User:Ali Ahwazi/sandbox

Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023-present)

Attacks and destruction

Healthcare

There are only two hospitals left that can provide advanced surgical and medical services. These are the Nasser Medical Complex and the European Gaza Hospital – both located in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Nasser, and a third facility, Al Amal Hospital, operated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, are in the midst of the current hostilities. Our colleagues are finding it increasingly difficult, sometimes impossible, to reach those that need their help.

Tragically, 12 Palestine Red Crescent workers have now been killed in the line of duty. This includes three Palestine Red Crescent ambulance drivers killed on 10 February 2024.

Evacuation challenges

Over 75% of the total population of Gaza have been forced to leave their homes in precarious and unsafe conditions. It is estimated that 500,000 of those who’ve been displaced have no home to return to.

Hundreds of thousands of people are in makeshift shelters, in cars or even in the open desperately trying to find even some cardboard to protect against the elements.

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Additional challenges

Gaza is facing a situation that will not be healed by aid alone. But Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers will continue to work day and night to bring life-saving medical treatment to those who need it most, under extremely dangerous circumstances.  The Palestine Red Crescent Society is the mandated organisation to receive and distribute the aid in Gaza. But Palestine Red Crescent Society resources are now under severe pressure. ...............................

International aid In the Gaza Strip PRCS teams are:

   providing emergency medical care to over 16,088 people
   providing psychosocial support to 32,983 deeply traumatised people
   transported 5,205 fatalities
   providing vital humanitarian aid to 380,000 people.

Aid items include food parcels, milk, blankets, mattresses, water as well as some hygiene kits, kitchen sets, and baby necessities.

In the West Bank PRCS teams are:

   providing emergency medical care to over 3,882 people
   provided psychosocial support to 5,183 people and relief items, such as blankets, hygiene kits and food parcels to 422 people.

In the Gaza Strip PRCS teams are ...............................

Killing of aid workers

Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance crews, including paramedics, drivers, and first responders are risking their lives every day to save others across the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

They face increasing difficulties in reaching those in need due to severe infrastructure damage. The fighting has also disrupted Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulances and paramedics, hindering their ability to administer vital medical aid and emergency care. Since the conflict escalated on 7 October, many humanitarian and health workers, including eight members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, have been tragically killed carrying out their duties.

We stand with our colleagues who have risked and lost their lives. We reiterate, today and every day, that humanitarian workers are not a target.  ..............................

Resolution efforts What is the Red Cross calling for in Gaza? In a recent visit to Gaza, President of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric was very clear that aid alone would not end this crisis.

She reiterated once more, that there must be political solutions:

'The ICRC is calling on parties and everyone who has an influence to deescalate and to ‘find other than military solutions to what is an immense suffering of the people on both sides’. What is the Occupied Palestinian Territory?

The Occupied Palestinian Territory or OPT is an internationally accepted description, used by the United Nations. It refers to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). Together with the reference to Israel in our appeal, it covers all the areas affected by the current crisis. What is the Gaza Strip?

The Gaza Strip is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It is 25 miles miles-long and 6 miles-wide enclave bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, and Egypt.

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Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023-present)

(Air-to-ground ammunition)

( Tls-99 laser marking pod)

The de-dollarization process, which was initiated by China and Russia in 2011, has gained traction among emerging economies such as India, Brazil, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries have started replacing the dollar with their local currencies, particularly the yuan, in their trade relations. This shift towards de-dollarization responds to the dollar being weaponized as a currency. It holds significant importance as these countries possess some of the largest foreign exchange reserves in the world.

In a significant development, it has been reported that a French company has recently conducted a transaction with China National Offshore Oil Corporation, exporting liquefied gas (LNG) and accepting payment in Chinese yuan. This event highlights the growing trend of de-dollarization, which is now making its way into the European Union as well

Dedollarisation

Brics backlash

Pakistan is looking to pay for Russian crude imports in yuan, the country's power minister said last month, while earlier this year the United Arab Emirates said it was in early-stage discussions with India on ways to boost non-oil commerce in rupees.

