WHO Dubs Gaza Hospitals 'Horror Movie' Even Before Resumed Aggression

By Al Mayadeen English

2 Dec 2023 23:59

WHO senior emergency officer Rob Holden, who is located in the besieged Gaza Strip, says "bombs have got to stop," considering the horrific scenes of hospitals.

The World Health Organization announced that hospitals in the Gaza Strip, even before the resumption of the Israeli occupation massacres, were "catastrophic" and resembled a "horror movie".

Richard Peeperkorn, WHO's representative in occupied Palestine, according to an AFP report, said, "We are extremely concerned about the resumption of violence," adding that "the health system in Gaza has been crippled by the ongoing hostilities."

According to Peeperkorn, the health system in Gaza "cannot afford to lose more hospitals," noting that only 18 out of the 36 hospitals in the Strip are currently operating, with only three hospitals in the north that are barely operative.

The representative also stressed that the south had 12 partially functional yet "extremely overwhelmed" hospitals, meaning that they have exceeded their capacity two to three times over.

In that context, Peeperkorn stressed that there was an "urgent need" for a consistent supply of aid "to keep them functional," since all the hospitals were experiencing shortages of food, fuel, supplies, and even water.

Moreover, at least 5,000 hospital beds were much needed given the skyrocketing needs of the besieged population.

On his part, a WHO senior emergency officer, Rob Holden, stated that the "healthcare service is on its knees" and that the scene at the relatively small hospital of Al-Ahli, in the north, that suddenly found itself to be the only hospital receiving trauma patients, is "like a horror movie."

Holden, who is located in the Strip, described the situation in Al-Ahli Hospital following his visit. He said patients covered the floor "with the most traumatic injuries that you can imagine," adding that "there is no standing room. The floor is just awash with blood and patients lying waiting to receive life-saving care."

After the war resumed, Holden said he thought of the physicians he had been interacting with over the past several days, as they were set to deal with "the most horrific scene, as casualties probably in their tens if not hundreds turn up at that hospital today, knowing that they will do everything they can, but knowing that it will not be enough."

"The bombs have got to stop," said Holden.

UNRWA warns of Hepatitis A outbreak in Gaza amid Israeli aggression

Thomas White, the director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, has issued a warning about the escalating Hepatitis A outbreak in the region, emphasizing the overwhelming challenges faced by UNRWA schools-turned-shelters due to the extensive displacement in the southern areas.

"At one of our schools, we've now had an outbreak of Hepatitis A," he said.

In an interview for the BBC, White acknowledged the significant difficulties in maintaining sanitation within the shelters, where people are densely packed into classrooms, with an average of 150 individuals sharing a single bathroom.

He tersely stated, "The risk of the disease is very present in Gaza at the present time."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza emphasized that the prevalent risk of disease in Gaza is heightened by the fact that UNRWA schools, initially designed to accommodate 1,500 people, are currently hosting over 6,000 individuals in the southern region.

UNICEF Warns Gaza ‘Most Dangerous Place in World to be a Child’

By Al Mayadeen English

2 Dec 2023 23:07

According to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, the residents of Gaza today have nowhere safe to go and very little to sustain themselves with.

Following "Israel's" renewed bombing campaign, Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), expressed that Gaza is once again "the most dangerous place in the world to be a child."

In a statement, Russell revealed that the situation "does not have to be this way" since the truce allowed children to have a "glimmer of hope" amid the "horrific nightmare", adding that the truce allowed for lifesaving supplies to enter the Strip.

“We call on all parties to ensure that children are protected and assisted, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law," the official expressed.

Residents of Gaza have nowhere to go: UN

According to UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, the residents of Gaza today have nowhere safe to go and very little to sustain themselves with.

Wafa news quoted Griffiths as saying that the situation in Khan Younis is alarming, adding that while the aid to Gaza during the truce "barely scratched the surface," basic supplies were still given to Palestinians and some respite was given to "deeply traumatized families."

He contrasted that with the current situation that immediately took hold after the truce ended, when "Israel" renewed its indiscriminate bombing of innocent civilians in the Strip.

Palestinian media sources reported that 8 Palestinians were killed as a result of the occupation aircraft bombing several areas in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Aqsa TV cameraman Abdallah Darwish who was martyred in the occupation raids on the Gaza Strip.

“Today, in a matter of hours, scores were reportedly killed and injured. Families were told to evacuate, again. Hopes were dashed,” Griffiths expressed.

The official expressed worry that those living in Gaza are “surrounded by disease, destruction, and death," calling the situation "unacceptable".

Griffiths called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the protection of civilians and life-sustaining resources and infrastructure.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder declared in a statement that voluntarily accepting the sacrifice by Gaza children is equivalent to humanity giving up. 

"It is reckless to think more attacks on the people of Gaza will lead to anything other than carnage. And yet, there were three or four large blasts nearby while I was there," he said, adding: "To accept the sacrifice of the children in Gaza is humanity giving up. This is our last chance before we delve into seeking to explain yet another utterly avoidable tragedy."  

"Israel" killed 109 Palestinians, including medics and journalists, in just a couple of hours after the truce between Gaza and the occupation ended.

Sources: Yemen Barred from WFP Aid over Palestine Support - Exclusive

By Al Mayadeen English

2 Dec 2023 23:32

Sources tell Al Mayadeen that the suspension of WFP aid to Sanaa is merely for political reasons.

Sources revealed to Al Mayadeen significant information about the decision to halt the UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid to Sanaa.

The sources pointed out that the funding that the WFP received until September 2023 amounted to $1.16 billion, surpassing the previous year by $60 million, which indicates that the decision to suspend aid to Sanaa is merely political.

The sources highlighted that WFP ceased humanitarian aid designated for the Yemeni people in areas governed by Sanaa, while aid continued to reach regions under the control of "mercenaries". This confirms the political nature of the decision, linked to Sanaa's supportive stance toward Palestine, according to the sources.

The sources emphasized that halting aid exposes a US political stance against Yemeni operations targeting Israeli sites in occupied Palestinian territories, pointing out that this American position heightened following the capture of the Israeli ship in the Red Sea by the Yemeni Armed Forces.

Furthermore, the sources highlighted that the decision to halt aid to Sanaa comes despite tonnes of food stored in the WFP's warehouses, which, along with other materials, risk expiration and spoilage.

The sources told Al Mayadeen that the United States reportedly used humanitarian aid via the World Food Programme as a tool to starve the Yemeni population, adding that this American exploitation signifies the politicization of the WFP, which violates international humanitarian law.

In this context, the sources stated that the World Food Program in Yemen aligns with the Israeli aggression and adheres to US directives calling for aid cessation. This action is viewed as a form of "punishment" to the Yemeni people to pressure them into abandoning their core cause, Palestine, and to cease targeting the Israeli occupation, as per the sources.

On Friday, thousands of Yemenis roamed the streets of Sanaa in support of Palestine and the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The demonstration statement underlined that Yemenis will continue to support Palestinians until they achieve full freedom and independence.

Hezbollah Intensifies Attacks on Israeli Military Sites Across Border

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Islamic Resistance Military Media

2 Dec 2023 16:59

This comes as the Lebanese Amal Movement also targeted Israeli occupation sites in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, using appropriate weapons.

In support of the Palestinian people and their steadfast Resistance, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon conducted a series of operations on Israeli military targets in occupied territories for the second day in a row, since the resumption of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

At 12:50 pm (local time), the Resistance conducted two simultaneous operations on the western section of confrontations. Hezbollah fighters launched an attack on al-Raheb military site, confirming direct hits. Nearby, the Resistance targeted the headquarters of the Israeli occupation forces 91st Division, in the "Biranit" Barracks.

