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Live Updates: Hamas Calls for Mass Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in All Countries Over Weekend

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Recently, the Middle East has been the focus of global attention due to the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On October 27... 16.11.2023, Sputnik Africa

2023-11-16T08:33+0100

2023-11-16T18:55+0100

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Live Updates: Hamas Calls for Mass Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in All Countries Over Weekend

08:33 16.11.2023 (Updated: 18:55 16.11.2023)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Recently, the Middle East has been the focus of global attention due to the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On October 27, Israel declared an extension of its ground operation in the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas militants and rescue hostages.

The Israeli armed forces have expanded the operation at the Shifa hospital to its southern part, the Israeli broadcaster reported on Thursday.

If on Wednesday, the Israeli forces were focused on buildings located in the western part of the medical complex, now the emphasis is on the southern part of the hospital, the broadcaster said.

On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it was carrying out a "precise and targeted" operation against the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Shifa hospital, which is the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing and abducting people in neighboring Israeli communities. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel.

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16:13 16.11.2023

Palestinian Red Crescent Says Israeli Tanks Surrounded Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza Strip

Israeli tanks have surrounded the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City and medical workers cannot reach the injured, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said on Thursday.

"Israeli military tanks besiege Al-Ahli Baptist hospital in Gaza, and violent attack is underway. PRCS teams are unable to move and reach those who are injured," the PRCS said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

15:22 16.11.2023

Hundreds of EU Citizens Still Awaiting Evacuation From Gaza, European Commission Says

Hundreds of EU citizens have already been evacuated from the Gaza Strip, but several hundred others are still waiting to leave, European Commission foreign affairs and security policy spokesman Peter Stano said on Thursday.

"I can only confirm that, based on the information we have from the member states, there are still several hundreds of EU citizens in Gaza waiting to get out. And we managed to get out already several hundreds of EU citizens," Stano told a midday briefing.

15:13 16.11.2023

Gaza Hospitals Chief Urges Egypt to Host Patients Amid Israeli Raid on Shifa Hospital

Mohammad Zaqout, the director general of hospitals in the Gaza Strip, on Thursday repeated his call for the urgent evacuation of patients to Egypt, saying that the enclave's facilities lacked beds to host those forced to leave the Shifa hospital due to the ongoing Israeli military operation there.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli military expanded its operation against Hamas at the Shifa hospital to its southern part. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) urged the evacuation of 650 Shifa patients to other facilities. The leadership of Gaza hospitals decided to transfer patients to tents and a school near the enclave's European Hospital.

"The European Hospital could only take 100 out of 650 patients. We demand transferring the patients to Egypt because the numbers are beyond the hospitals' capacity," Zaqout told Al Jazeera.

The official also said he had urged the ICRC and the UN to help with the evacuation of premature babies and other patients from the Shifa hospital, asking for ambulance cars, among other things.

14:45 16.11.2023

Hamas Calls for Mass Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations in All Countries Over Weekend

Palestinian group Hamas on Thursday called on the Arab and Islamic communities around the world to organize protests against Israel's continuous attacks on medical facilities in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it was carrying out a "precise and targeted" operation against Hamas in the Shifa hospital, which is the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip.

"Let the coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday be days of activation of all forms of demonstrations, public rallies and events in all cities, capitals and squares under the slogan 'Save Gaza's hospitals, Save Gaza's children," Hamas said on Telegram.

The movement addressed its call to "our Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic communities, and free people all over the world."

13:36 16.11.2023

Russia Condemns UN for Failing to Agree on Humanitarian Ceasefire in Middle East

Moscow condemns the UN Security Council for being unable to pass a resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council approved a resolution on Gaza that calls for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable, consistent with international humanitarian law, the full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies." In addition, the resolution calls for the unconditional release of hostages by the Palestinian group Hamas as well as other groups.

