Middle East & North Africa

Ceasefire in Gaza must be 'substantive' to end 'darkest chapters' of humanity; UNICEF

28 March 2024; MEMO: A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip must be “substantive, not symbolic” to end the “darkest chapters” of humanity, a UNICEF official said on Tuesday.

“Gaza has shattered humanity’s records for its darkest chapters. Humanity must now urgently write a different chapter,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder said at a UN press briefing in Geneva.

19 Palestinians killed as Israeli forces shell Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza

24 March 2024; MEMO: At least 19 Palestinians were killed and 23 others injured in an Israeli attack targeting civilians who were waiting for aid southeast of Gaza City, the Gaza Media Office stated on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports.

“The Israeli occupation commits a massacre, killing 19 and injuring 23 civilians while thousands of citizens were waiting for flour and aid near Al-Kuwait roundabout,” the media office said in a statement.

Israeli hostage dies in Gaza due to lack of medicine, food

24 March 2024; MEMO: An Israeli hostage in Gaza died due to a shortage of medicine and food, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said on Saturday, Anadolu reports.

“We announce the death of the Zionist captive Yejiv Bukhattaf, 34, due to shortages of medicine and food,” Al-Qassam stated via Telegram.

Palestine: More than 100 Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa mosque compound to celebrate Purim

24 March 2024; MEMO: More than 100 Israeli settlers forced their way into the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Sunday to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim, according to a Palestinian agency, Anadolu Agency reports.

In a statement, the Jordan-run Islamic Waqf Department, which oversees the holy sites in Jerusalem, said the settlers entered the site through the mosque’s al-Maghariba Gate under police protection.

Israeli war to end with Jews settling northern Gaza: Knesset member

25 March 2024; MEMO: The Israeli war on the Gaza Strip will end with Jews settling north of the Gaza Strip, the head of the Knesset’s National Security Committee said on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports.

“Israel must end the war when Jews settle in the entire northern Gaza Strip,” Zvika Fogel told the Israeli public broadcaster KAN.

Jordan: police clash with protesters near Embassy of Israel

25 March 2024; MEMO: Riot police fired teargas to push back hundreds of protesters marching on the Embassy of Israel in Amman on Sunday in protest at Israel’s latest storming of hospitals in Gaza and mounting civilian deaths, Reuters has reported. The Jordanian authorities had earlier deployed riot police to disperse demonstrators gathered in Al-Kalouti Mosque in the capital who were planning to march on the heavily fortified Israeli embassy nearby.

Israel bans Palestinian Christians from Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

25 March 2024; MEMO: Israel banned thousands of Palestinian Christians in the occupied West Bank from entering the occupied city of Jerusalem to participate in Palm Sunday celebrations in advance of the Western church dates for Easter next weekend. Israeli troops were out in force at checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem and in the vicinity of the Old City.

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