Khan Younes, in the south of the Gaza Strip, is still the subject of intense fighting since the Israeli army claimed to have “encircled” it at the beginning of the week. Israeli army tank fire on a United Nations shelter in the city left nine people dead on Wednesday and drew condemnation from the United States and the UN.
Information to remember
⇒ Fighting between Israel and Hamas intensifies in Khan Younes
⇒ NGOs call for an end to arms deliveries to both parties
⇒ Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for three missile attacks against US ships on Wednesday
Convictions after nine people die in bombing of UN shelter
In Khan Younes, at least nine people were killed and 75 others injured on Wednesday in tank fire which hit a shelter for displaced people of UNRWA, the UN refugee agency, deplored the organization. A UN official condemned a “blatant violation of the fundamental rules of war”, saying the building which housed 800 people was clearly marked by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military said a “full review of the operations of forces in the surrounding area was underway” but that it had “ruled out […] an air or artillery strike”. She also mentions “the possibility” that Hamas fire was responsible for these shots.
The United States, Israel’s ally, said it was “seriously concerned” by the strikes and called for the protection of civilians and UN buildings in the Gaza Strip.
NGOs call for an end to arms deliveries to Israel and Hamas
16 NGOs published a Wednesday open letter calling “all UN member states to stop fueling the crisis in Gaza and to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe and new civilian victims”, demanding an end to arms deliveries to both parties.
“We, the signatory organizations, call on all States to immediately cease transfers of weapons, spare parts and ammunition to Israel, as well as to Palestinian armed groups,” they wrote, denouncing the risk of “serious violations of the international humanitarian and human rights law.
These organizations, including Amnesty International and Médecins du Monde, also called for “an immediate ceasefire”. “Gaza is today the most dangerous place in the world for any child, journalist or humanitarian worker,” they denounced.
Yemen’s Houthis claim new missile launches in Red Sea
Yemen’s Houthis, supporters of the Palestinians and allies of Iran, claimed responsibility for new strikes on Wednesday against two American ships in the Red Sea. Of the three missiles fired, two were intercepted and one missed its target, according to a White House spokesperson. The latter warned that the United States would continue to “do what is necessary to protect” maritime transport in the Red Sea.
These attacks come after US strikes against the Houthis earlier in the day. In Qatar, the national energy company said deliveries of liquefied natural gas could be delayed due to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
Seven injured Palestinian children welcomed in France
France has welcomed seven new injured Palestinian children so that they can be treated in pediatric wards, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday. Two children had already been taken in at the end of December after their evacuation.
“France is continuing its action of medical and humanitarian support for the civilian population of Gaza,” said the ministry, which said it was “extremely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the lack of food, drinking water and medicine has exposed, for several weeks, the civilian population to a very serious health and food crisis.