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Russia, A defendant in the case of military “fakes” told about humiliation and torture in a psychiatric hospital

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Male psychiatrist leads female patient in straitjacket, mental hospital. Woman in strait jacket undergoing "treatment" in clinic for the mentally ill

St Petersburg. Last November 15th, OVD-info reported that a defendant in the military “fakes” case has told about humiliation and torture in a psychiatric hospital.

The staff of the psychiatric hospital No. 3 named after I. I. Skovortsov-Stepanov abuse Victoria Petrova, a defendant in the case of military “fakes” from St. Petersburg. This is reported in her Telegram channel by her lawyer Anastasia Pilipenko.

As Petrova told her, she was forced to undress for a “bodily examination” in front of male staff, with women nearby at the time. Afterwards, the hospital staff mocked and laughed at her in response to her request to change her pad before the examination, as she was bleeding on her legs due to menstruation.

Petrova’s hands were then clasped when she refused to take a shower in front of everyone present and asked to be left only with the women, as was the case in the pre-trial detention centre. The girl was then tied up and shaken “like a mutt” and promised to be beaten “just as a welcome to the new place”.

In addition, Petrova was tied to the bed by her hands and feet and injected with medication that made her unable to speak for two days. While she was under the influence of the medication, the hospital staff threw her clothes over her face.

The case against Petrova was initiated in May 2022 because of a video in VKontakte dedicated to the war in Ukraine. She was charged with spreading military “fakes” on the grounds of political or ideological hatred (item “e” part 2 of article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). In the same month she was detained and sent to pre-trial detention centre. In October this year, the court transferred the girl to a psychiatric hospital. In addition, the girl was appointed a legal representative – her uncle became her legal representative.

18 November Petrova’s lawyer Anastasia Pilipenko said that the girl was transferred to another ward. She was no longer beaten, humiliated and tied to the bed, as well as injected with tranquilisers.

“Once again I am convinced that the main thing that can change the situation in such a closed institution is close attention from the outside,” Pilipenko commented.

Since 24 February 2022 – the first day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – residents of Russian cities have been going on anti-war rallies every day and speaking out about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become a reason for criminal prosecution. So far, more than 750 people have been prosecuted for protesting against the war with Ukraine. Read more about it in our infographic.

Article 207.3 (Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation) was included in the Criminal Code in March 2022 – this is how the authorities responded to anti-war speeches and statements, as well as the dissemination of information about the war that does not come from official Russian sources. The maximum penalty under the article is 15 years in prison.

“Anti-war case”

Since the first day of the invasion of Ukraine, residents of Russian cities have been holding anti-war actions and speaking out about the “special operation” on social networks. These actions become a reason for criminal prosecution.


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The Human Fingerprint on Greenhouse Gases

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United Nations News
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The Human Fingerprint on Greenhouse Gases
Photo de Danting Zhu sur Unsplash

Greenhouse gases occur naturally and are essential to the survival of humans and millions of other living things, by keeping some of the sun’s warmth from reflecting back into space and making Earth livable. But after more than a century and a half of industrialization, deforestation, and large scale agriculture, quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have risen to record levels not seen in three million years. As populations, economies and standards of living grow, so does the cumulative level of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions.

There are some basic well-established scientific links:

  • The concentration of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average global temperature on Earth;
  • The concentration has been rising steadily, and mean global temperatures along with it, since the time of the Industrial Revolution;
  • The most abundant GHG, accounting for about two-thirds of GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO2), is largely the product of burning fossil fuels.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment to provide an objective source of scientific information.

Sixth Assessment Report

The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, to be released in March 2023, provides an overview of the state of knowledge on the science of climate change, emphasizing new results since the publication of the Fifth Assessment Report in 2014. It is based on the reports of the three Working Groups of the IPCC – on the physical science; impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and mitigation – as well as on the three Special Reports on Global Warming of 1.5°C, on Climate Change and Land, and on the Ocean and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.

