that "violence would breed more violence and destruction."
King Abdullah was heading on Saturday to Europe in stepped-up diplomatic efforts led by the kingdom, which Safadi said aimed to garner support for an end to the impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and preventing a wider conflagration.
The monarch told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman on Friday that the priority was protecting civilians on both sides and ensuring Israel allows urgent aid into Gaza.
Safadi said the king had also emphasized Jordan's refusal to accept the displacement of Palestinians from their land.
Amman, which lost the West Bank including East Jerusalem to Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, is worried widening violence could have repercussions with a large percentage of Jordan's population made up of Palestinians.
"It won't achieve security or lead to peace," Safadi said, in the toughest language from Jordan since the conflict that broke out after a devastating cross-border attack by Hamas a week ago.
Israel's push to move the entire population to leave their homes was a "red line" that Arabs would confront, Safadi said.
"This will bring the region into the hell of war ... we have to end this madness," he added.
The war's continuation also threatened to lead to its spread on other fronts, Safadi said, adding that "violence would breed more violence and destruction."
King Abdullah was heading on Saturday to Europe in stepped-up diplomatic efforts led by the kingdom, which Safadi said aimed to garner support for an end to the impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and preventing a wider conflagration.
The monarch told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman on Friday that the priority was protecting civilians on both sides and ensuring Israel allows urgent aid into Gaza.
Safadi said the king had also emphasized Jordan's refusal to accept the displacement of Palestinians from their land.
Amman, which lost the West Bank including East Jerusalem to Israel during the 1967 Middle East war, is worried widening violence could have repercussions with a large percentage of Jordan's population made up of Palestinians.
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