Around an hour later, the Resistance targeted the Roueisat al-Alam military site in the Israeli-occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, confirming direct hits.

In this context, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon said Israeli artillery units shelled the outskirts of Kfar Chouba, as well as the outskirts of several border towns, including Yaroun, Ramyah, Ayta al-Shaab, and Odaisseh.

Our correspondent also reported that two interceptor missiles detonated over the Lebanese town of al-Naqoura in the southernmost part of Lebanon.

The Resistance went on to launch an attack on the Jal al-Allam military site at 2:35 pm (local time), dealing direct hits to intended targets. It is worth noting that the targeted site is located near the coast of occupied Palestine and is equipped with high-tech military-grade surveillance and spyware systems, which threaten Lebanese national security on an hourly basis.

Hezbollah also confirmed that its fighters dealt direct hits to a grouping of Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned in the vicinity of the Birket Risha military site.

Al-Raheb military site was also targeted for a second time at 3:10 pm (local time). Importantly, the Resistance dealt direct hits to an Israeli occupation force, taking position in a building in the "Doviv" settlement. This came as an initial response to "Israel's" targeting of a civilian house in the southern town of Houla on Friday.

The Resistance also executed a similar attack less than an hour later, targeting another building in "Doviv", which housed Israeli occupation forces.

Hezbollah fighters went on to launch attacks on the al-Marj and the "Metulla" military sites, dealing direct hits to their intended targets, at 4:25 pm (local time).

Earlier on Saturday, the Islamic Resistance targeted Israeli artillery positions at the Khirbet Ma'ar military site, opposite the Lebanese towns of al-Dhayrah and Yaroun, near the Lebanese-Palestinian border, using appropriate weapons and rockets.

Meanwhile, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Lebanese Resistance Regiments - Amal Movement targeted the occupation sites of Ramtha, Roueisat al-Alam, and al-Sammaqa in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, using appropriate weapons.

Hezbollah support for Palestine unwavering

These eight attacks follow another six attacks executed by the Resistance on Friday. Notably, a grouping of Israeli occupation soldiers was targeted near the Jal al-Allam military site yesterday.

The latest of Friday's attacks encompassed the firing of heavy barrages of Grad rockets toward Israeli artillery positions in "Dishon", which bombed the Lebanese town of Houla on the same day.

Following the resumption of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, after a 7-day humanitarian truce, imposed by the Resistance, ended on Friday morning, Hezbollah has renewed its direct support to the Palestinian Resistance, following around 50 days of confrontations. 

The Lebanese Resistance has also underlined its unwavering support for Palestine, with the blood of its martyrs. Earlier, Hezbollah mourned three of its fighters who were martyred while carrying out their Resistance duty on the path to al-Quds.

In three separate statements, the Resistance group declared the martyrdom of Mohammed Hussein Mazraani, "Abu Ali," from the southern town of Houla, Wajih Shehadeh Msheik, from the town of Wadi Um Ali in the Beqaa region, and Khodor Salim Aboud, "Fidaa", from the town of Deir Aames in South Lebanon.

Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine ‘to Confront Racism till Liberation’

December 2, 2023

The 5th Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine is set to get underway in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Africa4Palestine TW Page)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

The 5th Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine is set to get underway in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The event, which commemorates the tenth anniversary of the passing of Nelson Mandela, is titled ‘Nelson Mandela and Palestine: Confronting Racism till Liberation’.

It is being organized by the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine, in cooperation with the family of Mandela, who was South Africa’s first democratic president following the fall of apartheid. 

The convention, from December 3 to 5, will bring together more than 150 international delegates from over 72 countries, including officials from the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas.

According to a press statement by the group Africa4Palestine, participants will provide important briefings to representatives of political parties, civil society groups and the Palestine solidarity movement on the current Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

On its website, the event organizers quote Mandela who said: “We know very well that our freedom will not be complete until Palestine is liberated.”

“Hence, the fall of the apartheid regime in South Africa was considered an important achievement for the liberation movements around the world, and for the Palestinian struggle in particular,” the organizers state.

The convention will culminate in a march to the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African government, in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Israel Kills Top Palestinian Scientist, President of Islamic University, with Whole Family in Gaza

December 2, 2023

Sufian Tayeh, the chairman of the Islamic University in Gaza. (Photo: via social media)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

In 2021, Professor Sufian Tayeh was classified as one of two percent of the best researchers in the world, according to Quds News Network.

Professor Sufian Tayeh, along with his whole family, was killed in renewed Israeli attacks on the Strip on Saturday, the Palestinian Higher Education Ministry said.

Professor Tayeh was a prominent Palestinian scientist and the president of the Islamic University of Gaza, the Strip’s leading academic institution.

The Palestinian scientist is not the first educator or academic to be killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. His killing, however, has sent shockwaves across the academic community throughout the region.

The accomplished scientist and beloved family man was a leading researcher in physics and applied mathematics, Reuters news agency reported. 

In 2021, he was classified as one of two percent of the best researchers in the world, according to Quds News Network. 

Indeed, Tayeh’s research has been recognized internationally, including by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to Human Rights Watch, more than 183 Palestinian teachers have been killed by Israel since October 7. 

About 300 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across various areas of Gaza since Friday morning, as Israel resumed its aggression after a seven-day truce, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.

A four-day truce, which began on Friday, November 24, was extended twice, and collapsed on Friday, December 1, at 7 am local time.

Since October 7, over 15,207 Palestinians, including over 6,200 children and more than 4,000 women were killed, with another 40,652 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Israel Orders People to Evacuate, Then Arrests Them

Aseel Mousa 

The Electronic Intifada 

2 December 2023

A number of people forced to leave Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza have subsequently been arrested by Israeli troops.  Mohammed AlaswadAPA images

Samira sits in the candlelight of a house in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza.

A mother of five sons and two daughters, she and her family had lived in the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya. When Jabaliya came under a major Israeli attack in recent weeks, the family were forced to leave their home.

“The bombing was both terrifying and chaotic,” Samira said. “The targeting seemed random, with the Israeli occupation bombing homes with people still inside them. We never intended to leave our homes. But when the occupation bombed our neighbors’ house and our house suffered severe damage, we had no choice but to move.”

“The situation in Jabaliya was disastrous,” she added. “We lacked electricity, water and cooking gas. And we were completely cut off from communications and the internet.”

Samira left Jabaliya along with her husband, two sons, a daughter-in-law and her 3-year-old grandson Adam.

They initially traveled by car, then by donkey and cart and then on foot until they reached Netzarim, formerly one of Israel’s settlements in Gaza. The Israeli forces now waging a genocidal war have set up a checkpoint there.

“There was a large number of people in a state of panic,” Samira said. “The occupation had tanks surrounding us and the soldiers were aiming their guns at us. The soldiers hurled insults at us. The language they used was offensive.”

The scene was extremely distressing.

“I saw bodies along the road,” Wissam – Samira’s daughter-in-law – said. “The smell was very bad.”

“We saw the belongings of displaced people – bags, mattresses and blankets – thrown on the road. The occupation had forced people to leave their belongings behind.”

“Overcome with terror”

Before setting out on their journey, Wissam’s husband Muhammad had told her to remain alongside him at all times, feeling that would provide a degree of safety.

