Gaza:
- 240 malnutrition-related deaths, including 107 children, as of 15 August.
- 1 in every 5 children is malnourished.
- soaring temperatures of over 40°C (104°F).
- between 6 & 12 August, out of 81 attempts to coordinate planned movements with the Israeli authorities for humanitarian aid delivery – 35 were facilitated, 29 were initially approved but then impeded on the ground, 12 were denied and 5 had to be withdrawn.
- 50 hostages still in Gaza – some of whom have died.
- 61,827 Palestinians killed and 155,275 injured since 7 October 2023.
- 195 journalists and media workers killed.
- 1200 killed in Hamas attack in Israel on 7 October 2023.
Today, Saturday 16 August, Peace campaigners in Orkney will meet on the Kirk Green, Broad Street, Kirkwall between 1 and 2pm. They are calling for an immediate ceasefire, the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, and the return of all hostages.
There has been no let up in the air strikes and attacks by Israel on Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that air strikes and shelling have intensified. 86% of the Gaza Strip is in Israeli-militarized zones or under displacement orders. People simply have nowhere safe to go to.
Israel has stopped aid which includes materials to make shelters with for over 5 months. This means that hundreds of thousands of people are now left without protection from the soaring temperatures.
According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) at least 195 journalists and media workers – including 181 Palestinians – have been killed since 7 October 2023, making this the deadliest war for the profession in recent history.
On Sunday, 10 August, 7 people were killed in an Israeli strike which targeted the tent of a team of journalists outside the main gate of Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital. Four of the five of the journalists worked for Al Jazeera: Anas al-Sharif (28), Mohammed Qreiqeh (33), Al Jazeera cameramen Ibrahim Zaher (25) and Mohammed Noufal ( 29). Freelance photojournalist Mohammed Al-Khaldi was also killed.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has deplored the killings and supported calls for an investigation into the actions of the government of Israel.
The union is also encouraging chapels and branches to hold solidarity vigils at branches and workplaces over the coming days to protest against the killing of colleagues in Gaza. Despite the calls from the NUJ, many media workers in the UK have been silent on the Gaza Genocide.
NUJ Members can sign an open letter to the UK government and donate to the IFJ Safety Fund, which offers practical help and solidarity.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
“This is a horrific attack. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the murdered journalists and their colleagues. Journalists have specific rights under international law and once again these rights have been violated while other civilians have been killed as collateral damage.
“Israel has denied foreign reporters access to Gaza while systematically discrediting, targeting and killing local journalists. These are the activities of a government that does not want the world to witness its actions.
“That the Israeli military openly admits to these atrocities brings into sharp focus the need for international action to end this impunity. We once again reiterate our call for the UK government, who claim to be committed to press freedom, to exert serious pressure to protect journalists, uphold international law and support an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the blatant targeting of journalists and media workers by Israeli forces.
“There must be immediate international action to end this obscene behaviour.”
The Peace campaigners in Orkney invite all who wish to join them in their calls for an end to the Gaza Genocide, to meet on the Kirk Green between 1 and 2pm.
The Orkney News has featured the vigils taking place in Kirkwall, and in the island of Sanday, since they started at the end of October 2023. A series of films have been published which feature the views of some of those taking part. They can be viewed on The Orkney News YouTube Channel. This is the latest one:
Fiona Grahame