Earlier this week the BRICS nations asked the bloc's specially created bank to provide guidance on a how a potential new shared currency might work, including how it could shield member countries from the impact of sanctions such as those imposed on Russia.

"Without a doubt, de-dollarisation is accelerating and will continue for years to come," said Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank Ltd in Singapore. "The US made a calculated decision to use the dollar to inflict pain, and there's likely to be long-term consequences." ………………………………………………………………. A silent revolution is underway, as Bangladesh and India will start using Indian rupee and Bangladeshi taka for trade purposes from September 2023.

At the same time, Bangladesh Bank will introduce a debit card called "Taka Pay Card", through which people can withdraw taka or rupee. People who travel to India will have the facility of paying through this card, said the central bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder recently.

He said, people going for treatment, students, and businessmen will benefit from this system, and they can avoid using the US dollar.

From September, India and Bangladesh will open LCs for import and export, using the Indian rupee and Bangladeshi taka.

Until now, rupee was converted into dollar, and that was converted again into rupee; the same was done with taka.

As a result, Bangladeshi and Indian citizens were losing at least six percent of rupee or taka. As the new system provides for the direct rupee to taka or taka to rupee conversion, no party will be affected, Bangladesh Bank sources said.

The offer was from the Government of India, and Bangladesh accepted it. This will eliminate the use of the US dollar from trade and personal travel purposes.

(MT Newswires) -- Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow reports better-than-expected results and adds that a new share buyback programme for investors will be introduced. He maintains that high interest rates will persist due to ongoing problems in the global and US economies, suggesting inflationary pressures and a risk of stagflation that could push gold prices higher.

In terms of corporate strategy, Bristow says that capital allocation decisions at Barrick Gold are not driven by current or short-term gold prices, but rather by a medium- to long-term outlook, aiming for stable returns regardless of market conditions.

He mentions that the company intends to broaden its portfolio beyond gold by focusing on the Reko Diq project in Pakistan, a gold and copper mine. He also explains the company's selective approach to M&A, stressing the importance of not paying an exorbitant premium that could prevent returns on investment.

Bristow sees a trend towards de-dollarisation in emerging economies, making gold attractive in order to diversify their reserves and reduce their dependence on the US dollar. ................................................

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Aid organizations

A Doctors Without Borders video shared by Amnesty International head Agnès Callamard stated, "This brutal annihilation of an entire population's health system stretches beyond what humanitarian aid can fix." On 4 December, Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric Egger visited the Gaza Strip, stating, "The things I saw there are beyond anything that anyone should be in a position to describe." On 10 December, Bushra Khalidi, an expert with Oxfam, stated the situation was no longer "just a catastrophe, it's apocalyptic."

On 11 December, the presidents of six major humanitarian organizations — CARE USA, Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam America, Refugees International, and Save the Children — penned a joint op-ed in The New York Times in which they stated, "We have seen nothing like the siege of Gaza". On 13 December, a group of Israeli human rights and civil society organizations, including B'Tselem, penned an open-letter to Joe Biden urging him to use his influence to help stop the "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Freedom House warned the humanitarian crisis was growing increasingly dire and called on the Israeli government to follow international humanitarian law.

On 27 December, an MSF representative stated, "You absolutely cannot depict this as a humanitarian response: When we cannot guarantee the safety of our teams". Mairav Zonszein, a Crisis Group analyst, stated, "It is clear Israel’s war objective is not eradicating Hamas, but eradicating the ability to live in Gaza."

British rapper Lowkey also used his Instagram platform to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza. He reported that the number of children killed in Israel's attacks has tragically . This information underscores the immense loss of innocent lives, particularly among the most vulnerable members of society.

Columbia University students Thursday walkout organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace was called 'unauthorized event' by Columbia official Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attend a protest at Columbia University in New York City, New York on Thursday, October 12, 2023. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital) COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PRAISES ‘PERSISTENCE’ OF STUDENTS ACCUSED OF ANTISEMITISM

Lebanese pop singer Elissa, from the Arab world, demonstrated her support for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza by engaging with multiple posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) that expressed solidarity with Palestine. She further expressed her solidarity by posting a tweet featuring Palestine's flag along with a quote that emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about injustice if one cannot directly alleviate it.