“Unfortunately, the occupation’s soldiers arrested Muhammad,” Wissam said.

When a soldier took Muhammad into detention, “I was overcome with terror,” Wissam said. “I nearly lost consciousness.”

As Muhammad was taken away by the Israeli forces, Wissam held their son Adam in her arms.

“Muhammad urged me not to cry, even when the urge was overwhelming,” Wissam said. “I couldn’t express how I felt as I was afraid that the Israeli soldier might shoot me or my son.”

Wissam spoke of how “I saw young Palestinians being arrested by the occupation’s forces without any apparent reason. They were forced to strip.”

Muhammad’s detention is exacerbating the family’s problems.

“I cannot find the words to describe how I felt when I heard my son had been arrested,” Samira said. “I keep asking myself questions about him? Is he afraid? Is he able to find any warmth now that the weather is cold.”

Many other men have been arrested by the Israelis as they moved south with their families

Samira tried to help a woman whose husband was arrested. The woman had two infants.

“I carried her youngest son and her backpack,” said Samira. “The woman just collapsed. She was crying bitterly.”

“The occupation harassed us constantly. They would order us to kneel, then after a minute, order us to stand. Later, they would tell us to walk. And that would be followed by another order to kneel. It went on and on.”

When Samira and her family eventually got through the checkpoint, they went to an area south of Wadi Gaza. From there, they took a donkey and cart to a relative’s home in Maghazi refugee camp.

As well as having Muhammad taken into detention, Samira has been unable to keep regular contact with another son named Kamal. He works as a nurse in the Indonesian hospital, northern Gaza.

“These are the most difficult days of my life,” said Samira.

Every time Wissam hears a knock on the door of the house where she is now staying in Maghazi, “I hope it’s my husband Muhammad returning to us after being released by the occupation.”

“My son Adam is always asking about his father,” she said. “I find myself at a loss for words.”

Aseel Mousa is a journalist based in Gaza.

‘No Negotiations Now on Truce’ – Hamas

By Usaid Siddiqui and Virginia Pietromarchi

2 Dec 2023

A Hamas official tells Al Jazeera negotiations on prisoner exchanges are now over and will not resume until Israel halts it attack and hands over all Palestinian prisoners.

Israel ordered its Mossad negotiating team in Doha to return to Israel because of what it called an “impasse”.

Israel renews its bombardment of Gaza, hitting areas across the enclave after the end of a week-long truce.

At least 15,207 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200.

One of US Largest Unions Calls for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English

The UAW says that it has "consistently stood for justice across the globe" and thus is officially calling for a ceasefire in the Strip.

One of the largest labor unions in the United States, representing workers in the automobile, aircraft, agricultural tools, and other industries, has called for a complete ceasefire in Gaza following the end of a temporary truce and the resumption of the Israeli aggression on the devastated Strip.

The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)  comprises over 400,000 active workers and more than 580,000 retirees in these sectors across the US.

The announcement was made by the union's president, Brandon Mancilla, during a conference held at a rally outside the White House on Friday. The demonstrators, who went on a hunger strike in support of Gaza, carried banners reading: "Biden, you are starving Gaza."

On Friday morning, the temporary truce expired, which was directly followed by a renewal of Israeli strikes across Gaza. In one day only, Israeli bombing killed more than 190 civilians, a significant number being children.

"From opposing fascism in WWII to mobilizing against apartheid South Africa and the CONTRA war, the @UAW has consistently stood for justice across the globe," Mancilla said in his statement.

He also announced that the union's executive council will be "forming Divestment and Just Transition working group to study the history of Israel and Palestine, our union’s economic ties to the conflict, and explore how we can have a just transition for US workers from war to peace."

Calls for a ceasefire among local labor unions in the United States have increased since the onset of the war on Gaza. Among them are the American Postal Workers Union, the California Nurses Association, and the Chicago Teachers Union.

These calls coincide with nationwide protests in several US cities across the states condemning the Israeli war on Gaza and calling for the cessation of the aggression.

Global movements continue to increase as Israelis continue to commit brutal massacres in Gaza, over 1,300 of which have been recorded so far. As per the latest public data provided by the Palestinian Health Ministry, the war on the Strip resulted in over 18,000 Palestinian martyrs, more than 60% of whom were women and children.

US Supplied 'Israel' with 1-ton Bombs Used in Jabalia Massacre, Says Wall Street Journal

By Al Mayadeen English

The newspaper says the supply of US weapons to 'Israel" is ongoing despite repeated massacres and Washington's claims that it is calling on Israelis to "minimize civilian casualties."

The United States supplied "Israel" with bunker buster bombs with almost one-tonne of explosive warheads that were used to commit at least one known large massacre in Jabalia last month, The Wall Street Journal said in a report on Friday citing US officials.

This notable increase in arms provision, consisting of about 15,000 bombs and 57,000 artillery shells, commenced following the October 7 Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, and has been ongoing since, the newspaper pointed out.

Among these, the delivery of 100 BLU-109 bunker buster bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds (~900 kg), marks a significant escalation not previously disclosed by Washington.

The supply operation, which involves airlifting hundreds of millions of dollars in munitions primarily via C-17 military cargo planes from the US to "Tel Aviv", underscores the complex diplomatic landscape the US President Joe Biden's administration navigates. 

However, while public statements between Biden and other senior officials of his administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, call for Israelis to "minimize civilian casualties" as much as possible, the supply of these destructive bombs signals the opposite, which has been clearly seen through the occupation military's use on the battlefield.

Earlier, it was reported that Washington decided to deliver small smart bombs to "Israel", in hopes that strikes would decrease civilian deaths, and lower public and diplomatic pressure on the United States regarding its role in the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

Commenting on the transfer of the BLU-109 munitions to the Israeli occupation, Brian Finucane from the International Crisis Group points out a discrepancy, noting, “It seems" that urging Israelis to prevent civilian deaths is "inconsistent with reported exhortations from Secretary Blinken and others to use smaller-diameter bombs.”

Bombs not intended with densely populous areas

The array of artillery and bombs, previously deployed by the United States in its wars, on Iraq and Afghanistan for example, are now being used against Gaza's dense urban population, contrasting with their typical use against large enemy formations.

Mick Mulroy, a former defense official, highlights the distinct challenges of utilizing such weaponry in populated areas, stating that “the US may use them in more urban areas, but first it would do a lot of target analysis to make sure the attack was proportional and based on military necessity.”

The Israeli occupation military declared during the early stages of the war that its air strikes were aimed at causing “maximum damage.” On the other hand, Washington asserted repeatedly, most recently being last week, that it does not dictate or condition how Israelis use American-made weapons delivered to them by the United States.

Israeli strikes focused on civilians and civil infrastructure

These statements come despite over 1,300 massacres being committed by Israelis in Gaza, which have resulted, as per the latest public data provided by the Palestinian Health Ministry, in over 18,000 Palestinian martyrs, over 60% of which were women and children.

According to UNRWA, hundreds of thousands of residential homes became inhabitable due to the Israeli strikes, now being either completely destroyed or severely damaged.

In its latest estimates, the human rights organization said that nearly 1.8 million individuals have been displaced in the region, which is about 80% of the total population, with almost 191,000 seeking shelter in 124 UNRWA installations, including those in northern Gaza.

Furthermore, hospitals that were a shelter to tens of thousands of civilians in the north are now out of service due to Israeli bombing and blockade, forcing people who found a haven on the grounds of the medical complexes to evacuate again in search of places to reside down south.

