Israel Rejects U.N. Request for Humanitarian Cease-Fire as Palestinian Death Toll Passes 600
After rumors of a humanitarian cease-fire that would begin Tuesday morning, Al-Jazeera reports that Israel has refused the United Nations' request, citing "security reasons."
Several schools, hospitals and mosques, including the Al Aqsa Martyrs mosque, have reportedly been struck by Israeli forces. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
After rumors of a humanitarian cease-fire that would begin Tuesday morning, Al-Jazeera reports that Israel has refused the United Nations’ request, citing “security reasons.” Meanwhile, Palestinian deaths continue to rise with nearly 4,000 Gazans injured and 604 dead. Israel has lost two civilians and 27 military personnel since the start of the 14-day conflict, and has recently confirmed reports that an Israeli soldier, Oron Shaul, is missing in Gaza and presumed dead.
Reuters via Al-Jazeera:
Palestinian civilians in densely-populated Gaza have no place to hide from Israel’s military offensive and children are paying the heaviest price, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
Jens Laerke, spokesman of the UN Office for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), told a news briefing in Geneva:”There is literally no safe place for civilians.”…More than 900 Palestinian children are also reported to have been injured, according to UNICEF. “According to an assessment by aid workers on ground at least 107,000 children need psycho-social support for the trauma they are experiencing such as death, injury or loss of their homes,” Laerke said.
More than 1.2 million people in the enclave have no water or only limited access to water as power networks have been damaged or lack fuel for generators, he said.
“In addition, we do have reports of sewage flooding which is a threat to public health,” he said.
—Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata
Wait, before you go…If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Support Truthdig
Politics
A New York Times Op-Ed featuring liberal Zionist leaders calls to end military aid to Israel as the country passes a law gutting its judiciary.
Middle East
There can be no doubt that Israel has zero interest in a just and peaceful settlement to its military occupation of Palestine.
The result appears to dash the long-serving leader's hopes for a decisive victory as his trial on corruption charges nears.
After the Israeli prime minister's Likud Party falls shy of a governing majority, one PLO official laments the "triumph of apartheid."
A leading question about Israel on the CBS debate stage gets two very different responses from the two Jewish Democratic candidates.
The prime minister is slated to appear in a Jerusalem court as a defendant just two weeks after the March 2 vote.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.