Diplomatic push for Gaza truce
Published: 11:05 PM,May 20,2021 | EDITED : 09:05 PM,May 20,2021
Israeli soldiers fire a 155mm self-propelled howitzer towards the Gaza Strip from their position along the border in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Thursday. - AFP
GAZA CITY: Diplomatic efforts gathered pace on Thursday for a ceasefire on the 11th day of deadly violence between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, as air strikes again hammered the enclave.
The Israeli security cabinet was set to meet to discuss a possible ceasefire with the Hamas movement ruling the besieged and crowded coastal strip, official sources said.
In the southern Gaza town of Rafah, devastating Israeli air strikes turned buildings into clouds of dust and rubble, as an ambulance sped across town to help the wounded, a reporter said.
Rocket fire from Gaza intensified in the afternoon, sending Israelis living on its borders running into shelters, according to Israeli army warnings.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that 'the fighting must stop immediately', calling the continued crossfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups 'unacceptable'.
'If there is a hell on earth, it is the lives of children in Gaza,' Guterres added.
The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a special session on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The session, planned for next Thursday, will address 'the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,' the council said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization issued an urgent appeal for $7 million to pay for a 'comprehensive emergency response' in the Palestinian territories.
WHO said the funds would 'enable a comprehensive emergency response in the next six months' in Gaza as well in the occupied West Bank, which has also seen a surge in protests and violent street clashes.
UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland was visiting Qatar for talks with Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, as part of an effort to 'restore calm,' according to a diplomatic source.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said 'indirect talks' with Hamas were essential to advancing efforts toward an end of hostilities.
'Of course Hamas has to be included, because without Hamas there will be no ceasefire,' Merkel said, who also spoke to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, where they agreed the need 'for a speedy ceasefire'. - AFP
The Israeli security cabinet was set to meet to discuss a possible ceasefire with the Hamas movement ruling the besieged and crowded coastal strip, official sources said.
In the southern Gaza town of Rafah, devastating Israeli air strikes turned buildings into clouds of dust and rubble, as an ambulance sped across town to help the wounded, a reporter said.
Rocket fire from Gaza intensified in the afternoon, sending Israelis living on its borders running into shelters, according to Israeli army warnings.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres told the UN General Assembly on Thursday that 'the fighting must stop immediately', calling the continued crossfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups 'unacceptable'.
'If there is a hell on earth, it is the lives of children in Gaza,' Guterres added.
The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a special session on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The session, planned for next Thursday, will address 'the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,' the council said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the UN World Health Organization issued an urgent appeal for $7 million to pay for a 'comprehensive emergency response' in the Palestinian territories.
WHO said the funds would 'enable a comprehensive emergency response in the next six months' in Gaza as well in the occupied West Bank, which has also seen a surge in protests and violent street clashes.
UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland was visiting Qatar for talks with Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, as part of an effort to 'restore calm,' according to a diplomatic source.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said 'indirect talks' with Hamas were essential to advancing efforts toward an end of hostilities.
'Of course Hamas has to be included, because without Hamas there will be no ceasefire,' Merkel said, who also spoke to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, where they agreed the need 'for a speedy ceasefire'. - AFP