Washington wants war to proceed

The international community, including the UN, continues to advocate for a permanent ceasefire, a stance not fully embraced by the Biden administration, which supports "Israel’s" ongoing war on Gaza.

On Friday, hours after the extended temporary truce expired, US National Security Spokesman John Kirby affirmed that the US supports "Israel’s" resumption of bombing Gaza but claimed its reiteration that it "take[s] into account the limitations of the laws of war by minimizing civilian casualties."

Meanwhile, the day following the end of the truce agreement saw the martyrdom of over 190 Palestinians in Israeli strikes across Gaza.

67 Journalists Killed by 'Israel' in Gaza Amid Aggression: Syndicate

By Al Mayadeen English

This comes after the martyrdom of three journalists and media personnel in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate announced on Friday that the number of media personnel and journalists martyred due to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 67.

This comes after the martyrdom "of our three colleagues, Dr. Adham Hassouna, a journalist media professor at Gaza and Al-Aqsa universities, press photographer Abdullah Darwish, and reporting photographer Montaser Al-Sawaf," the syndicate said.

Head of the Freedoms Committee at the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, Mohammad al-Laham, explained that "the difficulty of monitoring and documenting remains a significant obstacle due to the ongoing and intense nature of the Israeli aggression."

Furthermore, pointing out the impact of the Israeli war on maintaining internal connections with other reporters, al-Laham added that "the fate of journalists Nidal al-Wahidi and Haytham Abed al-Wahad is still unconfirmed, as contact with them has been lost since the first day of the aggression on Gaza."

In another case, there had been controversy in the media circles about the death of journalist Islam Maimana, with denials and confirmations continuing for days until her martyrdom was eventually confirmed.

The occupation forces have targeted numerous correspondents and journalists in both Gaza and Lebanon during the ongoing Israeli aggression on the two fronts.

In late November, an Israeli-targeted drone strike in southern Lebanon led to the martyrdom of Al Mayadeen's reporter Farah Omar and cameraman Rabih Me'mari, along with freelancer Hussein Akil.

Additionally, on October 13, Israeli occupation forces directly targeted a group of journalists in the vicinity of the town of Alma al-Shaab, while they were covering the situation on the border between Lebanon and occupied Palestine, resulting in the martyrdom of Reuters photographer Issam Abdallah and the injury of several others.

Israeli Forces Carry Out Extensive Raids, Arrests in West Bank

By Al Mayadeen English

Israeli occupation forces seal off the home of Palestinian brothers martyrs Murad and Ibrahim Nimr, in Sur Baher in preparation for its demolition.

Sources confirmed to Al Mayadeen that Israeli occupation forces carried out extensive raids early Saturday in various areas of the occupied West Bank.

The sources reported that Israeli occupation forces raided the city of Yatta, south of al-Khalil, from both the northern and southern entrances. Additionally, occupation forces raided the town of Sur Baher south of occupied al-Quds, as well as the towns of Beita and Einabus south of Nablus.

Witnesses mentioned that Israeli forces sealed off the home of the Palestinian brothers martyrs Murad and Ibrahim Nimr, in Sur Baher in preparation for its demolition in retaliation. The two brothers carried out on Thursday a shooting operation in occupied al-Quds that led to the death of four Israeli settlers before they were killed by Israeli occupation forces.

Reports confirmed that a Palestinian youth was injured by Israeli occupation forces' gunfire during confrontations to repel the raiding occupation forces in Jenin. Israeli forces prevented ambulances from reaching the injured to treat him.

Moreover, occupation forces conducted widespread arrest campaigns in the town of Biddya west of Salfit and raided the town of Al-Mazra'a al-Gharbiya northwest of Ramallah.

On Thursday, Palestinian youth Fadi Badran was killed during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces in Beitunia town, west of Ramallah city, in the central West Bank.

With Badran's martyrdom, the number of Palestinians killed at the hands of Israeli forces and settlers has risen to 455 since the beginning of 2023, including 247 since October 7.

Martyrs Number Rises to 178, Injuries 589 by Israeli Bombs: Gaza MoH

By Al Mayadeen English

1 Dec 2023 23:10

Israeli warplanes have committed several massacres in Gaza, as soon as the truce came to an end on Friday morning.

The number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip, since Friday morning, has risen to 178 people, while 589 others have been injured, most of which are women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Al Mayadeen's photojournalist in the Gaza Strip captured the initial moments of an Israeli strike on a residential bloc, near the Martyr  Kamal Adwan Hospital, to the north of Gaza City.

On his part, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qudra, said that the occupation committed another massacre, just after the the humanitarian truce expired. Israeli warplanes targeted several residential areas throughout the Gaza Strip on Friday, deliberately endangering and killing hundreds of civilians.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported an Israeli airstrike in the vicinity of the Bahloul Petrol Station in Rafah, in the southern region of the Gaza Strip. Our correspondent also revealed that Israeli bombardment targeted a house in eastern Khan Younis, killing one person and injuring several others.

Among those martyred on Friday, are Anadolu Agency photographer, Montaser al-Sawwaf, and Al-Aqsa TV photographer, Abdullah Darwish. As a result, the number of journalist martyrs has risen to 72, in the Gaza Strip alone, since October 7.

Arab states disappoint

Earlier on Friday, the Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza urged Arab and Islamic countries today to introduce equipped mobile field hospitals to rescue the wounded in the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The government also urged the entry of hundreds of pieces of equipment and vehicles to assist the Palestinian Civil Defense in their efforts to retrieve the bodies of martyrs, which remain stuck under the rubble left behind by Israeli bombs.

"We call on UNRWA to resume work in the Gaza and North governorates," the office said, adding that the aid that entered Gaza during the ceasefire period does not exceed 1% of the population's needs.

Holding the Israeli occupation and the international community, especially Washington, fully responsible for the aggression, the government office stated that the sector requires the entry of a thousand trucks of aid and one million liters of fuel daily.

A Daughter of Nabi Saleh – Who Is Palestinian Icon Ahed Tamimi?

December 1, 2023

Palestinian icon Ahed Tamimi. (Image: Palestine Chronicle)

By Robert Inlakesh

The story of Ahed Tamimi has come to embody, in many ways, the wider Palestinian experience under Israeli occupation. 

A daughter of Nabi Saleh, a Palestinian village cut off from the rest of the West Bank by a military barrier and an illegal Israeli settlement, Ahed Tamimi rose to become an icon of her people’s struggle. 

Taken into military detention for the second time in early November, her release under the recent prisoner exchange between the Palestinian Resistance and Israel has placed a spotlight on Tel Aviv’s state-sponsored systematic torture and abuse of female inmates in Israeli prisons.

From her early years as a small child, Ahed Tamimi was propelled into the spotlight for her tremendous bravery in facing off against armed Israeli soldiers who had raided her village. 

In 2012, at the age of 11-years-old, she was filmed and photographed standing up to Israeli soldiers, holding up her fist and screaming at them, as her older brother was being arrested. 

Just months earlier, Ahed’s mother had also been detained by armed soldiers, which added to prompting the famous outburst at the occupation soldiers that had again stormed Nabi Saleh.

Daughter of the well-known activist, Bassem Tamimi, the young Ahed was no stranger to non-violent protests against the illegal settlement that had been set up on the territory of her village. 

Although her face and name were known, it was not until December of 2017 that she would truly gain the spotlight, as the then 17-year-old would be viewed as the teenage heroine who stood up to the Israeli occupying forces, this time slapping an armed soldier in the face. 

