logo
Over 680,000 Palestinians forced to relocate amid continuing Israeli strikes

Over 680,000 Palestinians forced to relocate amid continuing Israeli strikes

Express Tribune19-06-2025
A girl is walking through demolished school in Gaza. PHOTO: REUTERS
Listen to article
The United Nations announced on Wednesday that more than 680,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced across Gaza in the past three months as Israeli military operations continue to intensify.
At a press briefing, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric cited the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), revealing that on Tuesday, Israeli authorities issued a new displacement order affecting hundreds of families in the Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah areas.
Dujarric highlighted that five primary healthcare centres and three medical points are located within 1,000 metres of the newly designated evacuation zones.
OCHA further noted that the expanded displacement zone now covers an additional three square kilometres, bringing the total area under displacement orders or within Israeli-militarised zones to more than 82 per cent of Gaza.
The mass displacement has accelerated sharply, with nearly 250,000 people forced to flee in the past 30 days alone, according to the UN.
Since October 2023, Israel has conducted a fierce offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in over 55,600 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict.
Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military actions in the territory.
Attacks on aid sites continue
Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency reported that at least 33 people were killed on June 18 by Israeli fire, including 11 civilians queuing for humanitarian aid.
Over 100 others were wounded during an attack on a food distribution point in central Gaza, spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
The Israeli military said its troops fired warning shots after spotting 'a group of suspicious individuals' near the area, but were unaware of any injuries.
The incident occurred amid severe shortages of food, fuel, and water in Gaza, where Israel's blockade has remained largely in place since March.
On the same day, the civil defence agency said 19 more people were killed in three Israeli strikes targeting homes and a tent sheltering displaced persons.
The military said these strikes aimed to dismantle Hamas' military capabilities.
Bassal also reported three deaths from an Israeli airstrike northeast of Gaza City.
AFP could not independently verify casualty figures due to media restrictions and security concerns.
The report followed Tuesday's attack near an aid centre in Khan Yunis, where at least 53 people were killed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Thailand and Cambodia to hold peace talks after more border clashes
Thailand and Cambodia to hold peace talks after more border clashes

Business Recorder

time2 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Thailand and Cambodia to hold peace talks after more border clashes

SAMRAONG, (Cambodia): Thailand and Cambodia's leaders will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on Monday, as the countries clashed for a fourth day in a deadly border dispute. At least 34 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced as the countries, both popular tourist destinations, fight over a smattering of contested border temples. Bangkok announced on Sunday that acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet for talks mediated by Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs the ASEAN regional bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are members. Anwar said the expected talks were to focus on an immediate ceasefire between the two fighting neighbours. 'They (government representatives of Cambodia and Thailand) have asked me to try and negotiate a peace settlement,' the Bernama national news agency quoted Anwar as saying late Sunday. 'I'm discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire,' the Malaysian premier said. Cambodia has not commented on the planned talks, which are due to begin at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT). US President Donald Trump, who spoke to both leaders late Saturday, said they had agreed to 'quickly work out' a ceasefire. Trump has threatened both nations with eye-watering levies in his global tariff blitz unless they agree to independent trade deals. 'When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!' he wrote on social media. Fresh artillery clashes erupted on Sunday morning near two long-contested ancient temples in the frontier region between northern Cambodia and northeast Thailand which has seen the bulk of the fighting. Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thai forces began attacking areas around the temples at 4:50 am. 'We rushed to leave the house this morning,' said 61-year-old Thai border resident Maefah, rearranging bin bags of her family's belongings in the back of a truck stopped at a petrol station in Surin province. 'All of my neighbours have already left. And we didn't feel safe to stay any longer,' she said, declining to give her surname. The regular thump of artillery rattled windows in the Cambodian town of Samraong, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the front line, AFP journalists said. Thai army deputy spokesman Ritcha Suksuwanon said Cambodian forces began firing artillery around 4:00 am as the two sides battled for control of strategic positions. With the conflict enflaming nationalist sentiments, Thailand issued a warning to its own citizens to 'refrain from any kind of violence, whether in speech or action' against Cambodian migrants living in the country. Cambodia's Hun Manet on Sunday said his country 'agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces'. After Trump's call, Phumtham said he had agreed in principle to enter a ceasefire and start talks. But on Sunday each side blamed the other again for undermining peace efforts. The Thai foreign ministry accused Cambodian forces of firing shells into civilian homes in Surin province. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith,' the ministry said. Meanwhile Cambodia's defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata denied that its forces fired first and accused Thailand of 'deliberate and coordinated acts of aggression'. The border dispute erupted into combat on Thursday with jets, tanks and ground troops battling in the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice. Thailand says eight of its soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The conflict has forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, and 80,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. The Cambodian government has also accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Bangkok has accused Phnom Penh of targeting hospitals.

