Israeli Gaza invasion could kill up to 15,000 Palestinians: PM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Oct 2023 21:59
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The Palestinian Prime Minister said that the current leadership in the US does not possess the political determination to resolve the ongoing war on Gaza.

Israeli soldiers patrolling next to the settlements near Gaza, southern occupied Palestine, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 (AP Photo)

On Friday, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned that should "Israel" launch a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, it could result in the loss of another 10,000-15,000 Palestinian lives.

Speaking to CNN, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh expressed concerns about what he described as "blind support for Israel", suggesting that it enables actions that lead to loss of life.

He expressed the hope that the US would not follow this path, emphasizing that "Israel's" existence is not under immediate threat. Shtayyeh called on the White House to encourage both parties to pursue a peaceful resolution together.

Shtayyeh also noted that the current leadership in the US does not possess the political determination to resolve the ongoing war on Gaza.

🇵🇸 Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh:

"Blind support for Israel is a license to kill. I hope the United States does not go in this direction. Israel is not under existential threat. The White House and the President should encourage the parties to sit down and work… pic.twitter.com/T3IdHzukCz
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) October 20, 2023

An analysis by The Economist suggests that since October 7th, approximately 4.3% of buildings have been demolished, potentially leaving at least 92,000 individuals without a place to return to once the conflict subsides.

30% of All Residential Buildings in Gaza Destroyed

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Friday that strikes since October 7 have resulted in the destruction, damage, or inhabitable status of at least 30% of residential buildings in the Gaza Strip.

"Since 7 October, at least 30 percent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been either destroyed, rendered uninhabitable, or damaged, according to the Ministry of Housing in Gaza," the OCHA report said.

Schools were not exempt from Israeli brutality as authorities reported that 160 schools had been bombed by the IOF. UN schools were also hit by rockets.

Holy Sites Must Be Protected

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stated on Friday that the United Nations maintains that all Holy Sites should be protected, particularly in light of a lethal strike on a building adjacent to the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza.

"We believe all holy sites should be protected at all times and call on all parties not to involve them in the conflict," Haq told Sputnik.

Palestinians hold a procession for the 18 people, including 8 children, murdered by Israel in the bombing of the Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza.

Video by @Hind_Gaza pic.twitter.com/ili7bIbTbr
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) October 20, 2023

On Friday, Greece's foreign ministry conveyed its "profound sadness" regarding a fatal strike on a building neighboring the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza.

Greek media outlets reported on Thursday that the church was obliterated in the Israeli airstrikes, resulting in numerous injuries and casualties. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced the assault on the church, categorizing it as a war crime.