The video of her famous slap went viral, prompting a backlash from within Israeli society, which led to mass calls for her arrest and even abuse. The cries for “revenge” against Ahed, that had come from the Israeli public, encouraged the Israeli military to act.

Ahed was sentenced to eight months in Israeli military prison for her actions against the soldiers who had invaded her village and home, one of whom had just shot her 15-year-old cousin, Mohammed Tamimi, in the head during a protest that same day. 

Mohammed miraculously managed to survive, after having temporarily entered a medically induced coma; during which doctors had made the decision to remove part of his skull.

The arrest of a young girl, under the age of 18, was nothing new for the Israeli army, but the video of Ahed confronting the soldiers and humiliating one of them, was. This, combined with her light skin, blond hair and blue eyes was attributed to her case having garnered such massive attention from the international media.

Ahed Tamimi, now 22 years old, had again been arrested by Israel and has been held in administrative detention (held without charge nor trial), since early November. 

Upon her release from Israeli military prison, coming as a result of the prisoner-exchange deal that was struck between the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas and the Israeli government, Ahed spoke of the daily abuse that the hundreds of Palestinian women held in Israeli detention were facing. 

Appearing to have been in a state of emotional distress, she spoke to local Palestinian media of female detainees being forced to sleep on the floor, while enduring frequent humiliation and abuse, even torture, at the hands of their jailers.

The story of Ahed Tamimi has come to embody, in many ways, the wider Palestinian experience under Israeli occupation. 

This is why she became so popular amongst Palestinians and Palestine supporters globally. In Ahed, people were exposed to the robbery of innocence from a childhood, the steadfastness of the Palestinian youth in the face of persecution, along with the battle of the oppressed against armed settlers and an occupying army. 

Through slapping an Israeli soldier, Ahed Tamimi sent the message to the world that the Palestinian people were not going to sit back and allow their suffering to go unanswered, even if the only way of fighting back was through a symbolic act of defiance.

(The Palestine Chronicle)

– Robert Inlakesh is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. He focuses on the Middle East, specializing in Palestine. He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.

Anadolu Cameraman Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza City

December 1, 2023 

Palestinian journalist Muntaser al-Sawaf was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. (Photo: via WAFA)

A journalist from the Turkish news agency Anadolu was killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

Muntaser al-Sawaf, who worked as a cameraman for Anadolu, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City, according to WAFA.

Two weeks ago, Sawaf sustained critical injuries to the face in an Israeli airstrike that targeted his family home in Gaza. The strike resulted in the killing of his mother, two brothers, and their children, and a large number of relatives.

Over 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across various areas of Gaza since Friday morning, as Israel resumed its aggression after a seven-day truce, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said in a statement.

A four-day truce began on Friday, November 24, was extended twice, and ended on Friday, December 1, at 7 am local time today.

Since October 7, over 15,000 Palestinians, including over 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women were killed, with another 36,000 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.

(PC, WAFA)

Back to Genocide – Gaza Ministry of Health Releases New Casualty List

December 1, 2023

Israel renewed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. (Photo: via social media)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

In its latest statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza demonstrated that Israel has returned to the same tactic of targeting civilians in the besieged Strip. 

The high casualties, recorded since the end of the truce between Israel and the Palestinian Resistance, challenge claims that Israel is heeding Washington’s calls to refrain from targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. 

According to the ministry, 178 Palestinians were killed and 589 were wounded since Friday morning when the truce collapsed. 

This was the result of Israeli targeting of residential homes throughout the Gaza Strip, and also the bombing of a United Nations-run school that had sheltered displaced refugees. 

The latest numbers increased the tally of dead and wounded in Gaza to over 15,000 dead and over 36,000 wounded – in addition to about 7,000 still missing under the rubble of destroyed homes. 

The UN-run school mentioned in the ministry’s report refers to a school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, north of Gaza. 

According to an earlier estimation by Human Rights Watch, at least 300 schools have been destroyed or damaged in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7.  This also resulted in the killing of 183 teachers.

According to the last statement by the ministry, over 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women have been killed in the Israeli war on Gaza. 

(The Palestine Chronicle)

Homes Destroyed, Families Devastated

Amjad Ayman Yaghi 

The Electronic Intifada 

1 December 2023

A scene of destruction in Gaza City.  Omar Ashtawy APA images

A video confirmed Ahmad al-Gharbawi’s fears: his apartment has been destroyed.

Al-Gharbawi watched the video in Rafah, southern Gaza, where he has moved. Like so many others, he has been sheltering in a school run by the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA).

The video showed what remains of his old home in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. It was taken by a friend who remained in that area despite Israeli orders to leave.

His friend’s mother is elderly and unwell.

“I found my home burned and the windows smashed,” al-Gharbawi said. “But if there is ever a permanent truce, I want to go back to my home and stay in it. Even if it has no windows or doors.”

Al-Gharbawi had inherited the apartment from his father, who died seven years ago. A number of his friends and neighbors have been killed in Israel’s latest war against Gaza.

The video was taken during the truce which has now ended.

It was among countless recordings of devastation made in that period.

Ahmad Krizem viewed images of his destroyed home on a Facebook page intended for people who have lived in Gaza City’s Beach refugee camp and nearby areas.

“I saw in a video that my house was destroyed,” Krizem said. “That broke my heart. It had taken me nine years to save enough money for my house.”

Taha al-Said, 62, is from al-Karama, a neighborhood of Gaza City. He is now taking shelter at an UNRWA school in Rafah.

It was not until the recent truce period that he could ascertain what exactly had happened to his home.

It was badly damaged on 23 November – just one day before the truce came into effect.

About 30 members of his extended family lived alongside him. He had built apartments in the same building for two of his sons, both university students.

“Building my house was a big effort,” he said. “One of the last people displaced from our area told me that the house was fine a few days before the truce. Then the Israeli army destroyed the day before the truce.”

Now that Israel has resumed bombarding Gaza, more destruction looks inevitable.

Amjad Ayman Yaghi is a journalist based in Gaza.

Intense Israeli Bombing of Southern Gaza Likely ‘Paving Way’ for Ground Operation

Tareq Abu Azzoum

Reporting from Khan Younis, southern Gaza

Israeli attacks on the south of Gaza did not stop during the last 24 hours and intensified during the night.

Israeli forces concentrated their attacks on eastern areas of Khan Younis and also on the coastal line of the city, where they destroyed a number of residential houses.

The majority of the attacks were directed towards agricultural land, which means they are paving the way for further military ground incursions similar to what happened in the north.

They start with artillery on the ground and also aerial bombardments in order to pave the way for Israeli ground troops to push forward as the occupation forces previously announced that they would expand their military operation even in the south of the territory.

Israeli Bombs Rain Down on Gaza After Truce Collapse

Palestinians evacuate the wounded in Israeli bombardments in Rafah, southern Gaza, December 1, 2023 [Hatem Ali/AP Photo]

By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours and Kevin Doyle

2 Dec 2023

Israel renews bombardment of Gaza, hitting areas across the enclave after the collapse of week-long truce.

Negotiations to secure another pause in the fighting continue, mediator Qatar says.

UN humanitarian chief again calls for ceasefire in Gaza, saying Palestinians in the besieged territory are “surrounded by disease, destruction and death”.

More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200.

