Latest news with #NabilAbuRudeineh
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Palestinian Authority condemns Israel's Gaza escalation amid aid crisis
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority has strongly criticised Israel's decision to intensify military operations in Gaza. Presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh described the move as a direct challenge to international peace efforts. He called on the UN Security Council to pressure Israel to halt aggression and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the West Bank but has no control over Hamas-run Gaza. Israel's security cabinet recently approved plans for a major offensive targeting Gaza City. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation, vowing to 'free Gaza from Hamas' without occupation. International backlash has grown, with five nations warning of worsening humanitarian conditions. Gaza's health ministry reports over 61,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began. The war was triggered by Hamas' 2023 attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel. Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire and address Gaza's famine risk. Settlement expansions in the West Bank remain a contentious issue under international law. The PA continues to push for full Palestinian governance over Gaza amid the ongoing crisis. - AFP
Observer
3 days ago
- Politics
- Observer
Palestinian Authority slams Israel's escalation in Gaza
RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, as it called on the international community to push for the entry of aid into the strip. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, the PA's presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were "an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability". He also called on the "international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip", reported Wafa. Early on Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media late on Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas". Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinians. Israel's arch enemy Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, slammed the plan to expand the fighting, calling it a "new war crime". Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, based on official figures. Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 10 people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza. The spokesman said strikes also hit areas in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties. Thousands of Gazans congregate daily near food distribution points in Gaza, including four managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since launching in late May, its operations have been marred by almost-daily reports of Israeli forces targeting those waiting to collect aid supplies. Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators. The plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with China, Turkiye, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a "dangerous escalation" that risks "deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians". Diplomatic sources said that the UN Security Council will meet to discuss the plan. Announcing the suspension of military shipments to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was "increasingly difficult to understand" how the new plan would help achieve legitimate aims. In Israel, there were mixed reactions to the cabinet's decision, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had already begun preparing for its implementation. The main campaign group for hostages' families also slammed the plan, saying it amounted to "abandoning" the captives. Gaza residents said they feared further displacement and attacks as they braced for the next onslaught. "They tell us to go south, then back north, and now they want to send us south again. We are human beings, but no one hears us or sees us," Maysa al-Shanti, a 52-year-old mother of six, said. Hamas on Friday said the "plans to occupy Gaza City and evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime". It warned Israel that the operation would "cost it dearly", and that "expanding the aggression means sacrificing" the hostages held in Gaza. International concern has been growing over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where a UN-backed assessment has warned that famine is unfolding. The World Health Organization said at least 99 people have died from malnutrition in the territory this year, with the figure likely an underestimate. — AFP
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Palestinian Authority slams Israel's escalation in Gaza
RAMALLAH - The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, calling on the international community to push for the entry of more aid into the Strip. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were "an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability". He went on to urge the "international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip". The PA - conceived as a first step towards a Palestinian state - exercises limited administration over parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians, as well as around half a million Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. The PA, however, does not have a presence in Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas for nearly two decades. Early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans for a major operation to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of criticism across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza - we are going to free Gaza from Hamas". The prime minister faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring Gaza's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. A statement issued on Saturday by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom took aim at the decision to occupy Gaza City. "This will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and increase the risk of a mass exodus of civilians," they said. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel - which triggered the war - resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Palestinian Authority slams Israel's escalation in Gaza
The sun sets behind buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Ramallah, Palestinian Territories — The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, calling on the international community to push for the entry of more aid into the Strip. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were 'an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability'. He went on to urge the 'international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip'. The PA -- conceived as a first step towards a Palestinian state -- exercises limited administration over parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians, as well as around half a million Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. The PA, however, does not have a presence in Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas for nearly two decades. Early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans for a major operation to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of criticism across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said 'we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas'. The prime minister faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring Gaza's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. A statement issued on Saturday by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom took aim at the decision to occupy Gaza City. 'This will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and increase the risk of a mass exodus of civilians,' they said. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel -- which triggered the war -- resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. AFP
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Palestinian Authority slams Israel's escalation in Gaza
The Palestinian Authority on Saturday lambasted the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operations in Gaza, calling on the international community to push for the entry of more aid into the Strip. According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the Israeli government's moves were 'an unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will to achieve peace and stability.' He went on to urge the 'international community, led by the UN Security Council, to urgently compel the occupying state to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and work diligently to enable the State of Palestine to assume its full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip.' The PA -- conceived as a first step towards a Palestinian state -- exercises limited administration over parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The territory is home to about three million Palestinians, as well as around half a million Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law. The PA, however, does not have a presence in Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas for nearly two decades. Early Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans for a major operation to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of criticism across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumors of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said 'we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.' The prime minister faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring Gaza's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. A statement issued on Saturday by the foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom took aim at the decision to occupy Gaza City. 'This will exacerbate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of hostages, and increase the risk of a mass exodus of civilians,' they said. Israel's offensive has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel -- which triggered the war -- resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
