War in Middle East - UN after air raid: Terrible situation in Gaza hospitals
After an Israeli air raid on the Hamas military chief in Gaza, resulting in numerous fatalities, UN representative Scott Anderson highlighted the suffering of Palestinian civilians and the dire situation in hospitals. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Gaza director spoke of some of the most distressing scenes he had witnessed in the past nine months.
At the Chan Junis Hospital, which he had visited, there were not enough beds, many patients were being treated on the floor without adequate disinfection possibilities, Anderson said. "The air was filled with the smell of blood."
Desperate parents had told him that they had been drawn into the humanitarian zone in the hope that their children would be safe there, Anderson added. He urged protection for civilians at all times. A ceasefire was urgently needed, and the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip needed to be released.
Air raid targeted Hamas military chief
The Israeli army had attacked the military wing leader of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of dozens of other people. It remained uncertain whether Deif was killed or injured in the air raid.
A Hamas representative in Beirut denied on Sunday that Deif had been killed. "Mohammed Deif is doing well, and he continues to command the resistance against the Israeli enemy," Hamas functionary Ali Barakeh told the German Press Agency in Beirut.
Deif is the head of the Qassam Brigades and the deputy leader of Hamas in Gaza. Israel has set a goal in the Gaza War to capture or kill Sinwar and Deif.
Deif is often referred to as the 'Phantom'. The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" described him as the 'wandering spirit', who had survived at least seven Israeli attacks. The 58-year-old is considered one of the most wanted terrorists by Israel. He has been fighting in the ranks of Hamas since the 1990s. Until recently, it was believed in Israel that Deif had lost several limbs and a multitude of physical disabilities. However, recordings appeared showing Deif with both arms and both legs.
Despite air raid, negotiations to continue
According to Palestinian reports, at least 90 people were killed in the Israeli military operation. At least 300 more people were injured in the humanitarian zone Al-Mawasi, the Hamas-controlled health authority reported. These reports could not be independently verified at first.
A representative of the political wing of the Islamist Hamas denied reports that indirect negotiations with Israel over a ceasefire and the release of hostages had been suspended. The Hamas had not made such a decision after the Israeli air raid, the statement on the Hamas Telegram channel read.
According to Israeli media reports, the head of the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad, Daniel Barnea, is planning to travel to the Qatari capital Doha for another round of hostage negotiations in the coming days.
The indirect negotiations, which have been ongoing for months, concern the exchange of the remaining hostages in Hamas custody for Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, as well as a ceasefire in the Gaza War and the delivery of humanitarian aid. The indirect talks are progressing slowly. Israel has so far rejected the Hamas' demand for a permanent ceasefire.
Three injured in terror attack [
(Note: The last paragraph seems to be repeated from earlier in the text. I assume it was a mistake and not meant to be included in the translation.)
At a suspected terror attack, three people were partially injured near the Israeli city of Ramla. According to police and paramedics, the driver of a car rammed into a group of pedestrians at a bus stop. The bus stop is located at a crossroads close to a military base. A police spokesperson stated, the driver of the car, from East Jerusalem, was "neutralized" - it remains unclear if he was killed or injured.
In Hebron in the West Bank, border police reportedly arrested a 37-year-old Palestinian woman, a knife was found in her bag. She is suspected of planning a knife attack. According to reports, she confessed after her arrest that her husband is a Hamas member in an Israeli prison.
Further demonstrations for Hostage Deal in Israel
Thousands of people demonstrated in Israel again on Saturday evening. They called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring the approximately 120 hostages still in Hamas's custody home. "We demand that you stop sabotaging the agreement, we demand that you sign it," a mother of a hostage was quoted by Israeli media.
Israel responds to shooting by Hezbollah
The Israeli Air Force bombed Hisbollah positions in the South Lebanon on Saturday in response to shooting from the pro-Iranian Hisbollah. The Israeli army announced that the target was bombed, from which shots had previously been fired towards the north of Israel.
Statement by UN Representative
- The UN representative, Scott Anderson, addressed the aftermath of the Israeli air raid, expressing concern over the suffering of Palestinian civilians and the dire situation in Gaza hospitals.
- At the Chan Junis Hospital, Anderson witnessed a dire situation with not enough beds and patients being treated on the floor without adequate disinfection possibilities.
- The air raid targeted Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, causing numerous fatalities, but it was uncertain whether Deif was killed or injured.
- The Israeli army attacked the Gaza Strip on Saturday, leading to the deaths of dozens of people and injuring many more in the humanitarian zone Al-Mawasi.
- A representative of Hamas in Beirut denied reports that Deif had been killed, stating that he was doing well and continuing to command the resistance against Israel.
- The UN called for protection of civilians during conflicts and urged a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
- Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire, hostage release, and humanitarian aid delivery were reportedly ongoing, but progress was slow.
- Israel rejected Hamas' demand for a permanent ceasefire, but the foreign intelligence service Mossad planned to travel to Doha for another round of negotiations.
- Demonstrations in Israel continued to call for the release of hostages still in Hamas custody and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign the agreement.
