Gaza strikes kill 31, Belgium to recognise Palestine
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Israel has launched strikes across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 31 people as it presses ahead with a major offensive in the territory’s largest city.
Air strikes and artillery shelling have echoed through Gaza City since Israel declared it a combat zone last week.
On the city’s outskirts and in the Jabaliya refugee camp, residents have observed explosive-laden robots demolishing buildings.
“Another merciless night in Gaza City,” said Saeed Abu Elaish, a Jabaliya-born medic sheltering in the northwestern side of the city.
Hospitals in Gaza said at least 31 people were killed by Israeli fire on Monday, more than half of them women and children.
At least 13 people were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has carried out several previous large-scale raids since Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel to ignite the war on October 7, 2023.
Israel says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the militant group operates in densely-populated areas.
Separately, Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later this month.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot made the announcement on Tuesday, adding to international pressure on Israel after similar moves by Australia, Britain, Canada and France.
Belgium will join the signatories of the New York Declaration, paving the way for a two-state solution, or a Palestinian state co-existing in peace alongside Israel, Prevot said in a post on X.
The decision comes “in light of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Palestine, particularly in Gaza, and in response to the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law,” Prevot added.
Belgium would also levy 12 “firm” sanctions on Israel, such as a ban on importing products from its settlements, a review of public procurement policies with Israeli companies and declaring Hamas leaders persona non grata in Belgium, Prevot said.
The Palestinians have long sought a state in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The United States says such a state can only be set up through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Belgium, a member of the European Union, took the decision to step up pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, Prevot said.
In 2024, the United Nations’ highest court ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, and its settlements were illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible.
In Barcelona, a flotilla of dozens of boats loaded with aid for Gaza departed on Monday evening, Reuters footage showed.
Some of the boats of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission blew their horns as they left the port.
“Free, free Palestine,” shouted some activists at the port.
Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are on the flotilla of several dozen boats that is aiming to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver food and humanitarian supplies to the enclave, which has been devastated by nearly two years of war.
Israel has argued the naval blockade it imposed in 2007 is necessary to stop weapons being smuggled to the Hamas Palestinian militant group. It has described other attempts to break it – including one that included Thunberg in June – as a propaganda stunt in support of Hamas.
with AP
Reuters
