Region | Palestinian Territories
Gaza children pay the price
UAE condemns Israeli aggression as diplomatic push mounts to halt carnage.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 23:35 January 5, 2009
- Image Credit: Reuters
- A baby wounded by an Israeli tank shell is treated by doctors at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza on Monday.
Dubai: The shelling is incessant, hospitals are overwhelmed, dead children are lying around. Those who survive Israeli shelling, gunfire and bombs are too traumatised to speak, too shocked to act.
And this is only the beginning of the nightmare in Gaza, where virtually everyone has a story to tell that is as shocking and tragic as the fate that has befallen the coastal strip.
More than 10 Palestinian children have been killed in Israel's latest ground offensive, as the known death toll since Saturday's invasion has climbed to 80. Overall, Gaza health officials reported 537 Palestinian dead and more than 2,400 wounded since Israel embarked upon its campaign on December 27. At least 200 civilians are among the dead - fuelling international outrage.
The UAE Cabinet strongly condemned Israel's brutal aggression on Gaza and expressed the UAE's solidarity with the Palestinian people. In a statement issued following a Cabinet meeting yesterday, the government denounced the fierce military campaign by Israel against Gaza and its people as a flagrant violation of international law, and praised the efforts by Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, within the Arab League to make peace efforts a success and help end the aggression.
International efforts to secure a ceasefire moved ahead with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Middle East special envoy Tony Blair visiting the region, but they seemed able to offer little beyond words. And in the region, a Hamas delegation headed by politburo members Emad Al Alami and Mohammad Nasser travelled to Egypt to discuss an Egyptian plan for reconciliation with Fatah.
In New York, Arab states planned to propose a new draft for a UN resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Malki told reporters: "I came at the request of [Palestinian President] Mahmoud Abbas in order to start preparing for a draft resolution that will be presented to the Security Council as soon as possible."
Related Links
- Israel presses on with Gaza attack
- Sarkozy heads to Mideast for talks
- 31 civilians killed in Gaza invasion
- Egypt flays Israeli ground offensive
- Ground invasion has both parties weighing the risks
- Arabs demand immediate Gaza ceasefire
- Muslim states seek UN session
- Israel rebuffs calls for observers
- Hamas calls for reconciliation talks with all factions
The diplomatic push had little impact on Magdi Al Samuli, who mourned his three children killed in an Israeli airstrike yesterday. "Get up, boy, get up" cried the weeping father, who lost a total of 13 close relatives when an Israeli shell hit his house east of Gaza City. "Please get up. I am your dad and I need you," he said. The oldest was 4 years old. Their mother was killed, too.
- With reports from WAM, and other agencies
Your comments
The act of Israel is unhuman. If the whole world is against this war on Gaza, then why are they not sending medical aid or military help to Gaza to atleast protect children and women?
Yakoob Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 06, 2009, 13:00
All nations including Arabs nations mustresign form the UN as a protest against what is happening in Gaza
Mozamel
Helsinki,Finland
Posted: January 06, 2009, 12:58
What is happening in the world?Why are they silently watching the killing of innocent people?My heart aches when I see pictures. It is a horrific crime against humanity. What goes around comes around and the Israelis will no doubt pay for this one day.
Syed Anwar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 06, 2009, 12:57
I request all Arab nations to take action againest this cruellty against our brothers,and sisters.
Sami
Hyderabad,India
Posted: January 06, 2009, 12:22
These innocent children who are witnessing deaths of their loved ones, fire, disasters around them, and the people who are losing their beloved children, relatives. Does Israel think they will keep quiet and would think Israel is a peaceful nation? No. Israel is creating hatred for them, which I think will never end. Every single death will increase hundreds of human shields to support Palestine's freedom movement. What a great balance... Israel can save their few people, while Muslims have no right to save their own?
Muhammad Minhaj
Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Posted: January 06, 2009, 11:30
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