Palestinians forced to flee northern Gaza

SBS Australia

14 hours ago

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts .
TRANSCRIPT
Palestinians forced to flee northern Gaza amid new evacuation orders
Torrential rain and potential floods forecast for parts of eastern Australia
The Matildas tie with Slovenia in a nail-biting match for the women's friendlies Palestinian families have fled from northern Gaza, following new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army. It covers the Jabalia area and most Gaza City districts. The health ministry in Gaza says at least 86 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours. In Gaza City, Sariah Badrah says she is taking all that she can carry. "They want to destroy the square, so we fled, and our children are fleeing behind us. They are taking only a few things to get out of the house in the morning and at night, while the shells fall like rain. The F16s fire, the tanks fire and the drones attack. May God be with us." The military escalation comes as US backed mediators, Egypt and Qatar begin a new ceasefire effort to halt the 20-month-old conflict and secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas. Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump repeated calls for parties to "make the deal in Gaza" and "get the hostages back". Ukraine's President has signed a decree putting his war-torn country on track to leave an international anti-landmine treaty. The decree - appearing on the president's website - calls for support for Ukraine's proposal to withdraw the country from the Ottawa Convention, signed by more than 160 countries and territories. It bans signatories from acquiring, producing, stockpiling or using anti-personnel mines, which are designed to be buried or hidden on the ground. Unexploded mines cause long-term risks for civilians. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the withdrawal must still be ratified by the Ukrainian parliament - and notified to the United Nations. "Russia was never part of this Convention, and it is using anti-personnel mines with utmost cynicism. To destroy life by all means at their disposal. Also in the mix are all kinds of mines including anti-personnel ones. We take this political step and by doing so give a signal to all our political partners on what to focus on. Anti-personnel mines are the instrument which often cannot be substituted by something else for defence purposes." A former Greens candidate who took on the Prime Minister for his seat in the federal election, has been charged by police for her role in an pro-Palestinian protest. Hannah Thomas sustained injuries to her face and eye, in what New South Wales police described in a statement, as a "scuffle between police and protesters." Ms Thomas was in a group rallying outside an Israeli business in southwest Sydney on Friday, when police attempted to move her and others. The Greens Party has accused police of violently attacking and assaulting protesters and has called for an investigation into police use of force. Four people have already been charged with a series of offences. Ms Thomas will contest the charges against her, of hinder/resist police and refuse/fail to comply with direction to disperse. She will appear in Bankstown Local Court on August 12. The Bureau of Meteorology says a powerful low pressure system will drench and batter parts of New South Wales and Victoria through the week, bringing heavy rainfall and potential flooding. The Bureau has issued warnings for totals which could exceed 200 millimetres in parts of eastern New South Wales, including Sydney on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wild and hazardous surf conditions are also on the cards. Senior bureau forecaster Angus Hines says persistent rainfall in the region could result in flooding and eastern rivers rising. "But even away from rivers, we could see flash flooding, which is just where the rainfall overwhelms any chance of drainage and we could see flooding anywhere. That could mean inundation of homes, properties, businesses, roads and streets. And that could of coarse lead to dangerous driving conditionse." In football, the Matildas' second game against Slovenia in Perth has resulted in a draw of 1-all. After a scoreless opening half, the Australians secured a deserved breakthrough five minutes after the break - when Remy Seimsen set Ellie Carpenter up to float a cutback to Michelle Heyman, who placed a side-footed volley into the net. In the last eight minutes, the Slovenians made a spirited comeback. Matildas coach Joe Montemurro says the players are showing improved confidence.
"They're starting to understand the performance of preparing to go forward. And they were picking the moments to go forward, which was great. And that means we're inviting pressure and we're comfortable under pressure. And the belief is coming. So yeah, I am very happy with the performance; very happy with the performance."