There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations, possible atrocity crimes in #Gaza – UN #Human#Rights Chief

“...Our monitoring indicates that this unprecedented level of killing, and injury of civilians is a direct consequence of the failure to comply with fundamental principles of international #humanitarian #law – namely the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack...”

#Genocide #War #Palestine #Israel #Rights #Peace

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/there-must-be-due-reckoning-horrific-violations-possible-atrocity-crimes

#Lebanon: #UN agencies call for #ceasefire as #war worsens dire conditions https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2024/11/1156446

The #humanitarian situation in Lebanon has surpassed the #devastation wrought by the war with #Israel in 2006, UN agencies said on Saturday, publishing the latest updates from the ground amid calls for an immediate ceasefire.

V BBC Paul Adams:
' #Biden pledged $100m in #humanitarian assistance for the #Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

He restated his admin’s commitment to peace between #Israel and the #Palestinians, allowing the two peoples to live in security and dignity.

Israel, he said, did not live 'by the rule of terrorists' but by the rule of law. Israel, he said, needed to be clear about its objectives. That required “an honest assessment about whether the path you’re on will achieve those objectives".

He explained President #Sisi had agreed to open up the #Rafah crossing to allow up to 20 trucks of #humanitarian assistance into #Gaza.

Biden said: “If -Hamas confiscates them or doesn’t let it get through … then it’s going to end.”

“The bottom line is Sisi deserves a lot of credit.”

Recap:
US President Joe #Biden left Israel after a show of support - he will make a public address from the White House on Thursday evening

Egypt's president has agreed to open up the #Rafah crossing to allow in up to 20 trucks of #humanitarian aid into #Gaza

the huge blast that ripped through a crowded area at the Al-#Ahli hospital killed 471 people acc to #Palestinian health officials

Israel strongly denies any involvement the hospital explosion in Gaza

#UN Sec general Guterres has called for an "immediate #humanitarian ceasefire" in the #Israel - #Gaza war.

"I call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire... to ease the epic human suffering we are witnessing," he said, "Too many lives, and the fate of the entire region hang in the balance."

Analysis v #BBC's Jeremy Bowen:
On all fronts now - the #humanitarian situation in #Gaza; the military situation between #Israel and Gaza, the political situation across the region - things are escalating very quickly and this is a very volatile and difficult time.

Everything is showing as critical – red lights are flashing all over the Middle East – and #Biden is flying into the heart of all of this. (Cont.)

V Haaretz
France condemns the attack on the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in #Gaza, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"France condemns the attack on the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, which made so many Palestinian victims. Our thoughts are with them. All the light must be shed on the circumstances," the French president said.

" #Humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip must be opened back without delay," he said.

Good morning, it is nearly 7 AM in the Middle East - some overnight developments:
Joe Biden will visit #Israel on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced. Biden will coordinate with #Israeli partners to secure the release of hostages taken by #Hamas, and hear from Israel how it would conduct its operations in a way that minimises civilian casualties and allow #humanitarian aid to flow into #Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas

#UNRWA 's Philippe Lazzarini says his agency is no longer able to provide #humanitarian assistance to #Gaza. The number of people seeking shelter in UNRWA facilities in the south is 'overwhelming, 14 members of his org. have been killed, and Gaza is running out of body bags'.
“Last week’s attack on #Israel was horrendous. The attack and the taking of #hostages are a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. But the answer to killing civilians cannot be to kill more civilians"

V madamasr:
' #Egypt is on the verge of accepting an agreement that would allow foreigners and dual nationals to traverse the #Rafah crossing into North #Sinai , having set as a precondition the approval of the entry of #humanitarian #aid into the #Gaza Strip, according to informed sources'
https://www.madamasr.com/en/2023/10/15/feature/politics/under-pressure-egypt-inclined-to-accept-israel-us-push-to-host-palestinians-potentially-displaced-by-israeli-offensive/

#Russia has asked the United Nations' Security Council #UNSC to vote on Monday on a draft resolution on the #Israel - #Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and "all acts of terrorism", Reuters news agency said

The draft resolution calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected #humanitarian #ceasefire, the secure release of all #hostages, and the distribution of humanitarian assistance and the safe evacuation of civilians in need

The #European Commission said it will immediately triple #humanitarian assistance for #Gaza

That's an extra 50m euros - for a total of 75m euros. The #EU is already the largest foreign donor to the #Palestinian people.

"It is essential that safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid is ensured", a stmt urged

With Gaza now under a complete #Israeli blockade and after five days of bombardment, the #humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

Pressure is mounting for the establishment of safe corridors to allow aid and medicine into the #Gaza strip, as well as allow #Palestinians to leave

UN has said that more than 338,000 people have been displaced in Gaza
#Israel #hamas

V madamasr:
#Sinai prepares for potential massive #humanitarian fallout as #Israel prepares escalation on #Gaza - Hospitals in north Sinai are on alert to receive wounded from #Gaza

#Gaza 's #power plant will run out of #fuel in 10 to 12 hours, the head of the Palestinian Energy Authority told Voice of Palestine radio.
Israel cut off its electricity supply to Gaza on Monday, as it declared a "complete siege". It said food, fuel and water supplies would also be cut.

About 80% of people in Gaza relied on #humanitarian aid even before the latest war began.

On Wednesday, #UNRWA said nearly half a million people have not been able to get their food rations since Saturday.