Relentless attacks continue day after ‘massacre’
- Israel’s raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp has caused outrage, with the EU calling it “a massacre”. The death toll has risen to 274 and more than 698 others injured, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
- Doctors describe the scenes inside Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza as a “complete bloodbath”, with one medic saying the inside of the hospital “looks like a slaughterhouse”. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says Al-Aqsa and Nasser hospitals are “overwhelmed”.
Not good for Israel to be seen as ‘curbing’ freedom of speech
Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow at Chatham House, says he doesn’t see how Al Jazeera is a “threat” to Israel’s national interests.
“Some of the things that are seen on Al Jazeera are unpleasant for Israel, maybe some of the commentators are saying things Israel is not pleased, and its entitled not to be pleased, but it needs to present counter arguments,” Mekelberg told Al Jazeera.
“I don’t think it’s good for Israel to be seen, especially considering what happening, as trying to curb freedom of speech”.
Mekelberg added that Israel is “entitled” to present its narrative on the war but due to some of the things that are shown on Al Jazeera “many Israelis don’t watch [that] on other channels”.
What we know about Israel’s deadly attack on Nuseirat camp
Israel carried out a major assault on central Gaza’s Nuseirat camp on Saturday, killing at least 274 Palestinians and injuring close to 700, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Four Israeli captives were freed in the wake of one of Israel’s biggest attack since October.
Here’s what we know so far about the attack:
- Israeli forces launched the raid in broad daylight, claiming to strike at military infrastructure in the camp as part of a rescue operation. But eyewitnesses and journalists on the ground say Israel bombed residential buildings leading to higher casualties.
- A paramedic who witnessed the attack said it was “like a horror movie and that “Israeli drones and warplanes fired all night randomly at people’s houses”, according to Reuters. “Anyone who was moving in the street was killed,” an eyewitness said.
- Two witnesses have told Al Jazeera that Israeli soldiers arrived in Nuseirat using aid trucks and lorries carrying furniture. Israel has denied those claims. Another eyewitness said that US-built pier was used in the attack but that claim was denied by the US Central Command as “false”.
- Al-Aqsa Hospital, where most of the victims were taken, turned into a “slaughterhouse”, according to Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan of Doctors Without Borders, with footage showing patients, including children, “lying everywhere in pools of blood”.
- Saul Takahashi, a former deputy head of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Occupied Palestine, told Al Jazeera the attack showed a clear disregard for international humanitarian law, lacking “proportionality”.
- The deadly attack has triggered condemnation, with the EU foreign policy chief demanding “the bloodbath” to end.
Israel’s war on Gaza represents ‘turning point’ in Middle East: Qatar’s top diplomat
Israel’s war on Gaza represents a “turning point in the history of the Middle East and the world”, according to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Qatar’s top diplomat made the comments during a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
“We are still waiting for the international community to stop the war,” Sheikh Mohammed said, adding that the GCC must push for a permanent ceasefire.
“The State of Qatar has worked since last October alongside its regional and international partners to achieve a permanent ceasefire and resolve the crisis to prevent the opening of other fire fronts in the region,” he said.
Israel extends Al Jazeera’s broadcasting ban
Al Jazeera’s offices will remain shut in Israel for 45 more days, according to Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who says he is “convinced” the broadcasting ban will be extended in the future as well.
Announcing the development on X, Karhi thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu and the government for approving the extension.
“We will not allow the Al Jazeera terrorist channel to broadcast in Israel and endanger our fighters. I have now signed the extension of the orders banning Al Jazeera channel broadcasts in Israel,” Karhi said.
Al Jazeera has sent a comment to the minister through its lawyer, rejecting this decision and denying all accusations and justifications on which the minister based his decision.
The Doha-based news network in a statement last month condemned the shutdown, describing it as a “criminal act”.
“Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences,” the network said in a statement on May 5.