What we know based on the IPCC reports:

  • It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.
  • The scale of recent changes across the climate system as a whole – and the present state of many aspects of the climate system – are unprecedented over many centuries to many thousands of years.
  • Human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has strengthened since the Fifth Assessment Report.
  • Approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in contexts that are highly vulnerable to climate change.
  • Vulnerability of ecosystems and people to climate change differs substantially among and within regions.
  • If global warming transiently exceeds 1.5°C in the coming decades or later, then many human and natural systems will face additional severe risks, compared to remaining below 1.5°C.
  • Reducing GHG emissions across the full energy sector requires major transitions, including a substantial reduction in overall fossil fuel use, the deployment of low-emission energy sources, switching to alternative energy carriers, and energy efficiency and conservation.

Global Warmhttps://europeantimes.news/environment/ing of 1.5°C

In October 2018 the IPCC issued a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C, finding that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, the report found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society. While previous estimates focused on estimating the damage if average temperatures were to rise by 2°C, this report shows that many of the adverse impacts of climate change will come at the 1.5°C mark.

The report also highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5ºC compared to 2ºC, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all (> 99 percent) would be lost with 2ºC.

The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air.

United Nations legal instruments

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The UN family is at the forefront of the effort to save our planet. In 1992, its “Earth Summit” produced the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a first step in addressing the climate change problem. Today, it has near-universal membership. The 197 countries that have ratified the Convention are Parties to the Convention. The ultimate aim of the Convention is to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system.

Kyoto Protocol

By 1995, countries launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed country Parties to emission reduction targets. The Protocol’s first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. The second commitment period began on 1 January 2013 and ended in 2020. There are now 198 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol

Paris Agreement

Global Sikh Coun­cil Cham­pi­ons Truce in Is­rael-Pales­tine Con­flict

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EuropeanTimes
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Global Sikh Coun­cil Cham­pi­ons Truce in Is­rael-Pales­tine Con­flict

While there are fewer Sikh activists and bodies talking about peace or taking sides in the Israel-Palestine war which is endangering world peace, the stand of the Global Sikh Coun­cil in making an appeal for an immediate truce in the Israel-Palestine conflict during its recently held annual general meeting convened online is likely to reverberate among the Diaspora Sikh communities and even through international humanitarian corridors

Rep­re­sen­ta­tives of Sikh or­ga­ni­za­tions and ac­tivists from across 31 coun­tries, dur­ing the re­cent Global Sikh Coun­cil dig­i­tal sum­mit, passed a res­o­lu­tion im­plor­ing the United Na­tions Se­cu­rity Coun­cil to spear­head ef­forts for a cease­fire in the Gaza re­gion. This call comes amidst es­ca­lat­ing ten­sions that have seen nu­mer­ous civil­ian ca­su­al­ties, in­clud­ing women and chil­dren. The Global Sikh Coun­cil’s voice adds a sig­nif­i­cant moral weight to the global out­cry for peace and hu­man­i­tar­ian aid in this be­lea­guered zone.

Echo­ing the coun­cil’s com­mit­ment to global hu­man­i­tar­ian causes, tran­scend­ing ge­o­graphic and cul­tural bound­aries, she stated, “Our heart goes out to those suf­fer­ing in this con­flict. It’s high time for a peace­ful res­o­lu­tion, and the UN must step in with both aid and diplo­macy.”

The Global Sikh Coun­cil re­solved that “The re­ports of deaths and in­juries to thou­sands of women and chil­dren are deeply dis­tress­ing. While every na­tion has the right to safe­guard its coun­try from any for­eign ag­gres­sion killing in­no­cent women and chil­dren is a crime against hu­man­ity. Global Sikh Coun­cil calls upon the world lead­ers and the United Na­tions to put an end to this mis­ery of the peo­ple in Gaza and work for a peace­ful set­tle­ment.”

Lady Kanwaljit Singh

Lady Singh of Wim­ble­don, Dr. Kan­waljit Kaur -wife of the il­lus­tri­ous Lord Singh of Wim­ble­don In­dar­jit Singh and Pres­i­dent of the Global Sikh Coun­cil, de­liv­ered a res­olute mes­sage, con­demn­ing the air strikes rav­aging Gaza.

