The situation in the Middle East continues to worsen while Israel intensifies its military operations in the occupied West Bank. For the first time in twenty years, Israeli tanks have been deployed in the region, causing the forced displacement of 40,000 Palestinians from the northern refugee camps.
In this tense context, Hamas, through the voice of its Basem Naim manager, openly accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “intentionally sabotage” the cease-fire negotiations in Gaza. The Palestinian group now refuses any discussion as long as Israel will not release the 620 Palestinians who were to be released on Saturday.
The human record of this war continues to increase. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 48,319 Palestinians lost their lives and 111,749 have been injured since the start of the conflict. The government media office even estimates the number of deaths at 61,709, by counting the thousands of presumed missing people who died under the rubble.
The UN Secretary General expresses his “serious concern” in the face of the violence of the Israeli settlers in occupied West Bank and calls to end annexation projects.
