November 16, 2023

*) UNSC calls for 'humanitarian pauses' as Israel issues ultimatum for south Gaza residents The UN Security Council has called for "extended humanitarian pauses" in besieged Gaza, the first time it has broken its silence since the start of Israel’s brutal war on the blockaded Palestinian enclave. The resolution was prepared by Malta and adopted with 12 votes in favour. Three states abstained — the United States, Britain and Russia. The resolution "calls for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout besieged Gaza for a sufficient number of days" to allow aid to reach civilians in the blockaded territory.*) Israel raids Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital for second time The Israeli army has attacked Gaza's largest hospital for the second time in two days and claimed it found weapons and a Hamas command centre. Hamas government denies the claim and Human Rights Watch says it cannot independently verify if Hamas was operating from within the Al Shifa compound. According to reports from inside Al Shifa, Israeli soldiers carried out search operations and interrogated patients and doctors. Meanwhile, the United States has denied giving Israel a green light for a raid on the hospital. *) First fuel truck enters Gaza since October 7th A truck has delivered fuel to Gaza for the first time since fighting began on October 7th. It delivered around 23 thousand litres of fuel, but it's not nearly enough to bring any relief to Palestinians. Israel allowed the limited amount of fuel to enter on the condition it will be used only for UN aid trucks — not hospitals, water treatment plants or sewage pumping stations. *) Russia alleges Ukraine officials embezzled 20-36% of Western aid Meanwhile in the war in Ukraine, Russia has claimed that 20 percent and 36 percent of all financial aid provided to Kiev by the West allies has been misappropriated by Ukrainian officials. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova made the claim about “former senior officials of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry”, T