Namur, the city of festivals: a rich program throughout the year

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NewsdeskTET
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Namur, the city of festivals: a rich program throughout the year

Namur, the capital of Wallonia in Belgium, is a city that vibrates to the rhythm of festivals throughout the year. Whether you’re passionate about music, cinema, theater or the visual arts, you’re sure to find an event you enjoy in this dynamic city.

One of the most emblematic festivals in Namur is undoubtedly the Festival International du Film Francophone. Every year, in September, this festival attracts film buffs from all over the world who come to discover the latest productions of French-speaking cinema. Competitions, outdoor screenings and meetings with directors make this event an unmissable event for all cinema lovers.

In summer, the city of Namur transforms into a real musical scene with the Namur Music Festival. For several weeks, internationally renowned artists perform in emblematic places in the city such as the citadel or the royal theater. From jazz to classical music to rock, there is something for all tastes and ears.

Visual arts lovers will not be left out in Namur. The International Comic Strip Festival takes over the city every year in January. Exhibitions, meetings with authors and signings are on the program for this event which highlights the ninth art. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new talents and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of comics.

But Namur is not limited to cultural festivals. The city also hosts renowned sporting events. The Grand Prix de Wallonie, a professional cycling race, attracts international riders and thousands of spectators each year. The streets of Namur are transformed into a demanding and spectacular course for this competition which is part of the International Cycling Union calendar.

In December, Namur is adorned with its most beautiful lights to host the Illuminations Festival. For several weeks, the city is transformed into a real fairy tale with magical illuminations, street shows and activities for the whole family. It’s a magical time when young and old can immerse themselves in the warm atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations.

Namur is therefore a city with no shortage of activities throughout the year. Whether you are a fan of arts, music, cinema or sport, you will find a festival in Namur that will meet your expectations. In addition to these events, the city also offers many tourist attractions such as the citadel, the Saint-Aubin cathedral and the Namurois Museum of Ancient Arts.

If you are planning to visit Namur, it is advisable to find out in advance about the festivals that will take place during your stay. Hotels and restaurants are often busy during these times, so it is best to book in advance. Additionally, some events require tickets to be purchased in advance, so it is important to plan accordingly.

Namur, the city of festivals, is a true paradise for lovers of culture and entertainment. Whether you are attracted by cinema, music, visual arts or sport, you will certainly find what you are looking for in this city full of life. So don’t hesitate any longer, come discover Namur and let yourself be carried away by the magic of its festivals throughout the year.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

International conference Iranian nuclear power: realities and prospects for sanctions

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Robert Johnson
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A international conference entitled “ Iranian nuclear power: realities and prospects for sanctions”  was organised in Paris on November 21st 2023 from 6h30 till 8 p.m at the Paris School of Business with the presence of high level experts ,journalists, researchers and students .

The debate was introduced by Professor Frédéric Encel who started by mentioning that We  approach a very controversial issue today given the international situation regarding iran because we rarely speak about Iran and its economic policy both internal and external through the sanctions. I would like to remind you that January 1st 2007, the Islamic Republic of Iran was sanctioned internationally and I would like to focus on this level because all the members of the UN Security Council validated these sanctions not only Washington, Paris London but also Moscow and Pekin and then they continued to maintain these sanctions even though some countries like China help through economic aid and oil contracts.

He added that president Ahmadi Nijad at that time just handed a document which was not accepted by the UN council and after this deadline rejected by Iran, the international community took a series of sanctions against The Islamic Republic of Iran. The support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Bachar Alassad’s regime needs a lot of economic and technological abilities.

Hamdam Mostafavi, Editor in Chief at the Express France highlighted that  It has been more than 20 years since she has been  working on the Iranian regime and the economic sanctions.

Are the sanctions responsible for the terror attacks of the regime and working in the black market? Did they push them to be close to China and Russia and support terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas? Do they stop the regime from the repression of its own population? We think that the sanctions are counter-productive and we know that they affect heavily the Iranian population. Iran stopped its nuclear program and the economic sanctions were lifted to allow the country to have economic relief.