Protester Sets Themself on Fire Outside Israel Consulate in Atlanta, Georgia

1st December 2023, 05:20 EST

BBC News, Washington

A protester is in a critical condition after lighting themselves on fire at the Israeli consulate in the US state of Georgia in what police called an "extreme act of political protest".

Police said the demonstrator used petrol, and a Palestinian flag was found at the scene, outside the mission in Atlanta.

The person's gender and age remain unclear.

A security guard who attempted to intervene was also injured.

According to police, the protester arrived at the facility at 12:17 local time (17:17 GMT).

"We believe this building remains safe and we do not see any threat here," Mr Schierbaum said. "We believe this was an act of political protest."

Quoting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Fox News reported that the guard suffered burns to their wrist and leg during the incident.

Both have been taken to a local hospital.

In a statement, the consul general of Israel to the southeast US, Anata Sultan-Dadon, said that the diplomatic mission is "saddened to learn of the self-immolation at the entrance to the office building".

"It is tragic to see the hate and incitement toward Israel expressed in such a horrific way," she added.

"The sanctity of life is our highest value. Our prayers are with the security officer who was injured while trying to prevent this tragic act".

Fighting resumed between Israel and Hamas on Friday morning after a seven-day ceasefire between the two sides.

The Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October killed 1,200 people, with approximately 240 others taken hostage.

Nearly 15,000 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory operation in Gaza, according to its Hamas-run health ministry.

The war has prompted hundreds of protests - in support of both Palestinians and Israelis - across the US.

US officials have warned of a rise in both antisemitic and Islamophobic hate speech since the conflict began.

On 16 November, police arrested a suspect in the death of a Jewish man in California following a clash between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protesters on 7 November. The victim, 69-year-old Martin Kessler, fell during a dispute at the rally and died the following day.

In mid-October, an Illinois man was charged with murder and hate crimes after allegedly stabbing a six-year-old boy to death because he was Palestinian.

How We Achieve the Energy Future Africa Needs

By News Desk 

December 1, 2023

In 2022, global emissions reached a record high of 36.8 billion tons of CO2. During 2023 several months broke global warming records and scientists at the European Union’s climate change service are now forecasting that it could be the warmest year ever logged. With global energy demand expected to surge by approximately 25% by 2030 and emissions expected to continue to grow, we face energy poverty in combination with climate impact, for the most vulnerable population in the world.

That 775 million people still lack access to the most basic means of electricity, of which 600 million in Africa, the population growth rate in combination with these challenges will have devastating outcomes. Unless we unite to resolve the most significant hurdles.

The continent, which accounts for just 3% of total emissions globally, loses USD 7–15 billion annually from climate change impacts and this is projected to climb to USD 50 billion by 2030. Africa also faces a climate finance gap of USD 213 billion between now and 2030, according to the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Adding more urgency to the situation, Africa has the fastest-growing population in the world, which is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations.

We need to implement the solutions that deliver energy in the most sustainable, reliable, and affordable way.

In a couple of days, COP28 will convene the people that can make this a reality. What is required is that COP28 delivers, despite challenging global and geopolitical circumstances, the will and collective action that turns information sharing, marketing, and vague recommendations into tangible action plans. What matters is implementation towards the desired change.

Regional and global development finance institutions, global energy decision-makers, governments, and companies all need to commit to supporting Africa in building the energy future it needs.

Recognising today’s challenges

Although Africa accounts for a fifth of the global population, the region has attracted only 2-3% of global energy investment, according to the AfDB and the International Energy Agency (IEA) in their recent Financing Clean Energy in Africa report.

A major reason for this has been that, historically, the overall risk profile for projects in Africa made it significantly more expensive to finance than those in advanced economies. This was exacerbated by higher borrowing costs due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine. Despite Africa’s immense green energy potential, developers often abandoned projects because they could not see their viability.

The AfDB and IEA propose the easing of financing costs to unlock a wave of clean energy spend in Africa. Currently, the cost of capital for energy projects in African countries is at least 2-3x higher than in advanced economies and China.

To deliver modern energy to all Africans by 2030, we will need to double the current energy investment in Africa. That means over USD 200 billion in spending per year, of which two-thirds will need to be directed to clean energy, according to the report.

Commercial case for an African just transition

Two important recent announcements may go a long way to help mitigate climate financing challenges, by drawing attention to the opportunities and stimulating the commercial prospects that sustainable energy projects in Africa can offer.

The first is the African Development Bank’s announcement in late September that it would provide USD 25 billion in climate finance by 2025. As part of this, USD 20 billion will go to the Desert to Power program to develop 10,000 MW of solar across eleven countries of the Sahel zone of Africa and provide electricity for 250 million people.

The second significant recent funding announcement for Africa is the #COP28 finance initiative between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Africa. In strategic partnership with Africa 50, an infrastructure investment platform with African governments as shareholders, the initiative brings together public, private, and development capital from various sources in the UAE.

Its intention is to support African energy transition strategies, including enhanced regulatory frameworks and a master plan for developing grid infrastructure, integrating both supply and demand. The plan is to kickstart a pipeline of bankable clean energy projects in Africa, starting with 15 GW of clean power by 2030, by deploying USD 4.5 billion to catalyse an additional USD 12.5 billion from multilateral, public and private sources.

In making the announcement, COP28 President-Designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber said climate change now contributed to a fifth of Africa’s people being hungry, and the displacement of African citizens tripling in the last three years – dragging Africa’s GDP growth down by at least 5% every year. Urgent intervention is therefore not just for the sake of the climate – it is a socioeconomic imperative too. He announced that support to address these issues would be available to any African government with “clear transition plans, robust regulatory frameworks and a real commitment to putting the necessary grid infrastructure in place”.

Next steps to build the energy future Africa needs

Africa’s need to achieve energy security and a just transition are clearly established. The funding side of the equation is gaining attention though not yet solved. Another piece that needs to fall into place is governance.

In a bid to mitigate high capital costs, amplify socioeconomic development, and ensure a just energy transition, African governments need to take more efforts to improve climate governance and policy frameworks, to address corruption, curb emissions, and enable investment in clean energy solutions and infrastructure.

To facilitate progress, regional governments must reassess how they operate and recognize that energy is not a commodity but the foundation for social development, economic growth, and prosperity. The absence of a resilient electricity supply hinders economic growth and slows down social development. The energy transition must be embraced as the most significant socio-economic and environmental transformation since the Industrial Revolution.

African countries have never stepped into a COP28 with more solid opportunities to accelerate energy transition. Our African governments now need to take the necessary concrete action to unlock the monumental support they finally have access to, while addressing the decarbonisation opportunity as a pivotal moment to establish a new market and an accelerated industrialization. This is the tipping point and time for action.

AU Bemoans Recent Happenings in Sierra Leone

By Xinhua 

November 30, 2023

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned recent violent incidents in Sierra Leone.

The AU, in a statement issued late Wednesday, said the chairperson is monitoring with grave concern the security situation in Sierra Leone arising from the intrusion of the military armory at Wilberforce barracks in Freetown, the country’s capital.

Faki strongly condemned the violence recently unleashed in Freetown, which is tantamount to disrupting the peace, democratic dispensation and stability of Sierra Leone, the statement said.

The AU Commission chairperson commended the government of Sierra Leone for promptly repelling the attacks. He assured the West African country’s government and people of the African Union’s continued commitment to support the strengthening of inclusive democracy, stability and nation-building in the country.

On Sunday morning, unidentified individuals attacked the Wilberforce military barracks and other locations, including the Pademba Road Correctional Center, leading to a prison break.

