On Day 468 of US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 8 Massacres, 81 Palestinians Killed, 188 Injured, in the Past 24 Hours, with a Death Toll of 46,788 and 110,453 Injuries, by January 16, 2025

Documentation of the Israeli abuse of power, mistreatment of humanity, and perpetration of the genocidal war on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

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On Day 468 of US-Backed Israeli Genocidal War on Gaza Strip, 8 Massacres, 81 Palestinians Killed, 188 Injured, in the Past 24 Hours, with a Death Toll of 46,788 and 110,453 Injuries

by January 16, 2025

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Editor's Notes:

Here are some initial (not final) statistics, which show the Israeli war crimes against humanity, during the current Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip, based on the reliable data reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza:

By January 16, 2025, the initial death toll of Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza Strip is 56,788+.

This includes the accounted for deaths (46,788), those who are still missing under the rubble (an estimate of at least 10,000+).

By January 16, 2025, the documented injuries exceeded 110,453.

By January 16, 2025, 853 Palestinians who were killed, 6,652 who were injured, and 10,898*, who were abducted by Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, since October 7, 2023, including 310 women and 640 children (Some of the detainees have been released).

* The number of the Palestinians detainees who remain in the Israeli occupation prisons has been updated today (December 5, 2024), by Wafa, to be 10,300.

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As soon as the ceasefire was announced, some Palestinians went out to the
streets briefly celebrating their survival of the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza
Strip, January 15, 2025.
'Hamas Leader, Khaleel Al-'Hayya, says the Israeli genocidal war will remain a stain on the conscience of humanity and the silent and complacent world, January 15, 2025.

Three more Palestinian journalists were killed by the Israeli genocidal air strikes
on Gaza, bringing the total number of killed Palestinian journalists in the Gaza
Strip to 206, January 16, 2025 pic Despite the ceasefire agreement, 57 Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured by the Israeli genocidal air strikes on Gaza city, on Day 468 of the Israeli genocidal war, January 16, 2025.

The so-called Gaza humanitarian zone was struck nearly 100 times by the Israeli occupation forces, in 8 months of the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, January 16, 2025.
Two Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a home in Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, on January 16, 2025.

Grieving the Palestinian family members who were massacred by the Israeli genocidal air strikes on Gaza City, on January 16, 2025. Funeral procession for Rafat Sali'ha, who was killed by an Israeli genocidal air
strike on Dair El-Bala'h, on January 16, 2025.

Site of an Israeli genocidal air strike on a residential neighborhood in Gaza city, which resulted in massacring residents, mostly children and women, on January 16, 2025. The Israeli-imposed starvation on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, through the restrictions on the entry of food supplies, led the starving residents to compete for getting food meals from the few local charities, as seen above, on January 16, 2025.

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بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا" (الْمَائِدَةُ ، 5: 32).

"وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُّتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًا" (النِّسَاءُ ، 4: 93).

"إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا ۚ " (الإسْرَاءُ ، 17: 7).

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

"Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul, or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had killed humankind entirely" (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma-ida, 5: 32).

"And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him, and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a great torment" (Al-Nisa, 4: 93).

"If you do good, you do good for yourselves; and if you do evil, (you do it) to yourselves" (Al-Isra, 17: 7).

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While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written human history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of Prophets David and Solomon , peace be upon them, and Solomon's son).

After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus, peace be upon him, started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

No matter what the Zionists and their supporters do, they cannot change the will of God, Who promised the Holy Land to Abraham and his descendants, basically the Palestinian Muslims and Christians.

No matter how much persecution and aggression the Zionists and their supporters inflict upon the Palestinian people, they will never be able to force them out of the Holy Land, which Allah, praise to Him, promised for them, and kept His promise ever since.

This is a necessary brief background to understand the US-Backed Zionist Israeli continuous wars against the Arab nation generally, and the Palestinian people in particular, which included the wars of 1948, 1956, 1967, 1978, 1982, the brutal crushing of the two Uprisings (1987-1993 and 2000-2004), 2009, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the current genocidal war on Gaza (Since October 7, 2023), which has culminated a blockade of Gaza since 2007. In addition, the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime launched so many covert operations, raids, and air strikes on many Arab states since 1948.

The following news stories are just examples, not a systematic record, of the Israeli occupation government abuse, mistreatment, and violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/

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'Hamas Leader, Khaleel Al-'Hayya says the Israeli genocidal war will remain a stain on the conscience of humanity and the silent and complacent world

Khalil al-Hayya: Our enemy will not defeat our people and our resistance

Thursday 16-January-2025

DOHA, (PIC)

Khaleel Al-'Hayya, a member of the political bureau of 'Hamas and the head of the Movement in the Gaza Strip, said on Wednesday evening that what happened on October 7, 2023—a miraculous and military accomplishment carried out by the elite of the Al-Qassam Brigades—will remain a source of pride for the Palestinian people and their resistance, passed down from generation to generation. He emphasized, “Gaza has proven that our enemy will not defeat our people and our resistance, and they will not see a moment of weakness or defeat from us.”

