Gaza Turmoil
Live Reporting
In Pictures: Devastation in Rafah as Israeli air attacks continue
Complete frustration in Gaza after UNSC fails to adopt ceasefire resolution
The general sentiment here in Gaza is complete frustration. They’ve lost trust in the efforts of the international community because of their multiple failures in obtaining a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
The US has vetoed three resolutions calling for an immediate cessation of fighting and for a ceasefire.
Until now, people are still hopeful regarding the ceasefire talks, the American-led efforts in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt in bridging the gaps with both parties who are fighting on the ground and to allow for the further flow of humanitarian aid.
But let’s be completely clear: The people of Gaza are afraid of a temporary ceasefire that would allow for fighting to resume.
The desperate people here want a complete cessation of hostilities and a guarantee of return of the displaced to their houses in the northern parts of the territory.
Ramazan prayer at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa under the shadow of Gaza war
JERUSALEM (AFP) – Muslims worshippers flocked to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound for the second Friday prayer of Ramazan under the heavy presence of Israeli police, a sign of lurking tensions in the holy city.
"We feel lucky to be at Al-Aqsa while hundreds of thousands are deprived of access to it," said Mustafa al-Sheikh, a 62-year-old Palestinian who travelled with his wife from Anata, a town near Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank.
Israel unveils big West Bank land seizure as Blinken visits
JERUSALEM (AFP) – The Israeli government announced Friday it was confiscating 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank, which activists called the largest such seizure in decades.
An area of about 1,980 acres in the northern Jordan Valley has been declared "state land", said far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has vowed to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are regarded as illegal under international law.
Top US diplomat warns Israel of global isolation if it proceeds with Rafah assault
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday (Mar 22) that Israel risked further global isolation if it went ahead with plans for a ground assault on the Palestinian city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
Blinken met one-on-one with Netanyahu during a peace mission to the Middle East at a time of strain in relations over Israel's assault in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
