Israeli Strike Kills 51, Palestinian Media Reports: Arab World and US Divided on Ceasefire

Latest Developments: Israeli Attack on Gaza Refugee Camp Leaves 51 Dead, Arab World Calls for Ceasefire

In a tragic turn of events, the Israeli military has been accused of attacking a Gaza refugee camp, resulting in the deaths of 51 individuals, the majority of whom were women and children. Palestinian news agency WAFA broke the news, while the United States and Israel rejected calls for a ceasefire from the Arab world.

As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets across the globe on Saturday, demanding an end to the month-long war. According to WAFA, the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip was targeted by an Israeli bombardment on Saturday night. However, the authenticity of this report could not be independently verified.

The Israeli military has yet to respond to requests for comment, but they maintain that their operations are aimed at Hamas militants rather than civilians. They further argue that Hamas is using the residents as human shields. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, confirmed that a significant number of people were killed in the attack and many more were severely injured.

Health officials in Gaza have reported that over 9,488 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 individuals and the capture of over 240 others.

In an attempt to address the escalating violence, foreign ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Amman on Saturday to urge Washington to convince Israel to agree to a ceasefire. However, Blinken dismissed the idea, stating that it would only benefit Hamas by allowing them to regroup and launch further attacks.

The United States had proposed localised pauses in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid and the safe evacuation of people from the densely populated Gaza Strip. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected this proposal during his meeting with Blinken on Friday in Tel Aviv.

Blinken is scheduled to visit Turkey on Sunday to discuss the conflict, marking his second trip to the region since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reignited. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, condemned Israeli actions as “war crimes” and called for an immediate end to the violence.

Israel’s tactics in the conflict have included airstrikes on Gaza, blockading the area, and launching a ground assault, prompting global concern over the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory.

In response to the ongoing violence, pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in cities such as London, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Jakarta, and Washington, with protesters demanding an immediate ceasefire. Tens of thousands gathered in Washington to denounce President Joe Biden’s approach to the war and to call for an end to the bloodshed. Demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as “Palestinian Lives Matter,” “Let Gaza Live,” and “Their Blood Is On Your Hands.”

In Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed the government’s support for the Palestinian people and announced plans for a second shipment of aid.

The deteriorating situation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has raised concerns that the region could become a third front in the wider conflict, alongside the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah forces in the north of the country. Blinken acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that perpetrators must be held accountable. The West Bank has seen a significant increase in violence this year, resulting in the deaths of approximately 200 Palestinians and 26 Israelis, according to U.N. data. Since the start of the Gaza war, 121 Palestinians from the West Bank have been killed.

Israeli settlers have been responsible for more than double the number of daily attacks, as per U.N. figures, although the majority of deaths have occurred during confrontations with Israeli soldiers.

Last month, Israel ordered all civilians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, to relocate to the southern areas of the enclave. The Israeli military has since surrounded Gaza City and is engaged in intense street fighting with Hamas militants. U.S. special envoy David Satterfield revealed that between 800,000 and 1 million people have moved to the south of Gaza, while approximately 350,000 to 400,000 individuals remain in and around Gaza City.

The living conditions in Gaza, already dire before the conflict, have further deteriorated. Food shortages are rampant, and residents are resorting to drinking salty water. Medical services are on the brink of collapse. The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 1.5 million out of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been internally displaced.

Our correspondent with extensive experience covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including multiple wars and the signing of the first peace agreement, reported on these latest developments.

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