Zimbabwe Gives a Deadline for Lithium Miners to Submit Beneficiation Plans

By Xinhua 

December 1, 2023

The Zimbabwean government requires lithium miners to submit beneficiation plans no later than March 2024, in a move aimed at boosting revenue from the processed mineral.

Presenting the 2024 national budget on Thursday, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube said no licenses will be granted to a prospective lithium company without the approval of a beneficiation plan.

“Any lithium value addition process that does not result in the production of lithium carbonate is not regarded as beneficiation, hence, is liable to an export tax,” said Ncube.

Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves in Africa and due to growing global demand for the mineral, the country has witnessed huge investments into the lithium sector in recent years.

Last December, the Zimbabwean government banned the export of raw lithium to encourage investment in local processing facilities. It also approved a lithium ore policy to consolidate the country’s beneficiation strategy.

Zimbabwe Introduces a Wealth Tax on the Rich

By Xinhua 

December 1, 2023

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube on Thursday proposed a “wealth tax” that targets the country’s super-rich intending to use the funds earned from the new measure to upgrade urban infrastructure.

Presenting the 2024 national budget statement to Parliament, Ncube said the current tax structure was benefiting the rich at the expense of those who earned less.

He said the tax policy is aimed at redressing that fact that individuals in a low-income category paid a higher percentage of their income compared to individuals in higher income brackets.

Because of the old tax policy, “the tax incidences fall disproportionately on the low-income groups resulting in inequality,” he said.

Zimbabwean President Meets IMF, World Bank Officials

By Xinhua 

December 1, 2023

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday held talks with officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on possible support from the two Bretton Woods institutions.

The meeting came against the background of Zimbabwe’s request for an IMF Staff Monitored Program, as part of an arrears clearance and debt resolution roadmap that it agreed with multilateral and bilateral creditors early this year.

The roadmap, if successfully implemented, is expected to help Zimbabwe clear its debt to bilateral and multilateral creditors and unlock new funding from global financiers.

“On our part, we expressed our readiness to support Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean government has requested for some Staff Monitored Program through which we can provide support to the government in terms of policy advice, technical assistance and we want to initiate that as soon as the government is ready,” Abebe Aemro Selaisse, the IMF director responsible for African department, was quoted as saying by state news agency New Ziana.

Both the IMF and the World Bank suspended aid to Zimbabwe over two decades ago as part of Western sanctions on the country over its land reform program under which the government compulsorily took excess farmland from white farmers to resettle landless blacks.

The meeting was also attended by World Bank Zimbabwe country director Nathan Belete and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Mthuli Ncube.

Ghanaian Government Urged to Do More to Reap More BRI Benefits

By Xinhua 

December 1, 2023

A Spotlight on China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Some Ghanaian experts have urged the Ghanaian government to position itself well to reap more benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China.

The experts made this call in an interview with Xinhua during a one-day special symposium on the initiative held Wednesday in Accra, the country’s capital.

Anani Demuyakor, a former Ghanaian ambassador to China and chairman of the Ghana China Friendship Association (GHACHIFA), said that although Ghana had attracted some projects under the initiative, the country needed more infrastructure investments to drive economic growth and must do more to take advantage of BRI to attract these investments.

Demuyakor said infrastructure will also be critical for Ghana to benefit from implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement fully.

“We must identify what we want because BRI is a big project. We must determine where to fit in. We have to package ourselves, and when opportunity meets preparation, things happen,” he emphasized.

GHACHIFA organized the symposium to bring together Ghanaian experts, scholars, and Chinese firms to delve into the benefits of the global initiative proposed by China ten years ago.

Paul Frimpong, executive director of the China-Africa Center for Policy and Advisory, a think tank based in Ghana, lauded China for its infrastructure investments in Ghana.

The expert said the BRI opened the opportunity for the West African country to up its game on how to engage with China because there is the opportunity under BRI to bridge the infrastructure gap to leapfrog to the next phase of economic transformation.

“We can not talk about economic growth without talking about infrastructure development. It is the anchor on which we can unlock our country’s potential. I think we have to up our game concerning our engagements with China on this issue,” Frimpong added.

Ghana Confident of Reaching Deal with Official Creditors to Secure IMF Financing

By Xinhua 

December 1, 2023

Ghana is confident of reaching a deal with its Official Creditor Committee (OCC) in early December to pave the way for the second tranche of financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Ofori-Atta said the delay in reaching a deal with the OCC had also delayed the release of the second tranche of 600 million U.S. dollars in financing from the IMF to the country.

He said Ghana had completed all it needed to do and had submitted all of its paperwork to the IMF and each of its directors. “And now we need to wait for the formal response from the OCC.”

Ofori-Atta said the delay in reaching a deal with the OCC was due to administrative issues such as the cut-off date for debts to be included in debt restructuring, ensuring fair treatment, and the effects of the decision on each country’s credit to Ghana.

The minister was, however, hopeful that the partners would be able to deal with those issues and arrive at a firm decision based on the good faith built over the years.

“I hope that by the end of next week, we will have what we need so that the board of IMF can sit,” said Ofori-Atta.

The West African country has been dealing with crippling economic challenges over the past few years. The government has commenced economic reforms backed by a 3-billion-dollar bailout by the IMF, with the condition of restructuring its domestic and external debts.

In May, Ghana received the disbursement of the first tranche of 600 million dollars from the IMF.

Akosombo Dam Spillage: Richard Novati Catholic Hospital Resumes Operation

By Benjamin Makafui Attipoe 

December 1, 2023

The Richard Novati Catholic Hospital (RNCH) at Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region resumes operations on Friday, 1st December 2023, after its six-week closure due to the recent spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams.

The Human Resource Manager (HRM) of the Hospital, Mr. Nelson Kwashie Awudi, disclosed when the Flood Committee of the Tongu Kings and Queens’ Union visited the Comboni School and Hospital enclave to assess the aftermath of the flood disaster on these facilities.

The recent spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams brought the entire Comboni enclave at Sogakope to its knees. Facilities inundated by the flood waters and their subsequent closure included the RNCH, the Comboni Vocational Technical Institute (COMBOTEC), the Comboni R.C. Basic School, and the Quinebeto Memorial R.C. Basic School, all at Sogakope.

The situation displaced more than one hundred (100) nurses and teachers, more than two thousand (2000) students as well as over eight hundred (800) pupils.

The disaster also attracted to the affected community a visit by a high-powered delegation of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference led by the Bishop of the Keta-Akatsi Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordjie (SVD). The Bishops’ Conference supported relief efforts within the Comboni fraternity with some Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc50,000.00).

It is against this background that the Flood Committee of the Tongu Kings and Queens’ Union met the management and leaders of the affected institutions to acquaint themselves with the current situation on the ground. The Committee was led by the Paramount Queen mother of the Mafi Traditional Area, Mamaga Sename III. Also present at the meeting was the President of the Union and Paramount Chief of the Sokpoe Traditional Area, Togbega Kadzi Zogah II.

The Principal of COMBOTEC, Mr. Peter Harry Adzimah, as well as the Headteacher of the Sogakope Comboni R.C. Basic Schools, Ms. Rose Edna Asiwome Agbedoe took turns to brief the Flood Committee on the status of their facilities as well as their current needs following the aftermath of the flood disaster.

The HRM of the RNCH, Mr. Nelson Awudi, told our news team in an interview that the hospital would resume operations on Friday, 1st December 2023, with challenges.