Al-'Hayya confirmed in a speech following the announcement of an agreement to cease hostilities in the Gaza Strip that Al-Aqsa Flood has severely impacted the enemy, asserting that the Palestinian people will regain their full rights, and this occupation will soon be expelled from their land, sacred sites, and Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

He explained that the war launched by the Israeli occupation forces will remain a stain on the conscience of humanity and the silent and complacent world. He stressed that the Palestinian people will never forget anyone who participated in this brutal war, saying, “Our enemy will not see a moment of weakness or defeat from us.”

Al-'Hayya added that the Israeli occupation regime secretly sought to liquidate the Palestinian cause and destroy the Gaza Strip, retaliating against its people through displacement, but these plans have failed.

He indicated that the occupation has not achieved any of its declared or hidden goals; the people have steadfastly remained on their land, clinging to their rights, and have remained the solid shield of their resistance.

He referred to the heroism of the Al-Qassam fighters who astonished the world with their bravery in the battle of October 7, as they resisted with honor and ethics until the last moment, affirming that the qualitative operations executed by the Al-Qassam heroes were unprecedented in their audacity and valor, resulting in significant blows to the occupation forces.

He spoke about the men of Saraya Al-Quds, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, who stood alongside their brothers in Al-Qassam, exemplifying the model of free guerrilla fighting. He highlighted that these fighters offered their lives cheaply for the sake of Allah, for their homeland, and in defense of their people.

Al-'Hayya stressed that the occupation has failed in its repeated attempts to undermine the determination of the Palestinian people and their resistance, saying that the occupation was unable to break the people’s steadfastness; on the contrary, its wounds deepened, and destruction increased in the Palestinian territories.

He noted that the occupation was only able to restore its prisoners through an agreement with the resistance, emphasizing that the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, their great sacrifices, and the valor of their resistance have thwarted the goals of the occupation and failed its unjust plans.

Support fronts

Al-'Hayya expressed his deep gratitude to everyone who stood with the Palestinian people on the support fronts, particularly in brotherly Lebanon and Hezbollah. He mentioned that Hezbollah has offered hundreds of martyrs from leaders and fighters on the road to Al-Quds, led by Secretary-General 'Hasan Nasrullah and his brothers in the leadership.

He added that the Lebanese people have made significant sacrifices and displayed great patience in defense of and support for the Palestinian people. He affirmed that Ansarullah in Yemen are true brothers who transcended geographical distances and changed the equations of war and the region, launching missiles and drones at the heart of the occupation.

He praised the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support of the Palestinian resistance and its people and for its involvement in the battle, striking the heart of the enemy in the operations of the “True Promise.”

He pointed out that the Iraqi resistance has overcome all obstacles to contribute to the support of Palestine and its resistance, reaching its missiles and drones to our occupied lands.

Additionally, he expressed his thanks and appreciation to the mediators in Qatar and Egypt, who have made strenuous efforts and conducted multiple rounds of negotiations since day one. He mentioned the illuminating stances of many countries that stood by the Palestinian people, such as Türkiye, South Africa, Algeria, Russia, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the free people of the world.

Al-'Hayya asserted that the Palestinian people are entering a new phase in proud Gaza—a phase of construction, consolation, removing the devastating results of aggression, and reconstruction, a phase of solidarity and empathy.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mu'hammed bin Abdul Ra'hman Al Thani, announced this evening that an agreement has been reached for a ceasefire between the Palestinian resistance factions and Israel in the Gaza Strip after 15 months of war in which the occupation committed acts of genocide and thousands of massacres, met with fierce resistance until the last breath.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, 'Hamas, announced on Wednesday evening that the Movement’s leadership has handed the mediators its response to the proposed ceasefire agreement.

Hamas added that its political bureau held an emergency meeting to discuss the proposal submitted by the mediators. It emphasized that it dealt with the proposal “with full responsibility and positivity, based on its responsibility towards our steadfast people in Gaza, to stop the Zionist aggression against them and to put an end to the massacres and genocide they are experiencing.”

It is noteworthy that the indirect negotiations for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, mediated by Qatari, Egyptian, and American parties, have stalled multiple times over the past months due to the intransigence of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his procrastination and evasion of what was agreed upon for political purposes.

However, Stephen Mnuchin, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, exerted pressure on Netanyahu in recent days to accept “the necessary concessions” to finalize the current deal before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

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'Hamas confirms commitment to ceasefire agreement announced by mediators

Thursday 16-January-2025

DOHA, (PIC)

'Hamas leader 'Izzat Al-Resheq confirmed the Movement’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza announced by mediators on Wednesday evening, emphasizing that the Movement “rejects Israeli policies of evasion and procrastination.”

Al-Resheq said via his Telegram channel on Thursday that the Movement is committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators yesterday. This comes after the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that Hamas is retracting its agreements and creating a last-minute crisis that prevents reaching an accord.