Israel seeking to deport activists detained on Gaza-bound boat: NGO
Israel seeking to deport activists detained on Gaza-bound boat: NGO

Business Recorder

time8 hours ago

  • Business Recorder

Israel seeking to deport activists detained on Gaza-bound boat: NGO

PORT OF ASHDOD: Israel is seeking to deport pro-Palestinian activists who were detained and brought to shore when their Gaza-bound boat was intercepted by the navy, a legal aid centre advising them said on Sunday. The 21 activists from 10 countries were taken into custody late Saturday when the Handala was boarded in international waters as it attempted to breach an Israeli maritime blockade of the Palestinian territory. The Handala and its crew from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) were brought to the port of Ashdod in Israel, where, according to the legal rights centre Adalah, all but two – a pair of dual US-Israeli nationals – were being held under Israeli immigration law. New Gaza-bound aid boat leaves Italy 'Israel is handling the custody of the volunteers as though they had entered the country illegally – even though they were forcibly taken from international waters and brought into Israel against their will,' Adalah said in a statement after its lawyers were allowed to meet the detainees. 'The authorities presented them with two options: either agree to so-called 'voluntary deportation', or remain in detention and appear before a tribunal, to have their continued detention pending deportation reviewed,' the statement continued. According to Adalah, three detainees – an Italian, an American and a French member of parliament, Gabrielle Cathala – agreed to be deported and are expected to leave Israel in the coming hours. The US-Israeli nationals were interrogated by Israeli police and released, while 12 international activists – including another left-wing French MP, Emma Fourreau – refused to sign voluntary deportation orders and are still in Israeli custody pending legal hearings. The remaining four detainees, including a pair of Al Jazeera journalists, have retained private counsel. 'Peaceful' mission Adalah reiterated that the activists were engaged in a 'peaceful civilian mission', and maintained that both their detention and the Israeli blockade of Gaza were illegal. The Israeli foreign ministry has said the navy stopped the Handala to prevent it from entering coastal waters off Gaza, noting after its intecerption that all the vessel's 'passengers are safe'. Just before midnight local time on Saturday, video streamed live from the Handala showed Israeli troops boarding the vessel. An online tracker showed the ship in international waters west of Gaza. The ship had been on course to try to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza and bring a small quantity of humanitarian aid to the territory's Palestinian residents. The Handala's crew had said before their capture in a post on X that they would go on hunger strike if the Israeli military intercepted the boat and detained its passengers. A previous boat sent by Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was also intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters on June 9 and towed to Ashdod. It carried 12 campaigners, including prominent Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The activists were eventually expelled by Israel.

Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid airdrops begin
Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid airdrops begin

Express Tribune

time11 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Israel announces daily pauses in Gaza fighting as aid airdrops begin

An airplane drops humanitarian aid over Gaza as seen from northern Gaza Strip July 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters Listen to article Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world. Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which the government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have broken off with no deal in sight. Military activity will stop from 10 am to 8 pm (0700-1700 GMT) until further notice in Al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area along the coast, in central Deir al-Balah and in Gaza City, to the north. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday in their first airdrop in months, a Jordanian official source said. Read More: Gaza bound aid ship intercepted as Israel announces partial humanitarian pause The official said the air drops were not a substitute for delivery by land. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes. The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6 am and 11 pm starting from Sunday. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the designated areas. Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through. In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window. — Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) July 27, 2025 "Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," he said on X. Health officials at Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa Hospitals in the central Gaza Strip said Israeli firing killed at least 17 people and wounded 50 waiting for aid trucks on Sunday. Israel's military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Dozens of Gazans have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. Also Read: UNRWA belittles Gaza aid airdrops proposal The ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133 including 87 children. On Saturday, a five-month-old baby, Zainab Abu Haleeb, died of malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, health workers said. "Three months inside the hospital and this is what I get in return, that she is dead," said her mother, Israa Abu Haleeb, standing next to the baby's father as he held their daughter's body wrapped in a white shroud. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying over 1,200 metric tons of food to southern Gaza on Sunday. A Palestinian official source said on Sunday afternoon that trucks were still being inspected at Kerem Shalom and had not yet entered Gaza. Aid groups said last week there was mass hunger among Gaza's 2.2 million people and international alarm over the humanitarian situation has increased, driving French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state in September. Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, July 27, 2025. Photo: Reuters A group of 25 states including Britain, France and Canada last week condemned the "drip feeding of aid" and said Israel's denial of essential humanitarian aid was unacceptable. Israel, which cut off aid to Gaza from the start of March and reopened it with new restrictions in May, says it is committed to allowing in aid but must control it to prevent it from being diverted by militants. It says it has let enough food into Gaza during the war and blames Hamas for the suffering of Gaza's people. Israel and the US appeared on Friday to abandon ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, saying the militants did not want a deal. Hope, uncertainty Many Gazans expressed some relief at Sunday's announcement, but said fighting must end permanently. "People are happy that large amounts of food aid will come into Gaza," said Tamer Al-Burai, a business owner. "We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue to allow the entry of humanitarian supplies whatever path it took, and it was making progress on both fighting and negotiations. "We will continue to fight, we will continue to act until we achieve all of our war goals - until complete victory," he said. Read: Six killed, scores injured in Indian temple stampede Hamas denounced the Israeli measures to allow more aid into Gaza, saying Israel was continuing its military offensive. "What is happening isn't a humanitarian truce," said Hamas official Ali Baraka in a statement on Sunday. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the aid decision was made without his involvement. He called it a capitulation to Hamas' deceitful campaign and repeated his call to choke off all aid to Gaza, conquer the territory and encourage Palestinians to leave. A spokesperson for Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a question about Ben-Gvir's comments. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive has killed nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials, reduced much of the enclave to ruins and displaced nearly the entire population.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store