Gaza City faces ‘horrific’ Israeli bombardment
- Israel bombs the Nassr and Sabra neighbourhoods of Gaza City, killing several Palestinians in “horrific” attacks, our correspondent reports.
- US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Qatari Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discuss the situation in Gaza during another push for a ceasefire.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemns Israeli war ‘state terrorism’
The 57-country bloc denounces the Israeli attack that killed dozens of people in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Thursday, calling it part of Israel’s “organised state terrorism” against Palestinians.
The OIC also welcomed the UN General Assembly resolutions that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backed the role of UNRWA.
Mahmoud Abbas discusses situation in Gaza with Italian counterpart
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Rome where they discussed the latest developments in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Wafa reports.
Abbas briefed his Italian counterpart on the latest developments in Palestine, focusing on the severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip that has led to tens of thousands of casualties and the widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes in the enclave, the Palestinian news agency said.
He also discussed the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, including the continuing crimes committed by Israeli settlers and the Israeli army’s attacks on towns and villages, it added.
Abbas also thanked Italy for its continued humanitarian support and called on Rome to officially recognise the State of Palestine.
Blinken calls for Gaza ceasefire ‘as soon as possible’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken again suggests that Hamas is standing in the way of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza although Israeli media reports and current and former officials have blamed Netanyahu for the failure to reach a deal.
The top US diplomat told reporters after meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Ankara that Turkiye and the US agree on the need for a Gaza ceasefire “as soon as possible”.
“In my discussions with President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and with Minister Fidan, we talked about the imperative of Hamas saying yes to the agreement that’s possible to finally help bring this to an end,” Blinken said.
“We appreciate very much the role that Turkiye can play in using its voice with Hamas to try to bring this to a conclusion.”
Blinken has been touring the region after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, discussing the political situation in Syria while also pushing for a Gaza deal.
