Palestine Live Coverage: Updates from the West Bank and Gaza

Palestine Live Coverage: Updates from the West Bank and Gaza
Live Story
22 May, 2021

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding on Saturday, as the truce entered its second day. Despite the agreement, Israeli police on Friday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem with tear gas and stun grenades, raising fears over the fragile truce.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the Israeli onslaught led to 248 deaths in Gaza, including 66 children, with the Palestinian ministry of health reporting 27 deaths in the West Bank. Twelve Israelis were killed by Hamas rocket fire into Israel.

More than 6,000 Palestinians were injured in both the West Bank and Gaza. According to the UN, some 90,000 Palestinians were displaced by Israel's 11-day bombardment of the blockaded coastal enclave.

As focus shifts towards Gaza's reconstruction and ensuring that the ceasefire holds, The New Arab brings you live coverage and updates throughout the day.

 

 

11:55 PM

We're signing off for today. Join The New Arab tomorrow for more live coverage and updates from the West Bank and Gaza.

8:58 PM
The New Arab Staff

UN Security Council calls for 'full adherence' to Gaza ceasefire

The UN Security Council on Saturday called for "full adherence to the ceasefire" in the conflict between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in its first statement since Israel bombardment began on May 10.

8:00 PM
The New Arab Staff

Mauritania urges ICC to probe Israelis for 'genocide'

Mauritania's parliament on Saturday urged the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli officials for "genocide" after an 11-day bombardment on the Gaza Strip killed hundreds of civilians, including dozens of children. 

Mohamed Ould Rzeizime, a lawmaker from the ruling Union for the Republic party, told AFP that the 157-seat national assembly unanimously adopted the non-binding resolution. 

7:57 PM
The New Arab Staff

Hundreds of thousands rally for Palestine across European capitals

Demonstrators in London, Paris and other French and English cities flocked to the streets on the weekend to maintain pressure on Israel as its troops continued to impose restrictions on Palestinians in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah despite a ceasefire agreement.

In London, organisers say an estimated 180,000 showed up to stand in solidarity with Palestinians while 4,000 attended a rally in the French capital.

Read full article on The New Arab here.

4:16 PM

Gaza authorities on Saturday said government offices were to reopen the following day after a ceasefire ended 11 days of Israeli air strikes on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"Official working hours return to all ministries and governmental institutions from tomorrow Sunday morning," an official statement said.

2:43 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

A group of Jewish extremists have reportedly called for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on Sunday, in an apparent renewed call for violence against Palestinians, following Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip.

"On Sunday morning at 7:00, we will know if we have lost the war," said Assaf Farid, spokesman for the Federation of Temple Organizations, reported 48News.

2:29 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

A Palestinian official says an initial assessment shows at least 2,000 housing units were destroyed by Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip.

Naji Sarhan, deputy of Gaza's works and housing ministry, tells The Associated Press on Saturday that more than 15,000 other units were partly destroyed in the 11-day bombardment.

2:07 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

More than 90 percent of Israeli citizens charged with rioting as intercommunal violence and racist attacks gripped mixed Palestinian-Jewish communities this month are Palestinians, according to a Haaretz report.

Most of those arrested were Palestinians, including 252 minors. Just 159 were Jewish Israelis. Palestinian citizens of Israel have long complained of discrimination at the hands of authorities.

MENA
Live Story
1:42 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

As the dust settles on Gaza, stories of survivors and the family members they lost are being told to the world.

Alaa Abu Hatab and his daughter Maria lost Yasmine, a wife and a mother, and Yusuf, Bilal, Mariam and Yamin, children and siblings.

Speaking to British broadcaster Sky News, Abu Hatab recounted the Israeli attack that killed ten people in the building.

Abu Hatab said he left the house briefly to buy supplies when their home was hit.

Four-year-old Maria sat emotionless on his knee as he spoke.

"Until now she hasn't spoken a word from the shock and horror," he said.

The building, he said, was struck directly without warning.

Yasmine and their children died at one in the morning, as they celebrated Eid.

Palestinians take part in the funeral of the Abu Hatab family in Gaza City [Getty]
1:09 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah on Wednesday and Thursday as part, a source briefed on the planning said on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Blinken will visit Israel and the occupied West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday [Getty]
1:04 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

As the Israel-Hamas truce holds through its second day, here's a closer look at the negotiations that took place behind the scenes as Israel carried out its brutal 11-day bombardment of the Gaza Strip.

MENA
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Sources close to the negotiations spoke to The New Arab's Arabic-language service about the tense discussions that took place.
1:02 PM
The New Arab
London

Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza may amount to war crimes and highlights the importance of the role of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC), Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

MENA
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Israel's bombardment of Gaza underscores ICC's critical role: HRW
12:07 PM
The New Arab Staff
London

 

Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have taken to the streets of major Australian cities.

MENA
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Australia protests

 

11:43 AM
The New Arab Staff
London

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said Israel destroyed more than 33 media institutions during its bombing of the Gaza Strip, as it sought to obscure the truth over its bombing campaign.

Read more: https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/israel-destroyed-over-33-media-offices-gaza-bombing

10:40 AM
The New Arab Staff
London

The Egyptian government has said it will send a 130-truck convoy carrying humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Gaza, according the presidency.

The convoy is expected to enter the territory on Saturday.

10:36 AM
The New Arab Staff
London

Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, about stabilising the Cairo-brokered Gaza cease-fire deal.

A statement by Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the two diplomats on Friday discussed shoring up the deal, which has mostly brought a halt to fighting between Israel and the Palestinians. They hope that will facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza.

The statement said the ministers also agreed on the importance of coordination between the two nations, the Palestinian Authority and international partners on securing communication channels to achieve peace. It did not provide further details.

Egypt FM Sameh Shoukry spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Frida [Getty]
9:11 AM
The New Arab Staff

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held into Saturday as officials said Egyptian mediators conferred with the sides on securing longer-term calm.

Egypt, which mediated the halt to the fighting with U.S. support, sent a delegation to Israel at around noon on Friday to discuss ways of firming up the ceasefire, including with aid for Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas officials told Reuters.

The delegates have since been shuttling between Israel and Gaza, with talks continuing on Saturday, the officials said.

 

 

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