Israel-Palestine live: Thousands in state of panic as Israel continues to strike hospitals

Karim Khan, the prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC), said that harming civilians and denying aid are possible crimes.

He said that “willful killing and hostage-taking are crimes under the Geneva convention,” and that it is a crime “to deny aid” and that Israel must ensure food and medicine are allowed into Gaza.

“There should be no doubt that every decision maker from the government to military advisors to lawyers making decisions should be on clear notice that they will be required to justify every strike against every civilian object,” he said.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Israel's “dangerous escalation in the course of confrontations, could undermine mediation and de-escalation efforts,” in a statement published on Tuesday evening. 

The statement came after Israel bombed the residential Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, killing and wounding 400 people. 

The Qatari foreign ministry described the strike on the Jabaliya camp as a “new massacre against the defenseless Palestinian people”.

In their statement, the ministry said they call on the international community “to act quickly to stop the killing and destruction”.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have said they are “horrified” by the news coming from the Jabalia camp, after an Israeli air strike left at least 400 people killed or wounded.

A Gaza-based nurse for the organisation said: “After the attack, many wounded people arrived to Al Shifa hospital where our teams helped to provide emergency medical care. Young children arrived at the hospital with deep wounds and severe burns. They came without their families. Many were screaming and asking for their parents.”

MSF added: “We condemn this latest episode of senseless violence and reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent more deaths across the Strip. Enough is enough!”

A number of Muslim and Arab American groups are threatening to withhold donations and votes towards President Joe Biden's 2024 reelection unless he takes immediate steps to secure a Gaza ceasefire.

In an open letter entitled "2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum," Muslim leaders pledged to mobilise "Muslim, Arab, and allied voters" to "withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people".

"Your administration's unconditional support, encompassing funding and armaments, has played a significant role in perpetuating the violence that is causing civilian casualties and has eroded trust in voters who previously put their faith in you," the council wrote.

Support among Arab American voters for Biden has plummeted from 59 percent in 2020 to 17 percent today,” a poll analysis said.

Arab and Muslim American communities have voiced frustration over Biden not condemning Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since the war started on 7 October. 

Local pro-Palestinian groups have scheduled a protest in Minneapolis on Wednesday when Biden will visit Minnesota. 
 

Al Jazeera has "vehemently condemned" the killing of their broadcast engineer's family in an Israeli air strike that targeted the Jabalia refugee camp.

Mohammed Abu al-Kumsaan lost at least 18 members of his family in the bombings, including his father, two sisters, eight nephews and nieces, his brother, his brother’s wife, and their four children, his sister-in-law, and one uncle.

Al Jazeera’s statement read: “We extend our sincere condolences to Mohamed and his family and stand in solidarity with them during this time of profound sorrow, and we call for justice and accountability for this senseless murder of innocent lives.”

“These Israeli crimes against the civilians must not go without being held accountable and face the full force of international justice,” it continued.

The statement also called for the international community to address the “grave injustice with utmost urgency”.
 

Protests have engulfed the occupied West Bank cities of Ramallah and Hebron, following Israel’s bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza.

Hundreds of people are marching in the streets, denouncing Israel’s bombing of Gaza and supporting Gaza’s residents. 

Earlier today, a 16-year-old Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces in a town near Hebron. 
 

Belgian transport workers' unions on Tuesday called on their members to refuse to handle military equipment being sent to Israel to bomb Gaza. 

The ACV Puls, BTB, BBTK and ACV-Transcom unions said in a joint statement that airport workers have seen arms shipments.

"While a genocide is underway in Palestine, workers at various airports in Belgium are seeing arms shipments in the direction of the war zone," the statement said. 
 

A statement issued on Tuesday evening says that Bolivia’s government is breaking diplomatic ties with Israel.

The foreign ministry said that Israel is “committing crimes against humanity in its attacks on the Gaza Strip”. 

Bolivia in 2009 cut diplomatic ties with Israel in protest against its attacks on the Gaza Strip.
 

Jack Lew was confirmed as US ambassador to Israel at a critical time in Washington's relationship with its top Middle East ally.

US President Joe Biden nominated Lew, a former Treasury Secretary, in September. His confirmation was seen as a challenge given his party's razor thin majority in the Senate.  

The senate confirmed Lew with a margin of 53 to 43. Only two Republican senators, Lindsay Graham and Rand Paul, voted with all Democrats to confirm. 

Read more:  Biden nominates Jack Lew as US ambassador to Israel

 

A vigil was held in London, hours after Israel bombed the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, killing and wounding 400 people. 

Middle East Eye’s producer, Mohammad Saleh, says that the atmosphere was very sombre, and many waved Palestinian flags and held signs saying “Stop bombing Gaza.”

One person at the vigil, Noor, said: “I’m here today because for too long we have sat in our privilege and watched on our television screens as atrocities have been committed in Gaza, in the West Bank and elsewhere within Israel. It's about time people united and came together.”

Mohammed, a London-based tech-worker who also attended the vigil, said: "We are here to voice our concerns against the genocide that the British government are allowing to happen in Gaza."

"I’m in shock at what happened truly. I couldn’t believe it when I first saw the news. It was horrific. What's happening to my homeland is devastating, and Palestinians and all people with a heart in the UK, need to do more to help Palestine," he added.

Pro-Palestine protests have been held every weekend since the war started on 7 October. On 28 October, hundreds of thousands marched in central London denouncing Israel’s bombing of Gaza.

The Rafah crossing will be opened Wednesday for a number of Palestinians who have been wounded in Israeli bombings in Gaza, in order to complete their treatment in Egyptian hospitals, Egyptian medical and security sources as well as Palestinian officials said on Tuesday.

Hundreds of protesters have flocked to the streets in Jordan’s capital Amman, denouncing Israel for the bombing of the Jabalia camp in Gaza. 

At least 400 people were killed or wounded in the bombing. 

 

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters staged a sit-in at London’s Liverpool Street Station, calling for a ceasefire. 

Many of the protesters waved flags and demanded an end to the aggression and killing of civilians in Gaza. 

Israeli bombing of the Jabalia camp in Gaza has killed 18 members of al Jazeera Arabic’s Mohammed Abu al-Kumsaan, a broadcast engineer for the organisation. 

Those killed include his father and his two sisters. 
 

The foreign ministry for the State of Palestine has issued a statement calling for the protection of ambassadors and diplomatic staff in embassies around the world, following direct threats of violence and vandalism.

The statement says: “Attacks against Palestinian ambassadors, diplomats and diplomatic staff have already taken place. The Foreign Ministry reminds host nations of their responsibility to provide protection to our embassies and diplomatic missions as per the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

“The degree of incitement against Palestinian diplomats caused by the exceptional circumstances of the Israeli occupation’s destructive war has reached unprecedented levels. Several Palestinian missions have reported receiving death threats, harassment of staff, in addition to acts of vandalism that have caused criminal damage to property,” it added. 

The foreign ministry says the British government has not yet addressed the situation, and that they hold the British government responsible for the safety of the Palestinian ambassador, mission staff, and Palestinian property in London and for any harm that might occur.