logo
Israeli strikes leave 44 dead across Palestinian territory

Israeli strikes leave 44 dead across Palestinian territory

Express Tribune07-04-2025
Gaza's civil defence agency said that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory on Sunday killed at least 44 people and wounded dozens more.
"The death toll as a result of Israeli air strikes since dawn today is at least 44, including 21 in Khan Yunis," the Gaza Strip's main southern city, agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Morocco's capital on Sunday against the conflict in the Gaza Strip where Israel has resumed its anti-Hamas offensive after a two-month ceasefire.
The largest pro-Palestinian protest in the capital Rabat for several months was called by the Islamist-dominated coalition the Justice and Development party.
Protesters were accompanied by chanting and the beating of drums as they marched down the city's Mohammed V Avenue near parliament.
They waved flags including one bearing the image of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. Children carried white shrouds stained in red to symbolise the thousands of young victims killed in the Palestinian territory during a year and a half of war.
Israel's military resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, and since then, more than 1,330 people have been killed in the territory, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
The overall death toll since the war erupted now stands at 50,695, according to the Gaza health ministry.
On Sunday, demonstrators chanted slogans including "The people want the liberation of Palestine!", called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a criminal, and demanded an end to the siege of Gaza and for aid to be allowed in.
There were also calls for Morocco's relations with Israel, re-established in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, to be scrapped, with protesters calling such ties "treason".
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Syria sets date for selection of new transitional parliament
Syria sets date for selection of new transitional parliament

Express Tribune

timean hour ago

  • Express Tribune

Syria sets date for selection of new transitional parliament

Syrian authorities announced on Sunday that a new transitional parliament would be selected in September, with local electoral bodies picking two-thirds of the lawmakers and the country's interim president naming the rest. After toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of civil war, Syria's new authorities — led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa — dissolved the country's rubber-stamp legislature and adopted a temporary constitutional declaration to cover a five-year transition period. In June, a presidential decree established a 10-member committee to supervise the formation of local electoral bodies to select a new batch of lawmakers. State news agency SANA reported on Sunday that committee head Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad had met with Sharaa to discuss the process, later announcing plans for a new 210-seat parliament with 140 members chosen by the local bodies and 70 appointed by the president. "The election of members of the People's Assembly is expected to take place between 15-20 September," Ahmad was quoted as saying, vowing women would be represented in the process. Ahmad's committee presented Sharaa with the final plan for the selection process during a meeting on Saturday, according to a statement from the presidency. AFP

27 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes
27 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes

Express Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

27 Palestinians dead in Israeli strikes

Gaza civil defence agency said Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. However, Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited "tactical pause" in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was 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". But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were "enduring famine-like conditions" that were already leading to deaths. The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu "to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now." Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of "mass starvation". Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled. The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi warned that the supply could prove insufficient. "Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops," she said. "What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza. "We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege." In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her "life's wish" was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily.

Pakistan reaffirms balanced ties with US, China
Pakistan reaffirms balanced ties with US, China

Express Tribune

time2 hours ago

  • Express Tribune

Pakistan reaffirms balanced ties with US, China

Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to maintaining strong relations with both China and the United States, stressing that its partnership with Washington should not be seen through the lens of its close ties with Beijing. Addressing the Pakistani community at the Consulate General in New York, Dar highlighted the country's diplomatic resurgence on the global stage, saying Pakistan had emerged from a period of diplomatic isolation and was now witnessing signs of economic revival. He called upon the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps toward resolving long-standing conflicts, particularly Palestine and the Jammu and Kashmir. "These disputes are critical for global peace," he said, stressing that the OIC, as the world's second-largest multilateral body, must transition from a symbolic role to a decisive one. He reiterated Pakistan's stance that a two-state solution remained the only viable resolution to the Palestinian crisis. Dar termed the UN Security Council Resolution 2788 a diplomatic victory for Pakistan. The resolution, adopted unanimously under Pakistan's presidency, focuses on "strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of disputes". On Pakistan-India relations, Dar expressed Islamabad's willingness to engage in talks if invited, stating that resolving the Kashmir issue could unlock regional development, tourism, and investment. "Pakistan is ready for US mediation, but India's consent is necessary," he said. "If the US plays a proactive role, Kashmir dispute could be resolved," the foreign minister told the gathering. He welcomed the possibility of US President Donald Trump's visit to Pakistan, but said that any formal announcement would be made by both the countries. He reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to defend its sovereignty and regional stability, recalling the country's firm and resolute response during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos that led to the downing of six Indian aircraft. He praised the unity demonstrated by the nation and the diaspora during that critical moment. Rejecting India's allegations against Pakistan, Dar stated that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had already been dismantled, while the US had not provided evidence against the so-called "TRF" – the outfit India had blamed for the Pahalgam attack in April. On regional situation, Dar emphasised Pakistan's outreach to Afghanistan with a view to enhancing regional connectivity through rail and trade corridors to Central Asia. He hoped Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism, noting the recent assurances received from the Afghan authorities in that regard. He also mentioned Pakistan's diplomatic efforts for de-escalating the Iran-Israel hostilities. He said the Iranian president would visit Pakistan soon. He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. Economic recovery Painting an optimistic outlook, Dar noted a sharp decline in inflation from 40% to 2.4% as of January 2025, crediting government policies and international engagement. "The global credit rating agencies have acknowledged Pakistan's improved macroeconomic outlook," he said. He outlined key government initiatives, particularly the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), designed to streamline investment procedures and unlock opportunities in priority sectors. He said that Pakistan aspired to join the G-20. He told the Pakistani-American diaspora that the country had successfully completed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. He invited the diaspora to actively contribute to Pakistan's development, particularly in investment, trade, education, and digital innovation. The DPM assured the community that the government was actively working toward an early resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights, including steps toward restoring routes to Europe and the United Kingdom, in line with international aviation compliance standards. Concluding his address, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan's belief in diplomacy and dialogue, citing its UN Security Council presidency and efforts to promote peaceful dispute resolution. He also reiterated Pakistan's push for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, imprisoned in the US. "Pakistan is no longer isolated — we have friends across the world," Dar declared, underscoring the nation's renewed global standing and economic resurgence under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)

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