According to him, some challenges they have been dealing with amidst efforts to resume operations included inadequate power and water supply issues, the grounding of three hospital vehicles, and funds to renovate the affected hospital quarters for the displaced staff.

Mr. Awudi said that the hospital morgue would be opened at a later date. He explained that the facility would be assessed by engineers to pave the way for its proper functioning again. He used the occasion to appeal to stakeholders and the general public to assist the hospital to continue with quality healthcare services to the people.

The Chairperson of the Flood Committee of the Union, Mamaga Sename III, noted that the disaster has been devastating and pledged the Committee’s support in helping address the challenges resulting from the flood disaster.

The Paramount Chief of the Sokpoe Traditional Area, Togbega Kadzi Zogah II, empathized with the students and staff of the impacted facilities. It encouraged them not to be disillusioned, adding that there is hope at the end of the tunnel. Togbega Zogah stressed the need for unity among the citizens to attract the needed development to the entire Tongu State.

'Israel' Kills 60 Palestinians Hours After the Truce Expired

By Al Mayadeen English

"Israel" has so far killed at least 60 Palestinians, including medics and journalists, just hours after the truce between the Resistance and the Israeli occupation ended.

"Israel" killed 60 Palestinians, including medics and journalists, just hours after the truce between Gaza and the occupation ended.

On Friday, "Israel" launched a new series of attacks following the end of the temporary ceasefire, forcing Palestinians in Gaza out of their homes and into hospitals, amid scores of Palestinians martyred and injured. 

The Israeli aggression resumed immediately after an agreement to extend the truce failed to be reached. Southern cities in Rafah and Khan Younis were targeted by "Israel" this morning, resulting in multiple deaths and losses, as reported by AFP and hospital officials. 

Palestinian testimonies as 'Israel' strikes them again

Palestinian victim testimonies were recorded by AFP. One blood-covered woman, Amal Abu Dagga, cried as her children went missing. "I don't even know what happened to my children," she said.

Her relative, Jamil Abu Dagga, told AFP that the family had been at home when "Israel" began its targeted attacks.

"My house was destroyed, so was my neighbor's," he said from the Nasser Medical Complex where his wounds were being treated. 

Another family member, Anas Abu Dagga, 22, said the "war has returned, even more fierce."

10-year-old Lina Hamdan recounted, "As we were preparing to sleep, a bomb went off, and my brothers began screaming."

In Rafah, a young man hurriedly carried a severely injured child from a refugee camp that had been struck by an Israeli bomb, while others were seen extracting a corpse from the debris.

Marwan al-Hams, the director of Al-Najar Hospital in Rafah, disclosed that the Israeli airstrikes had killed at least nine people in the city, four of whom were children. Many Palestinians sought refuge in Rafah after "Israel" instructed them to evacuate the northern part of the territory.

In the northern Gaza Strip, a substantial strike was visible from the "Sderot" settlement across the border. An AFPTV live-cam broadcasted rolling clouds of grey smoke and the sounds of automatic gunfire within the initial 90 minutes following the expiration of the truce.

UNICEF Spokesperson James Elder, speaking from an undisclosed hospital in Gaza in a video posted on X, reported a bomb landing "literally 50 meters away." He emphasized the severe reduction in hospital capacity, expressing concern about the increasing number of children with war-related injuries such as burns, shrapnel wounds, and broken bones. Elder characterized the situation as a "war on children."

Marwa Saleh, a 47-year-old, fled her home in Gaza City during the initial phase of the conflict, seeking refuge in Khan Younis. Distressed by the renewed bombardments, she asserted, "My family and I are civilians, and we have no involvement in this war. I don't want to die, and I don't want to lose anyone."

The Resistance fights back

After the truce between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance saw no extension, the Israeli occupation resumed its aggression on the Gaza Strip, amid fierce confrontations between Resistance fighters and Israeli occupation forces on several fronts.

Martyr Omar al-Qassem Forces confirmed that its Resistance fighters targeted the invading Israeli occupation forces in al-Shalehat area west of Gaza City with mortar shells.

Local sources reported fierce confrontations between Resistance fighters and Israeli occupation forces in al-Tawam area northwest of Gaza, coinciding with reports of sirens sounding in the Gaza envelope settlements.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent also reported about violent confrontations in Beit Hanoun, north of the Strip, as well as in Tal al-Hawa, southwest of Gaza City.

Palestinian Resistance fighters confronted advancing Israeli occupation tanks northwest of Gaza in the Sheikh Radwan area, coinciding with confrontations in al-Mughraqa and northern Gaza simultaneous with Israeli shelling targeting the northwest of the Strip.

109 Martyred, Aid Trucks Stranded as 'Israel' Renews Aggression

By Al Mayadeen English

Rafah has served as the sole entry point for aid into Gaza since "Israel" initiated a siege and bombardment of the coastal Palestinian territory.

109 Palestinians were martyred on Friday as "Israel" recommenced its genocide on Friday, Gaza's health ministry reported on Friday. 

This comes as the temporary humanitarian truce expired in the earlier hours of Friday. 

Humanitarian Aid Faces Challenges at Egypt-Gaza Border

Meanwhile, humanitarian aid found itself stuck close to the border between Egypt and Gaza as "Israel" recommenced its aggression, sources report.

"The bombardment has been going on since seven in the morning. There are planes and artillery and we haven't moved," one of the aid truck drivers told AFP.

According to Egyptian security sources and a representative from the Red Crescent, trucks carrying aid and fuel ceased their entry from Egypt. UN officials characterized the renewed hostilities as "catastrophic" and expressed uncertainty about the ongoing delivery of aid.

Rafah has served as the sole entry point for aid into Gaza since "Israel" initiated a siege and bombardment of the coastal Palestinian territory.

Al Arish airport in Sinai has been receiving international flights tasked with delivering shipments of aid. Convoys of trucks from Cairo have also been transporting aid to the affected region.

Truck Delays and Inspection Bottlenecks

Since October 21, a system required aid trucks to undergo inspections at the Al-Awja and Nitzana crossings along Egypt's border with the Israeli-occupied territories. Subsequently, they had to return to Rafah to complete the delivery of their cargo. This round trip, spanning over 80 kilometers, has been cited by aid workers and Egyptian officials as a cause of bottlenecks in the aid delivery process.

Egyptian truck drivers reported experiencing significant delays as they awaited inspections and scanning of goods, which were supervised by Israeli security personnel at Al-Awja.

"All the obstacles are there because they are the ones controlling the movement of goods," another truck driver told AFP. "We enter the crossing and wait for four or five days until the inspection is completed," he said.

Lengthy Delays and Control by 'Israel'

The UN has been calling for the opening of the "Kerem Shalom" crossing near Rafah by "Israel", a crossing that handled substantial quantities of goods before the outbreak of the war. However, "Israel," citing concerns about aid potentially benefiting the resistance, has consistently refused to open it.

During the truce, approximately 200 aid trucks were permitted to enter Gaza daily, more than double the pre-truce average but less than the pre-war levels of up to 500 trucks daily.

Before the truce, Egyptian truck drivers faced challenges unloading at Rafah, with goods transferred to another truck for distribution in Gaza, sometimes interrupted by fuel shortages or bombardments.

Some trucks, during the truce, were able to drive directly from the Egyptian side into Gaza.

As the aggression resumed, truck drivers anticipated potential delays, noting the need for security clearance for the numerous trucks already at Al-Awja, potentially causing extended wait times.