China calls on 'Israel' to lift blockade immediately: UN envoy
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The Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations demands that "Israel" allow the flow of livelihood supplies to the Gaza Strip.
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Zhang Jun, PR of China and President of the Security Council for November 2023, briefs the Press on the Programme of Work, November 1, 2023. (UN)
During a recent UN Security Council meeting, China's representative Zhang Jun urged "Israel" to immediately lift the Gaza blockade and ensure the unrestricted flow of essential supplies to the region, particularly fuel to humanitarian and medical facilities.
"We call on Israel to immediately lift the blockade and completely remove restrictions on livelihoods supplies, especially fuel deliveries to humanitarian and medical institutions and livelihood facilities," Zhang said during a meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday.
Zhang further expressed China's support for the prompt use of all entry points into Gaza, including the "Kerem Shalom" border crossing situated at the intersection of the Gaza Strip's border with both the occupied territories and Egypt.
Presently, the Rafah crossing is the sole border entry available for humanitarian transit, with a minimal capacity compared to what is actually needed.
In the same session, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia strongly criticized "Israel's" strikes on civilian targets in Gaza and denounced these actions as a grave violation of international humanitarian law, highlighting that the deliberate targeting of civilian objects is unacceptable.
"We are shocked and deeply outraged that the targets of the strikes are civilian objects," Nebenzia said, adding, "We emphasize that the deliberate strikes against civilian objects represent an egregious violation of international humanitarian law."
At 🇦🇪UAE-called UN Security Council meeting,
— Afshin Rattansi (@afshinrattansi) November 10, 2023
🇷🇺@RussiaUN's #Nebenzia slams Washington's role in the UK-US-EU-armed mass killing of civilians in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/uCtScIjEcp
Point of no return
Earlier today, the International Red Cross said in a statement that the health system in the Gaza Strip "has reached a point of no return."
On another note, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on Friday an increase in the number of martyrs due to the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip to 11,078, with a total of 4,506 children included.
Several hospitals have reportedly been encircled by IOF tanks.
Sources also reported that sniper bullets were shot at civilians while they were inside the hospital.
In a statement, the director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex wrote, "Today was a day of war on hospitals," further expressing concerns that the IOF might target the entire medical complex.
Describing the crisis faced by hospitals due to the blockade, he said the situation was "tragic in every sense of the word," emphasizing that medical teams are unable to perform surgical operations. The responsibility for the patients and the wounded at Al-Shifa Hospital was placed on the world as a whole.
He highlighted that the displaced individuals within the hospital premises remain without food or water, emphasizing that the international community "has not provided us with a single drop of water or even a liter of fuel, and we are in a real crisis."
