US-Israeli genocide in Gaza
Israel continues to pound various parts of the besieged Gaza Strip with its indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery fire. In Gaza city, Israeli warplanes and vessels carried out fresh artillery and airstrikes across the city and bombed more residential buildings there, killing 29 Palestinians, including women and children. In the south, Israeli forces intensified their artillery strikes across Rafah, where the bodies of 9 Palestinians were discovered from under the rubble of destroyed residential buildings. The US-Israeli genocide in Gaza since October 7 has claimed the lives of nearly 37,300 Gazans and injured around 85,200 more. Meanwhile local authorities warn that around 10,000 more Gazans are unaccounted for and are presumed dead under rubble.
Sad Eid in Gaza
Even during Eid al-Adha, Palestinians in Gaza are having little relief from the US-Israeli genocide. As Muslims around the world mark the Eid, Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip say they only have themselves to sacrifice.
'Israeli forces must leave'
The Hamas chief has once again condemned the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, saying the Palestinians and the resistance will remain steadfast and defend the Palestinian territory and sanctities. In a speech to mark Eid al-Adha, Ismail Haniyeh said Israel has achieved none of its objectives despite the months-long genocide in Gaza. Haniyeh said the resistance is serious and flexible about ceasefire talks. But he noted that any agreement must be comprehensive, lead to full withdrawal of Israel from Gaza and include arrangements for a prisoner swap. The Hamas chief said those provisions must be clearly stated in any truce agreement and such a deal must lead to a full ceasefire. Haniyeh also called on the international community to take action to force Israel to open all Gaza border crossings and return the control of Rafah crossing into Egypt to Palestinians.