UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the urgent evacuation of 2,500 critically ill children from war-torn Gaza. Following a meeting with American doctors on Thursday, he stressed the need for immediate action as these children face life-threatening conditions in the coming weeks.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the urgent evacuation of 2,500 critically ill children from war-torn Gaza. Following a meeting with American doctors on Thursday, he stressed the need for immediate action as these children face life-threatening conditions in the coming weeks.
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The medical team, comprising four volunteers who have worked in Gaza for 15 months, highlighted the dire state of the region’s healthcare system. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups has left Gaza in ruins, with over 2 million Palestinians enduring unimaginable hardships.
In a social media post after the meeting, Guterres shared that the discussion deeply affected him. He emphasized that these children must be evacuated with the assurance that they will one day reunite with their families and communities.
A temporary ceasefire was declared in Gaza on January 19, lasting six weeks. However, just days before the truce, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 12,000 patients were waiting for medical evacuation. This number could rise if the ceasefire collapses.
Meanwhile, Hamas confirmed on Friday that 16 senior leaders of its political wing, including chief Ismail Haniyeh, successor Yahya Sinwar, and deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri, were killed in the 15-month-long Israeli offensive. Additionally, Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the death of its commander, Mohammed Deif, in a video statement by spokesperson Abu Ubaida. He also confirmed the loss of deputy commander Marwan Issa and six other high-ranking officials.
As part of the ongoing ceasefire deal, Hamas is set to release three Israeli hostages on Saturday. In exchange, Israel will free 90 Palestinian prisoners, including nine serving life sentences. According to Al Jazeera, the hostages to be released include 54-year-old French-Israeli citizen Ofer Kalderon, 65-year-old American-Israeli Keith Siegel, and 35-year-old Israeli-Argentinian Yaden Bibas, all of whom are civilians.
Liberty News’ international correspondent reports that earlier on Thursday, Hamas freed two Israeli women, a man, and five Thai workers held captive in Gaza. In return, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners, including a female soldier from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
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