The Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed, Thursday evening, its rejection of Washington’s questioning of the numbers of martyrs it announces, which are constantly increasing as a result of the continuation of the “Israeli aggression” against the besieged Strip for the twentieth day.
The Ministry of Health issued a 212-page document containing the names and identity card numbers of 6,747 martyrs, including 2,665 children, and does not include 529 people who are still unidentified.
US President Joe Biden said yesterday, Wednesday, that he was certain that the Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip led to civilian casualties, but he doubted the validity of the numbers announced by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Blinken said, in response to a question about the civilian deaths in Gaza, since the start of the Israeli bombing and raids on the Strip more than two weeks ago: “I have no idea that the Palestinians are telling the truth about the number of deaths, but I am sure that innocent people were killed.”
He added, “This is the price of waging war, and I think the Israelis should be very careful to make sure that they focus on pursuing people who are promoting this war against Israel, and when that does not happen, that is against their interest.”
Blinken continued, “In any case, I have no confidence in the numbers issued by the Palestinians.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza announced that the number of people missing under the rubble in the Strip as a result of the intense Israeli air strikes had risen to 1,950 people, while the Israeli army continued to target the Strip with raids that destroyed entire neighborhoods.
Iyad Al-Bazm, spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior in Gaza, said during a press conference: “The number of missing people under the rubble in all Gaza governorates since the start of the aggression has risen to 1,950 missing people.”
The previous toll of those missing under the rubble was 1,650, including 900 children, according to the spokesman for the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, Ashraf Al-Qudra, yesterday, Wednesday.
Al-Bazm added, “The Israeli army continues to commit its crimes in Gaza day and night without stopping, but it increases its frequency at night and in complete darkness due to the power outage, which makes rescue operations and the evacuation of the martyrs and wounded difficult, and makes the situation more difficult for citizens, crews, and specialized rescue teams.”
While the President of the 78th Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dennis Francis, condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Today, Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly held a special emergency session to discuss “illegal Israeli activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
In the opening speech of the session, Francis pointed out the occurrence of the largest and most dangerous conflict in recent years in the Middle East.
He pointed out that the attack on the Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza was one of the most horrific attacks and the most difficult to accept.
He also stated, “The consequences of the ongoing Israeli bombing of Gaza are worrying,” adding that “the right to self-defense does not mean the right to indiscriminate and disproportionate revenge.”
“Hundreds of people were killed in one incident. This horrific crime, even to contemplate it, should hurt the feelings of humanity,” Francis said, noting that “the growing tension, violence and injustice that have reached horrific, unspeakable levels must end.”
For the 20th day, the Israeli army continues to target Gaza with intense air strikes that destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing 7,028 Palestinians, including 2,913 children, 1,709 women, and 397 elderly people, and wounding 18,484 people, in addition to more than 1,950 missing people under the rubble.
During the same period, the Hamas movement killed more than 1,400 Israelis and wounded 5,132, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health. It also captured more than 200 Israelis, including high-ranking military personnel, and wants to exchange them for more than 6,000 Palestinian prisoners, including children and women, in prisons. Israel.
2023-10-26 17:41:14
#response #Bidens #skepticism…the #Ministry #Health #Gaza #issues #document