Irish representatives in the European Parliament have voiced their strong support for Palestine. Mick Wallace, in an interview with Anadolu, emphasized the direct connection between the violence and the occupation. He asserted that in order to put , condemning the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in Gaza and the bloc's support for it.

On November 7, R&B singer/songwriter Summer Walker took to her Instagram account, which has 6 million followers, to express her stance on the conflict. In a seven-slide text post, she condemned the genocide and execution of innocent lives in Palestine and Gaza. As an artist, particularly as a black woman artist, she admitted that she may not be well-versed in global politics but felt compelled to speak out against the targeting of children and innocent civilians under the guise of combating terrorism.

Salamati Gaza

The water supply system has been significantly damaged or rendered unusable. It has grave impact on the hygiene and sanitary condition of the population. Without access to clean water, people are forced to use contaminated water sources, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid.

"Many people injured by bombing and shelling experience fractures, requiring urgent orthopedic care to prevent irreversible complications such as pain, muscle contractions, and deformities. Additionally, many undergo amputations, underscoring the need for prompt emergency and surgical care to potentially prevent such drastic measures. Peripheral nerve damage and spinal cord injuries are also common among those injured by bombing. All these individuals will face lifelong challenges, including pain, stiffness, and psychological trauma. Many will contend with permanent or temporary physical disabilities. The lack of access to healthcare and humanitarian services exacerbates these issues,” explains Florence Daunis, International Operations Director.

On 30 October, Israel attacked the immediate surroundings of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. The Indonesian Hospital, along with Al-Shifa Hospital, is one of the largest healthcare facilities in the entire Gaza Strip. Repeated shelling around the hospital had already destroyed parts of the roof. The spokesperson of the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Ashraf Al-Qudra, stated that the attack “greatly damaged the hospital and endangered the life of hundreds of injured, patients, medical staff, journalists, as well as thousands of displaced persons taking shelter therein”. The Indonesia Hospital is currently sheltering 1,500 Palestinians who fled their homes seeking a safe place from Israel’s heavy bombardments, while some 164 patients are still hospitalized. The hospital has been working beyond its capacity and struggling with medicine and fuel shortages. As of today, 2 November, the Indonesian Hospital has run out of fuel and shut down its main generator. It is left with small power generators to keep the ventilation system and ICU units running. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza had already warned about this happening. The Indonesian Hospital and Al-Shifa Hospital together have 42 newborn babies on life support systems in incubators, 62 patients and persons injured on ventilation systems in ICU, and 650 kidney dialysis patients.

........................................... ................................ Our organizations are equally concerned about threats of a possible Israeli attack targeting Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical complex. Al Shifa Hospital, located in Gaza City, and known to be the Strip’s central and largest medical complex, is currently treating thousands of injured patients and sheltering more than 50,000 civilians with nowhere else to go.

On 27 October 2023, the spokesperson for the Israeli army incited for the targeting of the Al-Shifa Hospital. The pretext for this claim is the alleged presence of tunnels beneath it, a claim repeatedly made by Israel that has not been substantiated with any reliable evidence. Al Mezan, Al-Haq, and PCHR express concerns that this could be a prelude to justify the potential targeting of the hospital, as seen in previous incidents, potentially leading to thousands of civilian casualties.

While facing threats of being targeted, on 31 October, the Palestinian Health Ministry issued a last warning before the shutdown of the main electrical generator in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, stating that there are only a few hours left before going out of service. Moreover, while Al-Shifa Hospital is working at full capacity, some patients from the hospital’s maternity ward were transferred to Al-Hilo Hospital, in the centre of Gaza City, which was also struck by shelling on 1 November. It is reported that there are around 50,000 pregnant women in the Strip, and around 160 babies are born per day. ...................................... 10 November Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said late Friday that the health care system in Gaza is facing collapse amid heavy attacks by Israel.