Another important element in the development of the nuclear power by the Iranian regime is the scientific research made by scientists.

It is sufficient to prevent Iran from supporting military groups in the Middle East like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support it as well as arm its military groups.

Heloise Hayet, a researcher at IFRI, mentioned that Iran uses proxies to make war on the neighboring countries. The nuclear program in iran was stopped by a UN resolution 2231. This resolution obliges Iran not to develop ballistic missiles for the sake of creating a nuclear weapon. More importantly, this resolution ends the 18th of October 2023 but nobody speaks about it because we were focusing on another conflict in the Middle East in which iran was implicated too. France, UK and Europe decided to maintain this agreement regarding the development of ballistic missiles. However, Russian and Chinese sanctions are over which means that Iran could send ballistic missiles to Russia and vice versa which was the case in the war on Ukraine.

Emmanuel razavi, a reporter at Paris Match magazine, expert in Iran started his speech by focusing on the fact that Iran is a state which sponsors terrorism. Iran finances its proxies mainly Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. There is a definition of a terrorist organization and this fits into the context of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis which take hostages and do targeted terrorist attacks. Razavi made reports for Paris Match on the Houthis in Yemen and the Iranian revolution. Iran has institutionalized a parallel economy. The sanctions have a few effects on the economy of the Iranian regime which created another system to finance its militia and support as well as arm its military groups. Some arms are given by the Iranian regime to the Houthis in Yemen but some arms are given to Isis according to intelligence services mainly French and American. This business is not only serving Iran’s proxies but also other terrorist groups such as Isis and other organizations which are not necessarily Shia but also Sunni such as Hamas.

Khater  Abou Diab,Dr in international relations, evoked the difficult situation in the Middle East due to Iran implication in instability in the region. It is a difficult moment to speak about the situation in the Middle East but Iran is implicated and it is even the one which profits from this chaos. They always try to negotiate the sanctions.what is important is how the West manages the sanctions on Iran.Why is Iran so strong despite all the sanctions? The strength of the Iranian regime comes from its islamist ideology and its proxies, its militia including the Houthi, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Bachar Alassad’s regime, both Shia and Sunni groups with an extension to Africa. In France, there was a presidential candidate in the North of France which supports Hamas and financed by Iran .Iran is everywhere and that is why speaking about sanctions touches upon the human rights, the nuclear program and financing terrorism.

Iris Faronkhondeh, Doctor in Indian and Iranian studies in Paris 3 University, highlighted the influence of Iran in using hostages policy and persecuting opposition leaders is complicated. How can we deal with such a regime. we cannot have a deal with a criminal state unless there is a regime change. The Iranian population suffers from poverty and marginalization. However, the regime has a lot of financial means that it uses to finance its militia and create instability in the region and create nuclear weapons. The tunnels of the Hamas are also constructed thanks to the Iranian regime help and there are links in terms of the techniques used by the regime and those used by Hamas.

The debate ended with a series of questions by the students who were intrested in getting answers from the experts regarding stability security and nuclear program in iran  as well as its impact on the region and  on the EU in particular regarding the fight against terrorism and the rise of extremism.

Saudi Arabia is building a ski resort in the desert

By
Gaston de Persigny
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The resort will host skiers for three months of the year, and during the established time tourists will be able to practice water sports and mountain biking

As part of Saudi Arabia’s impressive project to build the city of Neom – the “city of the future” – a ski resort worth 461 billion euros will also be built. The new project is located in Tabuk province. The winter resort will be called Troyena and will be a mixture of dizzying real and virtual architecture, an artificial lake and mesmerizing views.

The idea of skiing the slopes of Neom in Saudi Arabia sounds absurd – yet Clark Williams, who manages marketing and communications for Neom, tells Euronews Travel that it’s easier than you think.

People are like, wait a minute, does it snow in Saudi Arabia?” Williams says. “The truth is we only need -3 degrees Celsius to create snow in Neom and we can do that for three months of the year.”

In the mountains near Neom, the temperature naturally drops below 0 degrees in winter.