"If we talk about the position of the international community, of course, the fact that the Security Council yesterday shamefully asked only for humanitarian pause and failed to support the language of the UN General Assembly that called for a humanitarian truce as a step towards a ceasefire. This, of course, speaks ... above all, it speaks to the position of the United States and its allies," Lavrov told reporters after a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto.

12:13 16.11.2023

UNRWA Says Death Toll Among Staff Members Since Start of Escalation in Gaza Rises to 103

As many as 103 staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have been killed since the start of the escalation in the Gaza Strip, with dozens of the agency's installations in the region damaged, the UNRWA has said.

"UNRWA fatalities and damage to installations. Confirmed numbers, since 7 October — 103 UNRWA colleagues killed, 67 UNRWA installations damaged," the UN agency said in its situation report in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on Wednesday.

11:26 16.11.2023

Hamas destroyed over 200 pieces of Israeli military equipment in Gaza, spokesperson of political office in lebanon tells Sputnik

11:18 16.11.2023

Israeli Ambassador to UN Calls UNSC Resolution on Gaza 'Disconnected From Reality'

The Malta-drafted UN Security Council resolution on the situation in the Gaza Strip is disconnected from reality and meaningless, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip" and the unconditional release of captives held by Hamas.

"The UN Security Council’s resolution is disconnected from reality and is meaningless. Regardless of what the Council decides, Israel will continue acting according to int’l law while the Hamas terrorists will not even read the resolution at all, let alone abide by it. It is unfortunate that the Council continues to ignore, not condemn, or even mention the massacre that Hamas carried out on October 7, which led to the war in Gaza. It is truly shameful!" Erdan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The ambassador added that the Hamas movement's strategy is to deliberately deteriorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza to push the United Nations into stopping Israel.

"It will not happen. Israel will continue to act until Hamas is destroyed and the hostages are returned," the diplomat said.

11:17 16.11.2023

Turkey's ICC Lawsuit Against Netanyahu Could Pose Political Risks for Israel - Expert

The International Criminal Court (ICC) lawsuit filed by Turkey against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have political consequences for the Israeli state, Belgian military expert Pierre Henrot told Sputnik.

Earlier this week, lawyers for the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey said that the country had filed a lawsuit against Netanyahu with the ICC, accusing him of "committing genocide" in the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a "terrorist state," adding that Netanyahu possesses nuclear weapons but "[his] end is near."

"The risks for Netanyahu are personal with an impossibility to travel to many countries, including European states such as France or Germany that officially recognize the role of the ICC. But the political risks for Israel are much worse," Henrot said, suggesting there could be, among other things, a strong boost to the idea of two-state solution as well as growing demands for Israel to give up Palestinian territory captured in 1967 and make territorial concessions to Syria or Lebanon.

Th expert noted the growing pressure on the ICC, which is accused of applying different standards to countries depending on their relations with the West, with regard to allegations of Israel's excessive use of force against Palestinians. In light of that, the ICC cannot ignore the Turkish lawsuit, according to Henrot.

"How could the Western powers object to action being taken by the ICC? Especially for the US, which does not even recognize the authority of the Court. It would be a disaster for Israel and the image of the West in the world. If it does not want to be fully discredited, the ICC must act," Henrot said.

11:06 16.11.2023

IDF Says Took Operational Control of Gaza Harbor Used by Hamas as Training Facility

The Israeli armed forces have taken operational control of the Gaza harbor that was used by Hamas as a training base for planning and executing naval terror attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday.

"In the past few days, in a joint operation, soldiers of the 188th Armored Brigade, and Flotilla 13 (“Shayetet 13”), took operational control of the Gaza harbor, which was controlled by the Hamas terrorist organization," the IDF wrote on Telegram, adding that the harbor was used by Hamas "as a training facility for their naval commando forces for planning and executing naval terror attacks."

