Hamas releases two hostages, Israel-Gaza war enters Day 15

First aid trucks enter Gaza Strip as supplies begin from Egypt’s Rafah crossing,

Alkhidmat Foundation donates Rs150m aid to Gaza, promises Rs 500 million more,

On Day 15 of the Israel-Hamas war, twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent—responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies—crossed the Rafah crossing after reaching the Egyptian terminal.

The announcement follows a visit to Israel by US President Joe Biden, after which Washington announced that an agreement had been reached to let aid in through Egypt.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Friday to oversee the preparations, expressed his helplessness on the closure of only the border crossing to supply aid and lifesaving medicines for Gaza people.

Israel had opposed the entry of aid saying no assistance would reach Hamas fighters. But the stance has now been changed after the release of two American hostages by Hamas.

Hamas’ media office said in a statement on Saturday that the trucks “carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies [canned goods].”

Palestinians in the West Bank say the aid delivery is a “PR stunt” on the part of the international community to show it cares about civilians in Gaza, but that the quantities are not nearly enough to respond to the needs on the ground.

The supplies include trauma medicines and supplies for 1200 people and portable trauma bags for on-the-spot stabilization of up to 235 injured people. They also include chronic diseases medicines and treatments for 1500 people and basic essential medicines and health supplies for 300,000 people for three months.

WHO is working with the Egyptian and Palestine Red Crescent societies to ensure the safe passage of these critical supplies and their delivery to hospitals and health facilities. Inside Gaza, hospitals have already reached breaking point due to shortages and the depletion of medicines and medical supplies.

These supplies are a lifeline for severely injured people or those battling chronic illnesses, who have endured a harrowing two weeks of limited access to care and severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies. WHO calls for the protection of humanitarian aid teams in Gaza as they work to ensure the safe delivery of these supplies to where they are most needed.

The supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs as hostilities continue to grow.

A second plane landed in Al-Arish from the United Arab Emirates yesterday carrying humanitarian supplies donated by IOM, UNICEF, the Emirati Red Crescent, and WHO. WHO supplies include surgical instruments and equipment for 1000 people, as well as tents and water tanks. Another plane carrying WHO supplies is due to land in Al-Arish later this morning. WHO supplies on these flights include medicines, surgical supplies and instruments, infusions, disinfectant, antibiotics, water tanks, and tents.

With more supplies for Gaza expected to land in Egypt over the coming days, WHO calls for sustained and uninterrupted humanitarian access through the Rafah border crossing.

Earlier,

Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan (AFP) head Dr. Hafeezur Rehman has revealed that the organization has given a whopping Rs 150 million worth of help to the people of Gaza.

In a statement on Saturday, he said working together with global charities, Alkhidmat started helping out in Gaza on October 7. “The situation there is really tough, with a big need for things like water, food, and medical help.”

Dr. Rahman explained that they’re doing their best to get help to those who need it.

“Right now, Alkhidmat is sending medical teams to help out, giving cooked meals to folks in hospitals and camps, and making sure people get essential supplies,” he added.

“They’ve already given out Rs 150 million worth of help, and they’re setting aside another 500 million for the people in Gaza.”

Dr. Rahman said it’s tricky because Gaza is kind of cut off from the rest of the world, but they’re finding ways to get help there. They’ve used local resources and are also trying to send aid through international channels, like the Rafah border.

The situation in Gaza is really tough, and Dr. Rehman shared a worrying update from a hospital there. A Turkish doctor told them that they only have enough fuel for 24 more hours. After that, the hospital might have to stop helping people.

Dr. Rehman thanked the generous people of Pakistan who always step up to help when there’s trouble. He’s hopeful that the support will keep coming for the people of Palestine. And he’s inviting other organizations to join hands with Alkhidmat to help out in this critical time.

UNSC failed to stop ‘slaughter’ in Gaza, Kashmir: Munir Akram,

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which has the primary responsibility to promote world peace, has failed to “stop the slaughter in Gaza”, as it also failed in Kashmir, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram said.

“Like Israel in occupied Palestine, India’s massive occupation Army of 900,000 troops has sought to brutally suppress the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and to impose what its extremist leaders ominously call a ‘Final Solution’ for Kashmir,” he told the 15-member Council.

On Wednesday, the United States vetoed a Russian-led Security Council resolution that would have called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver life-saving aid to millions of traumatized Gazans living under the relentless Israeli bombing.

Speaking in a debate, Ambassador Akram said he hopes that after the Security Council’s failure, the General Assembly will take action and demand an immediate ceasefire; full, unhindered, and sustainable humanitarian access to suffering people in Gaza; and ensure that they are not displaced within or outside Gaza.

“Thereafter,” he added, “We should seek to resuscitate the two-State solution, the only option for a durable peace in the Holy Land.”

In his remarks, Ambassador Akram said the Security Council’s failures could be addressed by making it more representative of the UN’s membership; more democratic, by enlarging the voice of the majority of small and medium sized States, and more accountable, through the democratic method of periodic elections

The Pakistani envoy said regional and sub-regional organizations can play a role in promoting peace and security and resolving disputes. However, their role remains subsidiary to that of the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Secretary-General and other relevant UN organs. Moreover, their actions must remain consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and UN resolutions.

The bloodshed began on October 7 when Palestinian group Hamas launched an attack in Israel in the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since the state was founded in 1948.

Israel hit back with a relentless bombing campaign, killing more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.