“In our snowmaking, we’re going to use as many sustainable resources as possible, whether that’s solar or wind,” explains Williams. “We will also use water from our desalination plant, which is a cutting-edge solution, and we will try to collect as much water as possible from melting snow.”

Wonderland

In addition to a skiing experience, the resort will also offer the opportunity to practice all kinds of water sports thanks to an artificial lake that will be built. Other sports options include cycling.

Troena promises everything that tourists could find in a normal mountain village.

The concept behind the ski village is to take what you would see in a classic mountain village and put it in one building,” says Williams.

This includes restaurants and even a luxury wellness spa for those who need a break from the track.

The ski resort will include several hotels that will immediately be able to receive visitors when the centre opens in late 2026 or early 2027.

“That’s pretty soon when you consider that we’re creating a whole new landscape there, with streets, bars, restaurants and hotels all rolled into one village.”

The “City of the Future” project

Troena is only one of the four main parts of Neom. As part of the grandiose “city of the future” project is the creation of the luxury island of Sindala in the Red Sea – the first destination to open in 2024. The creation of a futuristic, floating industrial metropolis is also planned, as well as a 170-kilometre city, which will eventually accommodate up to 9 million residents.

“Neom is one of the mega projects that were announced as part of the Saudi crown prince’s vision for 2030,” said Niall Gibbons, Neom’s head of tourism. “It is the size of Belgium and will welcome approximately 3.5 million tourists by 2030.”

Neom will initially focus on domestic tourism and later expand to international visitors, with 60 per cent of people coming from outside Saudi Arabia by 2030, according to Gibbons.

Illustrative Photo by Volker Meyer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-yellow-jacket-and-red-riding-on-snow-ski-3714137/

Modena, Celebrating 42 years of Scientology Mission’s positive impact on the Community

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Newsdesk
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MODENA, EMILIA-ROMAGNA, ITALY, November 23, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ — Modena, Italy, is a city that beautifully blends the allure of history, with the advancements of the era. It holds the title of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site due, to its collection of structures and museums that proudly exhibit renowned masterpieces originating from the 16th century. Additionally, Modena has gained fame as Italy’s point for automobile production. Being the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, Modena has a strong association with automobiles, embodying a culture of precision and speed.

In October, the Church of Scientology Mission of Modena celebrated its 42nd anniversary, being one of Italy’s most prominent Scientology Missions and on October 29, hundreds of Scientologists and guests gathered with the Mission’s executives and staff to commemorate the inauguration of their new headquarters.

The Mission was embraced by local businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders.

Mr. Alessandro Crotti, an entrepreneur in the renewable energy industry, discovered Scientology two years ago while being introduced to the innovative administrative technology created by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Crotti has stated that he “applied the acquired skills to enhance both production and distribution situations, as well as to cultivate better relationships with others”. He also expressed how this knowledge has enabled him “to confront challenges with increased clarity and confidence”.

Mr. Andrea Ferrarini, president of the civil protection group Radio Club Contea Nord of Bondeno, collaborated with Modena’s Scientology Volunteer Ministers during the 2012 earthquake in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. He expressed his “appreciation for their assistance during the devastating aftermath”.

Mr. Benito Toschi, the founder of the local ANFASS chapter, spoke about the various projects supported by the Scientology Mission “for the benefit of individuals with disabilities”.

The final speaker, Ms. Simona Scattolin, represented the municipality of Forlì, located approximately 70 miles from Modena. In the months of May and June, the entire region was affected by floods, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses in Forlì. Volunteer Ministers from the Church of Scientology in Modena provided “valuable assistance to families in Forlì, assisting them in the challenging process of clearing their homes and businesses from mud, salvaging whatever was possible, and properly disposing of water-damaged flooring, walls, and furniture” said one the staff from the Mission.

Ms. Scattolin presented a plaque to congratulate the Mission for its 42nd anniversary and their new place of worship and community, expressing sincere gratitude to the Scientology Volunteer Ministers for their exceptional and unwavering assistance to the city of Forlì.

