As Gaza war rages, ‘Flag March’ pushes region towards implosion
Palestinian Authority spokesmperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh says the Israeli march through the Old City “constitutes not only a violation of all international laws that consider East Jerusalem as an integral part of Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, but also a blatant provocation to Arab, Muslim and Christian sentiments”.
In a statement, Abu Rudeineh said the march is another Israeli step to alter the history of Jerusalem and change its Palestinian-Arab character, which he called a “futile attempt”.
Abu Rudeina called for the US administration, which he said supports and protects Israel, to “intervene immediately to halt the genocidal war on Gaza and the ongoing attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem”.
‘People are literally on the floor of the hospital’
It is a very dire situation at the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
I have been trying for the past couple of hours to step inside the emergency department and other parts of the hospital, just to see what’s going on inside. We could not put a foot inside because it’s super crowded right now.
People are literally on the floor of the hospital, and there has been an influx of injuries arriving at the hospital since yesterday evening. The number of ambulances, trucks, and carts pulled by animals bringing injured people here is beyond imagination.
This is the first time I’ve seen this large a number of wounded people come here at one time. The number is so massive with women, children, and the elderly included. It’s safe to say the hospital is unable to accommodate this large number of injuries. It definitely needs support to continue sustaining its operation.
Children at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza after Israeli bombardment
200 Jewish Americans lobby lawmakers to stop arming Israel
Hundreds of members of Jewish Voice for Peace Action are calling on Congress to stop arming the Israeli military and to secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
In a statement, it said some of its members held more than 60 meetings with members of Congress and their representatives.
“I am a rabbi calling on my elected officials to stop arming the Israeli military as it wages a genocidal campaign in Gaza. The Jewish tradition teaches us the most holy commandment is pikuach nefesh – saving a life – and I am calling on my representatives to do all that they can to save lives now,” said Lonnie Kleinman, a rabbi based in Philadelphia.
The group said it was the largest lobby day it has ever coordinated. “Over the past many months, in grief, protest, and prayer, Jewish Americans have risen up to say ‘ceasefire now’ and ‘not in our name’.”
Jewish American demonstrators rally outside the Manhattan headquarters of pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Another French lawmaker waves Palestinian flag in National Assembly
The French parliament is once again in turmoil after a lawmaker stood up with a Palestinian flag a week after another was temporarily suspended for doing the same thing.
Rachel Keke, a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party, also wore an outfit with the colours of the Palestinian flag during a government questions session.
Mathilde de Panot, president of LFI, said by waving the Palestinian flag, “it’s a way of bringing the power of the symbol into the National Assembly. And the symbol is to say that we will not stop until France – as a sign of peace – recognises the state of Palestine”.
She added the group won’t stop “until France decrees an arms embargo against Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government”.
Last week, fellow LFI member Sebastien Delogu was suspended for raising a Palestinian flag during a parliamentary session.
A usher tries to stop French lawmaker as she waves a Palestinian flag