“Hospitals are overwhelmed and lacking resources. We recently made a large donation of medical stock, including medicines, narcotics and medical equipment to Al Shifa hospital, the main surgical facility in the Strip,” MSF wrote on X.

“We delivered everything we had left, all our medical supplies, to Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, two days ago. We saw hundreds of people taking shelter and it was difficult to walk inside,” it quoted Loay Harb, a MSF nurse in Gaza.

“There were huge numbers of people inside the hospital; they think the hospital is a safe place, but there is no safe place. There is not enough space. There are patients who need surgery and they are laying on the ground,” said Harb.

The medical charity said it stands ready to provide further support to medical facilities in Gaza as soon as a corridor is opened for the delivery of humanitarian aid. ................................

........................................... The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital is the only medical facility in all of the Gaza Strip offering treatment to oncology patients. The Israeli military has targeted the hospital and its vicinity several times since 7 October, damaging the building and electromechanical systems, and leaving cancer patients in a state of panic. On Wednesday, 1 November, Dr. Subhi Skaik, the hospital’s director, announced that the facility was no longer functioning because of a lack of fuel and damage due to Israeli airstrikes in its vicinity over the past days. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, commented that “[n]o words can describe our concern for the patients who have just lost the only possibility to receive lifesaving cancer treatment or palliative care. I urge and I plead - for full medical and fuel aid access NOW! The more we wait, the more we put these fragile lives at risk.” The Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said on Wednesday that “[t]he lives of 70 cancer patients inside the hospital are seriously threatened.” ................................

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Oct 24, 2023 The Gazan Health Ministry revealed Tuesday that the health care system at the blockaded strip's hospitals has "totally collapsed." The announcement came following an early Tuesday warning that electric generators would cease functioning within 48 hours due to fuel shortage. "We have less than 48 hours before all electric generators in hospitals run out of fuel," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a brief statement on Telegram. He added that the mechanism followed to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza is "slow and cannot change the reality," stressing that "the health care system has reached the worst stage in its history." Earlier Monday, the ministry said that 32 health centers are out of service due to targeting by Israeli warplanes and a fuel shortage. It added that the immediate needs of hospitals must be prioritized in terms of aid distribution, urging the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross to push for allowing supplies of fuel and blood units to support the health sector in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Indonesian Hospital in Gaza was shut down as its vital facilities were disrupted Monday as a result of a power outage, according to medical sources.

Oct. 17: An explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza City causes heavy casualties and triggers outrage in the Arab world. Palestinians blame the blast on an Israeli air strike The health ministry in Gaza says 471 people were killed. ............................................... Nov. 6: U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres says Gaza is becoming a "graveyard for children", and demands a ceasefire. Palestinian health authorities say the death toll from Israeli strikes has exceeded 10,000. ...................... 02، Nov 2023 UN OCHA reported that since 7 October, nearly two-thirds (46 of 72) of primary health care clinics in Gaza have shut down due to damage or lack of fuel, increasing the pressure on the remaining health facilities that are still operational. As we write, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, almost half of the hospitals in Gaza (16 of 35) are no longer operating.

The World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that all drugs and medical supplies in Gaza are depleting, including those needed for acute and emergency care (including anaesthesia), for treatment of chronic conditions such as insulin, and lifesaving drugs for newborns, cancer patients, and those requiring intensive care. Prior to 7 October, an average of 100 patients per day were able to cross the Erez crossing, pending the issuance of an Israeli-exit permit, to access medical treatment in hospitals in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. On 1 November, 81 wounded Palestinians were reportedly allowed to cross Rafah and reach an Egyptian field hospital—a disturbing figure, considering that the number of wounded in Gaza has exceeded 22,000.