The staff joined Mission Executive Director Simona Gorzanelli in opening the Mission and invited guests to tour. As in every new church that opens, said Ivan Arjona, representative of Scientology to the European institutions and the UN “the staff encourage newcomers to visit our public information centre and discover more about what Scientology provides to help each person individually, but also what is a greater goal, to help the community to flourish and prosper”.

Modena Mission is fully equipped to offer a comprehensive range of introductory Scientology services. “These services encompass highly sought-after Life Improvement Courses, which provide practical solutions to common everyday challenges. Participants can gain valuable insights on improving their marriage, effectively raising children, enhancing personal motivation, and setting and achieving goals, among other topics” Arjona stated.

The new Mission offers seminars on various topics, including personal efficiency.

The Hubbard Dianetics Seminar is based on Mr Hubbard’s watershed work  Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,  the bestselling book that reveals the source of one’s nightmares, unreasonable fears and irrational behaviour—the reactive mind—and how to conquer it.

The Mission also offers spiritual counselling, known as “auditing,” and the Purification Program, created by Mr Hubbard to liberate individuals from the harm drugs and toxins cause them spiritually and mentally.

A bottle of whiskey sold for 2.5 million euros

By
Gaston de Persigny
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0

A bottle of the world’s most expensive whiskey was sold for the equivalent of 2.5 million EUR at an auction in London few days ago, breaking the previous record from 2019, AFP reported, citing auction house Sotheby’s.

A 750 ml bottle of Macallan from 1926 was bought for £2,187,500 (€2.5 million EUR). Scotch whisky, distilled in 1926, was bottled 60 years later after aging in oak casks and acquiring a dark color. The bottle label, one of 12 in total, is by Italian artist Valerio Adami.

The lot was valued by Sotheby’s at between £750,000 and £1.2 million. It is one of only 40 bottles of the type produced by the Scottish distillery. A 700ml bottle of the same whiskey sold for nearly £1.5m in 2019. It’s the same liquid but with a different label, said Johnny Foyle, head of whiskey at Sotheby’s, when the lot was unveiled last month.

Hamas and Israel: an agreement has been reached for the release of 50 hostages

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EuropeanTimes
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0

Hamas and Israel have agreed to release 50 hostages in exchange for a four-day truce. It is not yet known who will be freed.

The agreement reached on November 21 stipulates that 50 hostages could be released during a four-day truce. The agreement ratified by the Israeli government remains fragile. The slightest skirmish could jeopardize it.

The first hostages will not leave Gaza until November 23. In Israel, many families are regaining hope, but remain anxious.

The international community welcomes the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas. US President Joe Biden said he was “extraordinarily satisfied” with the imminent release of hostages kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militants on October 7, under an agreement to which Israel gave the green light on Wednesday. The agreement provides for the release of 50 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a truce in the Gaza Strip. A spokesman for the UN Secretary-General described the agreement as “an important step forward”, but said that “much remains to be done”.

Hamas reacts to the “humanitarian truce“: “The provisions of this agreement have been formulated in accordance with the vision of resistance and determination, which aim to serve our people and strengthen their tenacity in the face of aggression”. “We confirm that our hands will remain on the trigger and that our triumphant battalions will remain on the alert”, warned the Palestinian Islamist organization.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at 8.15pm, a few hours after the agreement was announced, about the ongoing diplomatic efforts to free the hostages and the difficult decisions he had to make. He also repeatedly paid tribute to his armed forces, while insisting that the war would continue: “Citizens of Israel, I want to be very clear tonight, this war continues, this war continues, we will continue this war in order to achieve all our objectives. The return of the hostages, annihilating Hamas” and making sure that after Hamas, there won’t be a government of terrorists paying to educate children.”

Gaza: ‘Thousands of children killed’ within a few weeks, says UN’s Guterres

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United Nations News
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Gaza: ‘Thousands of children killed’ within a few weeks, says UN’s Guterres

The UN chief said on Monday that in the current conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza, with thousands of children killed in the past few weeks, the world is witnessing a level of violence unprecedented during his time as Secretary-General.

