Skip next section Israeli strikes reported at Indonesian HospitalNovember 20, 2023
Israeli strikes reported at Indonesian HospitalThe Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza has reported fighting near the Indonesian Hospital in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said 12 people had been killed by a strike.
The spokesman added around 600 patients, 200 health care workers and 2,000 displaced people were sheltering at the hospital.
A medical worker at the hospital told The Associated Press that Israeli tanks were operating in the immediate vicinity of the hospital.
There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military on an operation near the Indonesian Hospital. Israel has previously said Hamas militants use medical facilities as a cover for weapons storage and as bases of operations.
WHO visits al-Shifa hospital, calls for immediate evacuationTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/4ZA8gSkip next section Iran denies involvement in Houthi rebel Red Sea ship hijackNovember 20, 2023
Iran denies involvement in Houthi rebel Red Sea ship hijackIran has denied Israeli assertions that it was involved in the seizure of a British-owned and Japanese-operated cargo ship in the southern Red Sea.
Houthi rebels hijacked the cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday, claiming it was an Israeli vessel and taking it to a port in Yemen.
There are 25 crew members on board, the ship operator said.
On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani denied the Islamic Republic was involved in the incident.
“We have said multiple times that resistance groups in the region act independently and spontaneously based on their interests and that of their people,” Kanaani said.
His statement came after Israel described it as an “Iranian act of terrorism.”
A Houthi military spokesperson on social media said, “military forces will continue to carry out military operations against the Israeli enemy” until the “aggression” in Gaza stops.
“All ships belonging to the Israeli enemy or that deal with it will become legitimate targets,” the Houthis said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ZA6VSkip next section At least 48 journalists killed during war, watchdog saysNovember 20, 2023
At least 48 journalists killed during war, watchdog saysThree journalists were killed in Gaza over the weekend, including the head of a prominent media organization, media watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Monday. It added that at least 48 journalists have died since the war started.
The New York-based CPJ said it seeks at least two sources to verify each death. It broke down the death toll to 43 Palestinians, four Israelis and one Lebanese journalist. In addition, CPJ reported nine injuries, 13 arrests and three missing journalists.
“Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.
DW could not independently verify the CPJ report.
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https://p.dw.com/p/4Z9ovSkip next section China supports two-state solution in Arab, Muslim meetingNovember 20, 2023
China supports two-state solution in Arab, Muslim meetingChina has expressed its willingness to help “restore peace in the Middle East,” during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a visiting delegation of diplomats from Arab and Muslim countries in Beijing.
“Let us work together to quickly cool down the situation in Gaza and restore peace in the Middle East as soon as possible,” Wang told foreign ministers in opening remarks.
Wang added that Beijing fully supports calls made for a two-state solution during a recent Islamic-Arab summit on the conflict held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
He urged the international community to “act urgently” to end the “humanitarian disaster unfolding” in Gaza.
The visiting delegation represents Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, the Palestinian territories and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Z9tLSkip next section France to send ship, tons of medical supplies to Gaza’s aidNovember 20, 2023
France to send ship, tons of medical supplies to Gaza’s aidFrance is sending its Dixmude helicopter carrier to the eastern Mediterranean region early this week to provide the Gaza Strip with medical assistance, the office of the president has announced.
The office of President Emmanuel Macron said the Dixmude will set sail at the beginning of the week, to arrive in Egypt in the coming days. Macron said the ship is equipped for hospital support with a 40-bed capacity, and is intended to treat the most severe cases.
In addition to the ship, Paris is also sending a charter flight carrying more than 10 tons of medical supplies, expected at the start of the week.
“France is mobilizing all its available means to contribute to the evacuation of wounded and sick children requiring emergency care from the Gaza Strip to its hospitals,” the presidency added.
Macron said injured or ill children in Gaza who need urgent care could receive treatment in France “if it is useful and necessary.”
“Arrangements are made to receive up to 50 patients in our hospitals,” he added on social media.
Earlier, Cyprus said it was preparing to become a launching pad for European countries to send humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
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rmt/ab (AFP, Reuters, dpa,AP)
https://p.dw.com/p/4Z9ouSkip next section Japan ‘strongly condemns’ Red Sea ship seizure by HouthisNovember 20, 2023
Japan ‘strongly condemns’ Red Sea ship seizure by HouthisThe Japanese government said early on Monday it “strongly condemns” the seizure by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis of a Japanese-operated ship in the Red Sea.
“We strongly condemn such acts,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference. He added that no Japanese nationals were among the crew on the Galaxy Leader ship.
Japan was appealing to the rebels, while seeking the help of Saudi, Omani and Iranian authorities to work toward the swift release of the vessel and its crew, Matsuno added.
Nippon Yusen, the Japanese company which operates the ship, said it had yet to confirm the nationalities or size of the ship’s crew.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Sunday. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed it was not an Israeli ship, after an unnamed Houthi official claimed it was in a statement.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Z9q0Skip next section Israel says Hamas tunnel found under al-ShifaNovember 20, 2023
Israel says Hamas tunnel found under al-ShifaThis footage from a video shot by the IDF shows what Israel says is a tunnel under al-Shifa hospitalImage: Israel Defense Forces/Handout/REUTERS The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage of what it said was a tunnel used by Hamas underneath Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital.
The footage shows an outdoor tunnel shaft and part of a tunnel.
The IDF said the tunnel is 10 meters (33 feet) deep and run 55 meters to a blast-proof door.
“This type of door is used by the Hamas terrorist organization to block Israeli forces from entering the command centers and the underground assets belonging to Hamas,” the military said.
They have not yet opened the door, for fear it would be booby trapped, but think the tunnel would either split or there would be “a big room for command and control”
Israel has accused Hamas of using al-Shifa as a “command center” but has faced increasing pressure to provide evidence since Israeli troops entered the hospital last week.
Hamas and medical staff at al-Shifa denied that the hospital was used for military purposes.
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari troops would continue searching the area saying there could be access shafts from nearby houses.
https://p.dw.com/p/4Z9xbSkip next section IDF says footage shows hostages at al-Shifa on October 7November 20, 2023
IDF says footage shows hostages at al-Shifa on October 7Israel has said this footage shows a hostage taken on October 7 at al-Shifa hospitalImage: Israeli Army/Handout/AFPIsrael’s military has released security camera footage it says showed hostages being brought into al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 7.
The footage, which could not be independently verified, shows a man being dragged by his arms through what looks like an entrance hall, by several other men, some of whom are armed. Shortly after, another clip shows a man being wheeled on a gurney surrounded by a group of armed men, and others wearing hospital scrubs.
Both sequences had time stamps of shortly before 11 a.m. on October 7.
“Here you can see Hamas taking a hostage inside… they’re taking him inside the hospital,” said military spokesman Daniel Hagari, describing the two men as hostages from Nepal and Thailand.
“We have not yet located both of these hostages,” he added. “We do not know where they are.”
This screen grab of CCTV footage shows what Israel says is a man being dragged into al-Shifa hospital by Hamas militantsImage: Israel Defense Forces/Handout/REUTERS The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza has dismissed the statements made by the IDF, questioning the authenticity of the videos and stills. It added the footage shows that the “hospitals of the Ministry of Health provide their medical services to everyone who deserves them.”
Hamas said it has taken captives to the hospital for treatment after some had been “wounded” in airstrikes by Israel.
Since last week, Israel’s military has been searching the hospital for evidence of a Hamas command center it claims was located under the complex.
Hamas has been classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, Germany and many other countries.
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