All hospitals in northern Gaza have received evacuation orders from the Israeli military, which are impossible to execute. Thousands of patients and medical staff, as well as about 117,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), are staying in these facilities. The WHO strongly condemned Israel's repeated evacuation orders, and referred to them as “a death sentence for the sick and injured”. UN OCHA reported that over the past days, the vicinity of Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals in Gaza City and the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya have been bombed by Israeli forces, causing damage. This followed renewed orders from the Israeli military to immediately evacuate all ten hospitals still operating in Gaza City and northern Gaza.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, since the beginning of its retaliatory aggression on Gaza, and as of 31 October, the Israeli military has killed 124 medical personnel and attacked and destroyed 25 ambulances. https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/22075.html

.................................................. At around 9:30 a.m. on 29 October, the Israeli army ordered the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to immediately evacuate Al-Quds Hospital, in Tal al-Hawa, south of Gaza City, pending an imminent attack. The PRSC—an independent humanitarian organization that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement—reported that since the morning, there have been repeated Israeli attacks in Tal al-Hawa and the vicinities of the hospital. The PRSC already announced that they have no means to evacuate: the hospital is currently treating hundreds of patients, including nine connected to breathing machines in the intensive care unit (ICU). Al-Quds hospital is also sheltering 14,000 civilians—mostly children and women—who have nowhere else to go. Among them, are 400 patients with chronic diseases and disabilities currently being treated at the hospital.

Due to Israel's total siege and the lack of humanitarian aid—so far largely inadequate in quantity and only distributed in southern Gaza—hospital staff, patients and civilians sheltering within the hospital premises have severe difficulty accessing food and water. Three ambulances have stopped working because of the lack of gasoline. The PRSC also reported that Israeli airstrikes are hitting and destroying buildings up to 50 meters away from the hospital, getting closer by the day. Nonstop airstrikes in recent days have caused damage to the hospital, including broken window panes and part of the ceiling collapsing. Strong tremors have also been reported in the facility due to the proximity of the bombing.

This is not the first time the Israeli military has threatened to target Al-Quds Hospital. On 20 October, the PRSC already warned that they were facing an “imminent threat” of being targeted by Israeli attacks as the Israeli army demanded the evacuation of hundreds of patients, medical and humanitarian personnel, and thousands of civilians who were already sheltering within the hospital premises.

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Support for Gaza in Oslo, Norway

.......................................................... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_in_the_2023_Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war

[[Category:Current events [[Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict [[Category:Human rights abuses in the State of Palestine [[Category:War crimes committed by country [[Category:War crimes by country [[Category:Israel Defense Forces

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According to the World Bank, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has had a devastating impact on the economy of Gaza. The report states that approximately 85% of workers in Gaza are now unemployed, causing the economy to come to a near standstill. The region is currently operating at only 16% of its productive capacity, leading to what the World Bank describes as a "deep recession".

To address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the World Bank has pledged $20 million in financial aid. This aid will be divided equally between food and medical supplies, which will be delivered through UN agencies. The report emphasizes the unprecedented scale of the damages and losses caused by the conflict. It states that as of November, around 60% of information and communications technology infrastructure, 60% or more of health and education facilities, and 70% of commerce-related infrastructure in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.

Second phase… …………………………………….. ……………………………………………………….

Mohammad Qomi ....................................................................... ..................................................................

Lebanese pop singer Elissa, from the Arab world, demonstrated her support for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza by engaging with multiple posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) that expressed solidarity with Palestine. She further expressed her solidarity by posting a tweet featuring Palestine's flag along with a quote that emphasized the importance of spreading awareness about injustice if one cannot directly alleviate it.

Irish representatives in the European Parliament have voiced their strong support for Palestine. Mick Wallace, in an interview with Anadolu, emphasized the direct connection between the violence and the occupation. He asserted that in order to put , condemning the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in Gaza and the bloc's support for it.

On November 7, R&B singer/songwriter Summer Walker took to her Instagram account, which has 6 million followers, to express her stance on the conflict. In a seven-slide text post, she condemned the genocide and execution of innocent lives in Palestine and Gaza. As an artist, particularly as a black woman artist, she admitted that she may not be well-versed in global politics but felt compelled to speak out against the targeting of children and innocent civilians under the guise of combating terrorism.