In reply to a question at a press conference dealing with the latest emissions report, Secretary-General António Guterres said that in all the reports issued during his tenure, on children in conflict, it was clear that the current war in Gaza has seen thousands of child deaths – compared with hundreds, in conflicts in Yemen and Syria.

Without entering into discussing the accuracy of the figures released by the health ministry in Gaza, which are regarded by UN agencies as reliable, he said that “what is clear is that we have had in a few weeks thousands of children killed.”

Children walk through a temporary camp in southern Gaza.
WHO – Children walk through a temporary camp in southern Gaza.

Latest reports from health authorities indicate that more than 13,000 civilians in total have died in the enclave since the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas, and subsequent Israeli offensive. 

“This is what matters. We are witnessing a killing of civilians that is unparalleled and unprecedented in any conflict since I have been Secretary-General.”

Opportunity out of tragedy

Also addressing how the region can move forward once the fighting stops, the UN chief said that it was “important to be able to transform this tragedy into an opportunity.”

“For that to be possible, it is essential that after the war we move in a determined, irreversible way to a two-State solution“, he told correspondents.

“It means also that after the war – and this is my opinion – I believe it to be important after the war to have a strengthened Palestinian Authority to assume responsibilities in Gaza.”

He said a humanitarian ceasefire was a crucial first step, along with unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, “the liberation of hostages” and an end to violations of international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.

He said the Palestinian Authority which administers the West Bank, and which was forced out of Gaza in 2006 by Hamas, could clearly not assume control while Israeli tanks remain, meaning there must be a “transition period”.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== Gaza: ‘Thousands of children killed’ within a few weeks, says UN’s Guterres
Gaza: ‘Thousands of children killed’ within a few weeks, says UN’s Guterres 4

UN protectorate, no solution

“I do not think that a UN protectorate in Gaza is a solution.  I think we need a multi-stakeholder approach in which different countries, different entities, will cooperate.  For Israel, of course, the US is the main guarantor of its security.  For Palestinians, the neighbouring and Arab countries of the region are essential”, Mr. Guterres said.

“So everybody needs to come together to make the conditions for a transition, allowing for a strengthened Palestinian Authority, to assume responsibility in Gaza and then, based on that, to finally move…in a determined and irreversible way to a two-State solution based on the principles that have been largely established by the international community and which I have time and time again outlined.”

‘Unliveable’

Meanwhile, in Gaza a tweet by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA on Monday, described the situation in shelters as “unliveable”. It said that Gazans had “no options”, echoing repeated warnings from UN humanitarians nowhere is safe for civilians in Gaza.

Since Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel on 7 October that claimed around 1,200 lives with nearly 240 hostages captured, hundreds of thousands of Gazans have fled south, following an evacuation directive from the Israeli military.

Astonishing exodus

Satellite images of the exodus showed a mass of people moving across a landscape of shattered buildings, while photographs taken at ground level showed families carrying their belonging on foot and a woman dragging two babies in car seats behind her.

In an update on Sunday, Tom White, Director of UNRWA Affairs, told US network ABC that 13 UNRWA sites where people had been “sheltering under the UN flag” had been “directly hit” since 7 October, while “countless other shelters” had suffered “collateral damage” – many of them in the south of Gaza, where civilians had been told to flee.

Dozens killed in shelters

Mr. White said that 73 people had been killed in UNRWA shelters to date, “a large proportion of them in the south”.

“The reality is the Gazans have got nowhere to go for safety and they are all exposed to the threat of fighting and particularly airstrikes,” the UNRWA official said.

According to the UN agency, more than 880,000 internally displaced have sought shelter in 154 UNRWA installations across all five of Gaza’s governorates. Out of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, 1.7 million are now displaced.

To date, 104 UNRWA staff have been killed along with at least 11,000 people in Gaza according to health authorities.

“Houses have been hit all across the Gaza Strip,” said UNWRA’s Mr. White, who said that people’s main concern was, “If they’re in the north or in the south, are they safe?”

© UNICEF/Eyad El Baba – A five-year-old boy drinks bottled water delivered by UNICEF in the Khan Younis camp.

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