Biden has ‘no confidence’ in Gaza death toll
In his latest statement, US President Joe Biden has said that he has “no confidence in the number that Palestinians are using” to report on the death toll in the Gaza Strip, which, according to the Palestinian health ministry, is over 6,500.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed, and it’s the price of waging a war,” Biden said.
Previously, US intelligence officials also doubted the reported killings of 471 people in Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing on October 17. While the official number was provided by the Gazan authorities, the US believed the number fell between 100 and 300.
According to the latest update by Al jazeera, the health ministry in the besieged enclave has claimed that killings in Gaza have crossed 7,000 as a result of Israeli air strikes including 2,913 children, 1,709 women and 397 elderly, the health ministry in the besieged enclave reported.
West Bank
Israel continues to raid Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, arresting more than 1,450 since October 7 and killing more than 100.
Netanyahu talks about ground attacks on Gaza
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is getting ready for a ground operation in Gaza, however, he has not said when it is to start.
“We are in a war for our sovereignty, for our existence, and we have set ourselves two fundamental objectives: to eradicate Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities and to do everything possible to bring the hostages … back home,” Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Another failed UN Security Council resolution on Gaza
A US-led resolution calling for “humanitarian pauses” ended up in vain as Russia and China vetoed whereas the United Arab Emirates voted against it.
Albania, France, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States voted in favour while Brazil and Mozambique abstained.
China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council after the vote that, “The draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue,
“At this moment, ceasefire is not just a diplomatic term. It means the life and death of many civilians.”
Security Council fails to adopt Russia-led resolution urging “humanitarian ceasefire” & unhindered aid into Gaza; insufficient Yes votes
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 25, 2023
For: 4 (China, Gabon, Russia, UAE)
Against: 2 (UK,US)
Abst.: 9 (Albania, Brazil,Ecuador, France, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland) pic.twitter.com/p1lMoY80hy
Previously, a Russia-led resolution urging for “humanitarian ceasefire” also failed to get enough votes in favour as only Russia, China, UAE, and Gabon voted in favour while UK and the US opposed it.
Countries that abstained included Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland
12 aid trucks sent but no fuel
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported to have received 12 trucks with food, medicine and medical supplies.
Only 74 trucks have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip since October 7 while fuel is yet to be supplied.
@PalestineRCS received 12 trucks from their Egyptian Red Crescent counterparts at the #Rafah border crossing, containing water, food, medicines and medical supplies. So far, a total of 74 trucks have been received, but fuel has not been allowed to enter the Strip till this moment pic.twitter.com/RVoCOWSyOI
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) October 26, 2023
Credit: Al Jazeera