On 27 December, an MSF representative stated, "You absolutely cannot depict this as a humanitarian response: When we cannot guarantee the safety of our teams". Mairav Zonszein, a Crisis Group analyst, stated, "It is clear Israel’s war objective is not eradicating Hamas, but eradicating the ability to live in Gaza."

4 January The Palestine Red Crescent Society stated Israel bombed the home of the Central Gaza Ambulance Center director. The PRCS reported another attack on the al-Amal hospital, sending an appeal to the international community, Red Cross, and UN to protect its staff and patients.[260] One person was killed in the shelling. Doctors Without Borders stated Israeli bombing near Al-Aqsa hospital was creating dangerous conditions. An MSF doctor stated, "We had to move our wound-dressing activities from the tent in the hospital courtyard to inside the premises to protect staff and patients. From the hospital, we can hear the bombing in the neighborhoods". ..... 5 January Israeli shelling was reported near the al-Nasr Hospital. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies condemned Israel's attacks on El Amal Hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent headquarters. A total of seven people were killed and eleven wounded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States

List of mass shootings in the United States

OKLAHOMA CITY: Aug. 16 Police in Oklahoma City said a 28-year-old man fatally shot three young children — ages 9, 5 and 2 — and his estranged wife before taking his own life. Officers visited the family home following a report of a domestic disturbance. Authorities described the couple as married but separated and said police had never been called to a domestic disturbance at the home before. They added that investigators have not yet determined a motive. 4 dead 0 injured total 4 …………………………………………………………………. HAMPTON, GEORGIA: July 15 A 40-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting four people, all in their 60s, in a suburb south of Atlanta. Police said the man’s motive was not immediately clear. The killings set off a massive search that ended with a shootout that killed the man in another suburb about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away. The exchange of gunfire wounded a sheriff’s deputy and two police officers. 5 dead 3 injured total 8 …………………………………………………….. SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA: July 4 Multiple males are believed to have exchanged gunfire at an annual Independence Day block party just before midnight, leaving at least four people dead and at least seven others injured, according to police. Suspects were not quickly identified, and arrests were not immediately made. 4 dead 7 injured total 11 ……………………………………….. GREEN POND, SOUTH CAROLINA: July 2 A 33-year-old man was charged with murder in the killings of his sister-in-law and 11-year-old daughter after authorities found six people dead and one person in critical condition at a home while responding to reports of a house fire and stabbings, officials said. They did not immediately identify a motive. The man was later charged in connection with the other four deaths, according to media reports. 6 dead 1 injured total 7 ……………………………………… MESA, ARIZONA: May 26 A 20-year-old man shot four men to death and wounded a woman in a 12-hour crime spree in metro Phoenix, authorities said. He told police that he met the victims at random that day at a range of places, including a park and a convenience store, and became angry when the subject of drugs came up. 4 dead 1 injured total 5

LAKE WALES, FLORIDA: May 2 A 38-year-old man was suspected of fatally shooting a woman and her three children after police were called to an apartment complex where they found the bodies. After an hourslong standoff at a motel, police fatally shot the man. 5 dead 0 injured total 5 …………………………………………………………………………… MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA: April 30 Four people were found fatally shot inside an RV in a remote Mojave Desert community, authorities said. There were no immediate arrests, but two people were being sought for questioning as “persons of interest.” 4 dead 0 injured total 4 …………………………………………………… SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA: March 21 A 42-year-old former soldier shot and killed three children as they slept in their home while their mother frantically sought help, authorities said. He also killed an Army soldier who was at the home before killing himself. The shooter and the children’s mother were divorced. 5 dead 0 injured total 5 ………………………………… BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA: March 13 to 14 A 28-year-old man was suspected of killing four people in overnight shootings. Authorities said the man approached a police officer and said he had shot two people in Birmingham and two people in St. Clair County. 4 dead 0 injured total 4 .....................................................