09:14 16.11.2023

Russian Emergencies Ministry to Deliver New Batch of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Residents

Another batch of humanitarian aid was delivered by the Russian Emergencies Ministry to the population of the Gaza Strip on November 10. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 16.11.2023

Israel-Palestine Escalation

Russian Emergencies Ministry Deliver New Batch of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Residents

16 November 2023, 09:14

08:47 16.11.2023

IDF Urges Residents of South Gaza to Leave Their Homes Immediately for First Time

The Israeli military has urged the residents of several areas in the southern Gaza Strip to immediately leave their homes and find shelter.

The Israeli military addressed the residents of the eastern part of the city of Khan Yunis by dropping leaflets from planes.

"For your safety, you must immediately leave your place of residence and head to one of the specified shelters," the Israeli military said in the leaflets.

08:46 16.11.2023

UNRWA Says Two of Its Schools in Gaza Strip Been Hit, People Injured, Buildings Damaged

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said that two of its schools in the Gaza Strip have been shelled, people received injuries, and buildings have been damaged.

"Two UNRWA schools in the Middle area were directly hit by strikes, resulting in damage to buildings and injuries among the internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in one of the schools," the report said.

08:45 16.11.2023

Only Quarter of Gaza Hospitals Continue Operating: WHO Chief

Only 10 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza continue operating, while 26 are closed due to the damage caused by strikes or due to lack of fuel, the World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"What we know is that only one quarter of Gaza's hospitals are still functioning — 26 out of 36 hospitals are now closed either due to damage, attacks or because they have run out of fuel," the WHO chief told a briefing.

Patients, health workers and ambulances are unable to enter or exit some of the hospitals, the official added.

"For the part three days, the WHO has not received updates on the number of deaths or injuries in Gaza, which makes it harder for us to evaluate the functioning of the health system," the official said.

The WHO also condemns Israel's military attack on the Al Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip, the organization's head said.

08:43 16.11.2023

UN Security Council Passes Resolution on Gaza Calling for Extended Humanitarian Pauses

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has approved a resolution on Gaza, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Zhang Jun, who presides over the UNSC during the month of November, said.

The resolution calls for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable, consistent with international humanitarian law, the full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for United Nations humanitarian agencies."

In addition, the resolution calls for the unconditional release of hostages by the Palestinian group Hamas as well as other groups.

It further demands that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, including with regard to protecting civilians, especially children.

08:40 16.11.2023

Egypt Ready to Receive Any Number of Palestinian Victims From Gaza, Health Minister Says

Egypt is ready to receive any number of Palestinian victims from the Gaza Strip, Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said.

"We are ready to receive any number of Palestinian victims in accordance with orders of [Egyptian] President Abdel Fattah Sisi," Abdel Ghaffar told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Fahrettin Koca, in Cairo.

08:39 16.11.2023

Biden Says He Doesn't Know How Long Gaza Conflict Will Last

US President Joe Biden said he was not sure how long the conflict in Gaza will last.

"How long this war is going to last, I don't know," Biden during a press conference.

08:37 16.11.2023

Israel Cannot 'Leave Vacuum' in Gaza Strip, Will Have to Maintain 'Strong Force': Israeli President

Israel cannot "leave a vacuum" in the Gaza Strip and will have to maintain a "very strong force" in the enclave in the near future, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in an interview with the Western media.

"If we pull back, then who will take over? We can’t leave a vacuum. We have to think about what will be the mechanism; there are many ideas that are thrown in the air," Herzog said, adding that Israel has to "have a very strong force [in the enclave] to make sure that it’s committed enough and it [the attack] doesn’t happen [again]."

The Israeli army is "very, very cautious" when conducting military operations in the area of hospitals in the enclave, the president also told the newspaper, adding that his country seeks to protect civilians. The interview was conducted hours before the Israel Defense Forces entered Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza's largest medical facility, the news outlet said.

"We haven’t even received one piece of information about our hostages," Herzog said, adding that that is why Israel has to "to fight and get them." He also said that Palestinian movement Hamas is the one to blame for the lack of an agreement on a deal to release civilian hostages.

The president added that the Palestinian death toll "breaks his heart," but his "first and foremost duty" remains to ensure the security of the Israeli people.