The United Nations and its partners issued a plan that outlines the minimum necessary to scale up humanitarian operations in support of 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip and 500,000 of the most vulnerable in the West Bank. An estimated $1.2 billion is required to deliver existing humanitarian services amid ongoing hostilities. The magnitude of this response and operational constraints are beyond what has ever been seen before in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and other contexts.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday declared that Palestinians had a right to be protected from acts of genocide, calling on Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent such actions and allow the entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the war-shattered enclave.
In the occupied Palestinian territory, where a 16-year blockade has left the Gaza Strip’s health system severely under-resourced, escalating hostilities with Israel that began on 7 October 2023 are compounding an already dire situation. Power outages and shortages of medicines and health supplies in Gaza Strip hospitals are hindering the delivery of life-saving medical care. Attacks on health care have been recorded by WHO, resulting in deaths and injuries of health workers and affecting health facilities and ambulances. As the situation evolves, there is an urgent need to establish a humanitarian corridor for unimpeded, life-saving patient referrals and movement of humanitarian personnel and essential health supplies.
Espen Barth Eide discusses Norway’s peace efforts in the Israel-Palestine conflict – from Oslo Accords to advocating Gaza truce.
Tracing Norway’s diplomatic journey from Trygve Lie’s pivotal role as the first United Nations secretary-general to its instrumental part in the Oslo Accords, a landmark agreement in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Norway has long been a beacon of international peace and neutrality. Its commitment to these principles faces new tests with the current war on Gaza, raising questions about its arms export policies and the indirect implications for regions in turmoil.
Causalities in Gaza reached 27365 deaths, 66630 injured, Israeli siege and blocked has created severe shortage of food, fuel, water electricity and medicines, casing catastrophic situation. People are starving to death. It is very clear case of planned genocide. The Irony is that International Community is failed to avert this genocide.
Efforts are being made in Paris for a peace deal, but, Fanatic Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is major obstacle and is denying all proposals leading to ceasefire and stopping genocide. Secretary of state Mr. Blinken has to postpone his planned visit to Israel on 03 February 2024. It is not clear yet, when he will be able to travel to Israel. Even the US could not convince Netanyahu for peace.
For decades, the U.S. has offered uncritical support to Israel as it has systemically violated Palestinian rights. Despite agreement between international human rights organizations that Israel is enforcing apartheid against Palestinians, the U.S. provides $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel every year. Despite the fact that the current Israeli government opposes the formation of a Palestinian state and has moved to take over Palestinian land at record rates, the U.S. government continues to build close ties with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his allies. And despite record levels of violence against Palestinians by Israel—including Palestinians with U.S. citizenship—the U.S. continues to offer Israel impunity and blocks efforts at accountability.
This lack of accountability and a sense by Palestinians that they have been abandoned by the international community is important to understanding recent violence. For violence to end, U.S. policy must change. Israel must be held accountable for its rights violations, and the system of apartheid must end.
Israeli Prime Mistier has surpassed all records of stubbornness and extremism and cannot be controlled by the entire world. It seems a challenge to whole humanity. He has set behind Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tojo, Jozef Stalin, Kim Il-Sung, Leopold II, etc.
The UN has given the right of self-determination to Palestinians and resolutions of UNSC are available for creation of an independent and sovereign state for Palestine. It is urged that the UN resolutions must be implemented in its true spirit.
Creation of a viable state of Palestine from river to sea is to be announced. Immediate ceasefire, immediate release of all Palestinians from Israeli Jails , immediate deployment of Arab/Muslim peace keeping force under UN Peace missions should be deployed. A permanent and sustainable peace may be guaranteed in the entire middle-east. It will end hostilities in the Red-Sea too. Lebanon , Syria, Iraq and Iran will be calmed down and a sustainable peace will be achieved in the whole region.