DAPHNE, ALABAMA: Feb. 22 A 21-year-old man was accused of killing his grandparents, his brother and a family friend with a handgun and pickaxe. Their bodies were found in the backyard of his grandparents’ home and inside a bedroom in the house, police said. 4 dead 0 injured total 4 ………………………………………. ARKABUTLA, MISSISSIPPI: Feb. 17 A 52-year-old man shot and killed six people including his ex-wife and stepfather at multiple locations in a tiny rural community, authorities said. The man was armed with a shotgun and two handguns. A family friend said he had a history of mental illness. One victim was shot and killed while sitting in a pickup truck outside a convenience store. 6 dead 0 injured total 6 ………………………………………………………………………

Children … Right to Health Care In Palestine, the infant mortality rate is seven times higher than that of Israel. Indeed, 22 ‰ of Palestinian children die before the age of five. The causes of this high infant mortality rate are varied: anemia, nutritional deficiencies or even severe malnutrition.

Access to health care services can prove extremely problematic in Palestine due to the presence of the wall and checkpoints. Testimonies have been recorded of cases where families found themselves blocked by the Israeli army when they wanted to go to a hospital for treatment of their sick children. Sometimes, if medical treatment is delayed, the outcome can be fatal. During the conflict, many hospitals or clinics were also destroyed, depriving children of their right to health. ……………………………………………………………………………………. RAMALLAH, 29 October – The number of children reported killed in Gaza in just three weeks has surpassed the annual number of children killed across the world's conflict zones since 2019, Save the Children said.

Since October 7, at least 3195 in Gaza, 33 in the West Bank, have been reported killed, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza respectively. The number of children reported killed in just three weeks in Gaza is more than the number killed in armed conflict globally – across more than 20 countries – over the course of a whole year, for the last three years.

Children make up more than 40% of the 7703 people killed in Gaza, With a further 1000 children reported missing in Gaza assumed buried under the rubble, the death toll is likely much higher.

On Friday, Israeli forces announced "expanded ground operations" in the Gaza Strip, with Save the Children warning it will bring more deaths, injuries and distress while calling for an immediate ceasefire. …………………………………………………………………………… Human rights groups have long criticized the workings of Israel’s military law, a legal framework that is selectively applied to Palestinians living in occupied territories, while Israeli settlers hold increased rights under civil law. Save the Children reported that 86 percent of children are beaten in Israeli detention, while 69 percent are strip-searched and 42 percent are subject to injuries during their arrests. ……………………………… The Traumatic Arrests of Children Many Palestinian children are arrested during night raids and some are held in administrative detention, without trial or sentence. Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights says there are “myriad serious human rights concerns” about these practices.

“These include the prevalence of traumatic night-time arrests raids against children in their family home; children being painfully hand-tied, blindfolded, transferred to detention on the floor of a military vehicle, and subjected to physical and verbal abuse by Israeli soldiers,” LPHR’s director and principal lawyer Tareq Shrourou tells TIME. He adds that these systematic violations are in violation of the U.N. Conventions on the Rights of the Child, as ratified by Israel in 1991.

