The Israeli military killed more than 40 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including 35 in Gaza City, where a major offensive continues despite threats of sanctions against Israel.
Four more Palestinians have also died from acute malnutrition over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths from Israel’s forced starvation policy to 435, including 147 children.
On the other hand, Hamas has issued a statement urging worldwide protests on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to demand an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the lifting of the blockade that has unleashed famine in the Palestinian territory.
The group called on “all free people” to escalate global demonstrations in solidarity with Gaza’s population, and to protest “genocide, starvation, and forced displacement”.
The statement encouraged rallies outside Israeli and US embassies and urged unions, students and lawmakers to intensify pressure campaigns to reopen border crossings and allow humanitarian aid into the battered enclave.
Hamas also called for support for the next humanitarian aid flotilla headed to Gaza, warning Israel not to target it. The group said the coming days should mark “a new phase” of international mobilisation aimed at stopping the war and ending the siege.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on the latest call for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access to Gaza, a move supported by a majority seeking to act despite repeated United States vetoes.
