Medical charity slams Israel for ‘forced displacement’ of Palestinians
Doctors Without Borders has slammed Israel for creating a “deliberate humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and accused it of a forced displacement of Palestinians. Follow updates.
Doctors Without Borders has slammed Israel for creating a “deliberate humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and accused it of trying to make aid conditional on forced displacement of Palestinians.
“We are witnessing, in real time, the creation of conditions for the eradication of Palestinian lives in Gaza,” the medical charity, known by its French acronym MSF, said in a statement.
“Gaza has become a hell on earth for Palestinians.” Israel imposed an aid blockade on the Gaza Strip on March 2 after talks to prolong a January 19 ceasefire broke down.
The resulting shortages of food and medicine have aggravated an already dire situation in the Palestinian territory, although Israel has dismissed UN warnings that a potential famine looms.
MSF warned that its medical teams on the ground had “seen a 32-percent increase in the number of patients presenting with malnutrition over the past two weeks”.
“Dwindling fuel stocks are limiting the ability to desalinate and distribute water,” it said in its statement.
“Those health facilities that still function - already critically inadequate in number and capacity for the population - are still being attacked and are suffering from rapidly diminishing stocks of medications and other essential supplies.” MSF highlighted that its “teams in Gaza have received no supplies for 11 weeks and face critical shortages of essential medical items such as sterile compresses and sterile gloves”.
Fighting meanwhile raged on in Gaza, where the civil defence agency reported that “at least 25 people were killed and dozens wounded” in Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
Another four people were killed in a strike on the southern city of Khan Younis, agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
AFP footage from north Gaza showed women in tears as they kneeled next to bodies wrapped in white shrouds stained by blood.
“It’s a nine-month-old baby. What did he do?” one of them cried out.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff over the release of hostages.
Negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages have been ongoing, with the latest talks taking place in the Qatari capital Doha, where US President Donald Trump landed on Wednesday.
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ISRAEL TARGETS HAMAS LEADER IN GAZA STRIKE
Israel’s military targeted Hamas’s top leader in Gaza in an air strike on a hospital in southern Gaza.
An Israeli official told The Wall Street Journal the strike was aimed at Mohammed Sinwar, who took over as the head of Hamas in Gaza after Israel killed his brother, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, last October.
The strike killed six Palestinians and wounded at least 40 more, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it carried out a strike on the European hospital in Khan Younis, targeting “Hamas terrorists in a command and control centre”, who were housed in underground infrastructure beneath the hospital.
Dr Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing, called it “a catastrophe”, saying some people were buried under the rubble.
TRUMP CALLS ON SAUDIS TO RECOGNISE ISRAEL
US President Donald Trump dedicated part of his landmark speech in Saudi Arabia to calling on the Gulf State to recognise Israel.
Mr Trump travelled to Saudi Arabia for his first official state visit since assuming his second term as president.
The American leader told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “you’ll be greatly honouring me” by jumping on board with Israeli recognition.
“With the historic Abraham Accords that we’re so proud of, all the momentum was aimed at peace, aimed very successfully,” Mr Trump said.
“It’s been an amazing thing, the Abraham Accords, and it’s my fervent hope, wish, and even my dream that Saudi Arabia — a place I have such respect for, especially over the last fairly short period of time, what you’ve been able to do — but will soon be joining the Abraham Accords.”
The President couldn’t help but take a swipe at his predecessor as he made to case for Saudi Arabia to join the Accords.
“I think it’ll be a tremendous tribute to your country, and it will be something that’s really going to be very important for the future of the future of the Middle East,” he said.
“I took a risk in doing them, and they’ve been an absolute bonanza for the countries that have joined – the Biden administration did nothing for four years.”
HAMAS CREDITS TRUMP WITH HOSTAGE RELEASE
Hamas has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that military pressure had helped secure the release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander from Gaza a day earlier.
“The return of Edan Alexander is the result of serious communications with the US administration and the efforts of mediators, not a consequence of Israeli aggression or the illusion of military pressure,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement.
“Netanyahu is misleading his people and has failed to bring back his prisoners through aggression,” Hamas added.
The armed wing of Hamas on Monday released 21-year-old Alexander, who had been held in Gaza since the group’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war.
Netanyahu had credited Alexander’s release to a combination of “our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by (US) President (Donald) Trump.”
The Israeli prime minister had thanked Trump “for his assistance in the release”, and also said he had instructed a negotiating team to head to Qatar on Tuesday to discuss the release of the remaining captives.
Mr Netanyahu on Tuesday spoke on the phone with Alexander and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who was meeting the former hostage in hospital during a visit to Israel.
“The entire nation of Israel is overjoyed,” Mr Netanyahu said on the call, according to a video released by his office.
“We are grateful for American support and deeply appreciate the (Israeli) soldiers who are prepared to act by any means necessary if the remaining hostages are not released,” he added.
When asked by Mr Netanyahu how he was feeling, Alexander replied: “It’s crazy, unbelievable. I’m okay. Weak, but slowly I’ll get back to how I was before. It’s just a matter of time.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog spoke with Alexander’s family, telling them “you are made of steel”, and assured the former captive that “the most important thing is that you are home”.
‘YOU ARE HOME’: US-ISRAELI HOSTAGE RELEASED
Israel has released emotional footage showing freed US hostage Edan Alexander’s mother speaking to her 21-year-old son on the phone just after he was released by Hamas in Gaza.
“You are strong. You are safe. You are home. We’ll see each other soon. I love you,” Yael Alexander said to her son, an Israel Defence Forces staff sergeant who was held captive by Hamas for more than 19 months.
Loved ones could be heard squealing with jubilation, exclaiming “Oh my God!” as the overjoyed mother was handed the mobile phone with Edan on the line.
“You’re out, my dear. That’s it. I’m here waiting for you. Everything’s OK, you’re OK. You’re safe and you’re home, we’re going to meet soon. I love you my dear,” she said, according to a translation provided by Israel Defence Forces and shared on social media.
Photos showed Edan seated on a military helicopter holding aloft a small dry erase board with “Thank you President Trump” written in green ink.
The US President celebrated the news of Edan’s release in a post on Truth Social.
“I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family,” he wrote.
“I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen,” he said, touting the ongoing negotiations to bring an end to the bloody conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones,” he said.
Yael had received no indication her son was still alive, the last time she saw his face was during a video released by Hamas last month.
She made a plea for his safe return on US TV.
“We saw our son screaming and yelling and saying very tough things,” she said. “Since that clip, I’m not sleeping. I’m worried sick. And I just hope that he knows that everyone loves him, everyone cares about him and we are doing everything that we can to bring him home.”
Edan, an Israeli-American citizen from New Jersey, was turned over to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces before crossing back into the Jewish state Monday night, according to the IDF.
He was the last living American held captive by Hamas since they seized 255 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack.
Although the state of his health wasn’t immediately known, the Kan public broadcaster reported he had been kept handcuffed in a cage and severely tortured during his 584 day imprisonment.
He will be taken to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv for medical treatment.
– with AFP
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Originally published as Medical charity slams Israel for ‘forced displacement’ of Palestinians