The current conflict in the Gaza Strip, which started on 7 October 2023, has been the deadliest of hostilities involving the Gaza Strip and Israel (Oxfam 11/01/2024; UNICEF 21/12/2023; RSF 31/10/2023). As at 28 January 2024, at least 10,000 of the 26,400 people killed since in Gaza were Palestinian children (OCHA 29/01/2024; STC 11/01/2024). As at 24 October 2023, the daily estimate of children killed or injured was 400 (UNICEF 24/10/2023). As at 20 January 2024, almost one million children were estimated to be internally displaced within Gaza. Most were in the southern Rafah governorate bordering Egypt, currently the most populated governorate in the Gaza Strip (PRCS 15/01/2024; STC 22/12/2023; OCHA 18/01/2024). Before the current hostilities, children comprised 47% (1.1 million) of Gaza’s population; since 7 October 2023, the conflict has affected nearly all of them. Children are exposed to death, injury, and the loss of family and homes, and they endure physical and psychological trauma (OCHA 14/01/2024; STC 11/01/2024). The conflict has led to the destruction of safe spaces such as schools and hospitals and the denial of humanitarian aid access, leaving children in overcrowded shelters with limited access to essential goods and services (STC 11/01/2024; UN accessed 27/12/2023). The hostilities particularly affect children under five years old, displaced children, unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), and children with disabilities or with family members with disabilities because they often are unable to flee attacks and are at high risk of abandonment, malnutrition, and trauma (ICRC 11/2022; Rotenberg et al. 10/01/2024). …………………………………………………………………. • Exposure to violence, loss of relatives, food deprivation, and lack of water since 7 October 2023 have increased the mental health and psychosocial needs of children. Children are experiencing anxiety and sleep deprivation, among other traumas. The psychological consequences are likely to have long-term effects, such as developmental issues. • As at 24 January 2024, nearly 1.7 million displaced people, close to 50% (850,000) of whom were children, were staying in emergency collective shelters (UNRWA and public shelters), in informal sites close to UNRWA shelters and distribution sites, and with host families (UNRWA 25/01/2024; UNICEF accessed 24/01/2024; STC 22/12/2023). Despite being UN shelters, UNRWA facilities have been attacked on multiple instances, leaving no safe spaces for children. • The lack of shelters and safe spaces for children exposes them to violence and protection, nutrition, and health risks. Israeli forces have designated Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip as a safe zone that Palestinians from the north were instructed to evacuate to, but military operations have also targeted these zones (Al Jazeera 24/01/2024; PBS 07/12/2023). The intense Israeli bombardments and fighting in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah have coerced a significant number of IDPs to move further south (UNRWA 24/01/2024). • Damage to water systems and drinking water contamination have resulted in a water shortage, putting children at high risk of dehydration and waterborne diseases. It is estimated that children only access an average of 1.5–2L of water every day, well below the recommended requirements for survival (UNICEF 20/12/2023). • Without a ceasefire allowing for an adequate humanitarian response, children will continue to have immediate and long-term needs resulting from the hostilities. • According to WHO, diseases have more potential to cause fatalities than direct military conflicts in the long run, as the rates of infectious diseases are soaring (NPR 26/12/2023). The cold weather, heavy rainfall, and subsequent flooding increase the risks of respiratory diseases, such as pneumonia and hypothermia, and waterborne diseases, including bacterial infections and diarrhoea, among children (UN 14/12/2023; NYT 11/12/2023). • The number of dead, wounded, and orphaned children in Gaza increases every day, and humanitarian workers continue to lack access to granular information because of communication disruptions (OCHA 14/01/2024 and 04/01/2024; The Guardian 22/12/2023). ………………………………………………..

In October alone, more children were reported to have died in Gaza than the total number of children killed annually in all other conflicts since 2019. The awful statistic led to United Nations Secretary General António Guterres calling Gaza a “graveyard for children”. …………………………………………..

According to statistics cited by Al Jazeera television, about four children die every hour because of the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip. More than 816,000 children in Palestine require the help of specialists "due to the consequences of the Israeli aggression, which led to psychological trauma, caused fear, anxiety, depression," the report emphasizes.

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More than 800 schools are estimated to have been bombed or destroyed in five months of war between Israel and Hamas. 

........................................................ Around 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been internally displaced – half of them children. They do not have enough access to water, food, fuel and medicine. More than 600,000 children are trapped in Rafah alone, with nowhere safe to go. Their homes have been destroyed; their families torn apart. .................................................................

More children have been reported killed in Israel's war raging in Gaza than in four years of conflict around the world, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said Tuesday. The number of children reported killed in just over 4 months in #Gaza is higher than the number of children killed in 4 years of wars around the world combined," Philippe Lazzarini said on X, formerly Twitter. .................................................................. ................................................ Some children in Gaza are going to sleep thinking they may die amid the ongoing fighting in the Israel-Hamas war, according to an official with the U.N. organization focused on delivering aid to children. "You lie in bed and the building shakes and you feel like you're lying in a coffin," UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, speaking from Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, told ABC News on March 27. "You don't know what's going to happen, if you're going to get hit."