Netanyahu’s office alleged in a statement that Hamas “is retracting from the explicit understandings reached with the mediators and Israel, in a last-minute attempt at extortion.” It added that Israel “will not set a date for a cabinet and government meeting until the mediators announce that Hamas has agreed to all the details of the agreement.”

Qatar announced on Wednesday evening that the efforts of Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediation succeeded in reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, set to begin next Sunday. The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, confirmed at the announcement that Qatar, Egypt, and the United States “will work to ensure the implementation of the agreement.”

The announcement of the agreement received widespread international support and joy from the Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected to a genocidal war by the Israeli occupation forces since October 7, 2023. It was met with criticism from Israeli far-right ministers who demand the continuation of the war.

Immediately after the announcement of the agreement, 'Hamas announced in a statement on Wednesday that the agreement arises from the Movement’s responsibility toward the Palestinian people to stop the Israeli aggression against them and to put an end to the massacres and genocide they are facing.

'Hamas explained that the ceasefire agreement is “an achievement for the Palestinian people and the resistance, and a decisive station in the struggle against the enemy, on the path to achieving our people’s goals of liberation and return,” noting that it is “the fruit of the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their resistance.”

Despite the announcement of the ceasefire agreement by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, Netanyahu, who has hindered reaching an agreement since November 2023, has yet to officially announce the conclusion of the agreement.

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'Hamas says Gaza ceasefire deal due to Palestinian ‘steadfastness’

Wednesday 15-January-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, 'Hamas, said its ceasefire deal with Israeli occupation to halt the genocidal war on Gaza was the result of the “steadfastness” of the Palestinian people and its own “resistance”.

“The ceasefire agreement is a result of the legendary steadfastness of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip for over 15 months,” the Movement said, adding that it paved “the way towards the realization of our people’s aspirations for liberation and return.”

'Hamas also extended thanks to mediators, who made great efforts to hammer out the agreement on Wednesday.

Commending the deal as a great achievement for the Palestinian people and the free people of the world, the Movement said it marks a turning point in the course of the conflict with the Israeli occupation, and constitutes an important step towards achieving the people’s goals of liberation and return.

It added the deal comes in response to its responsibility towards the patient people in the Gaza Strip, with the aim of stopping the aggression of the Israeli occupation and putting an end to the bloodshed, massacres and war of extermination to which the people of the Strip are being subjected.

Earlier Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister and and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Al-Shaikh Mu'hammed Bin Abdul Ra'hman Bin Jasim Al Thani announced that Israel and 'Hamas have reached an agreement to halt the 15-month war in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

He said the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday, January 19.

The agreement will be implemented over three stages, Shaikh Mu'hammed said. In an initial six-week phase, Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from central Gaza and Palestinians would be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza.

'Hamas would release 33 Israeli captives over those six weeks, including all female soldiers and civilians, children and the elderly, he said.

Talks on the second phase would begin by the 16th day of the first phase, and are expected to include the release of the remaining captives and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the Reuters news agency reported, citing an official briefing on the negotiations.

A third phase was expected to include the return of dead bodies and the start of reconstruction in Gaza, Reuters reported.

The announcement came as the Israeli army continued its deadly attacks across the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said on Wednesday that Israeli attacks since the start of the war have killed at least 46,707 Palestinians, up by 62 from a day earlier. The number of people wounded has also risen to at least 110,265 people, it said.

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Killing and Injuring of Palestinians in Ghazza (Gaza) by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

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Note: The following figures only include the killed and injured Palestinians who have been accounted for by the Palestinian hospitals. The victims who are not carried to the hospitals are not accounted for.

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‎Despite the ceasefire announcement, the death toll in Gaza Strip rises to 46,788 and injuries to 110,453, since the start of the Israeli genocidal war‎

‎Gaza 16-1-2025 Wafa -

The Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMH) in Gaza announced on Thursday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 46,788, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli genocidal war, on October 7, 2023.‎

‎The PMH added that the toll of injuries has risen to 110,453 since the start of the aggression, while thousands of victims remain under the rubble.‎

‎The PMH also pointed out that the occupation forces committed 8 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of 81 citizens and the injury of 188 others, during the past 24 hours.‎

‎A number of victims are still under rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them, she said.‎

‎It is noteworthy that 73 citizens, including children and women, have been killed since yesterday evening, until this morning, in a series of raids launched by the occupation aircraft on the Gaza Strip, coinciding with the announcement of the ceasefire, which is scheduled to enter into force next Sunday.‎

‎S.K‎.

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Israeli genocidal war on Gaza enters Day 468

Thursday 16-January-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

In the midst of catastrophic humanitarian suffering for more than two million Palestinians — half of them children, the Israeli occupation army continued, for the 468th consecutive day, to pound and target different areas and massacre more civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially in the northern areas.

Reporters for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said on Thursday that the Israeli occupation army carried out attacks on several homes, civilian targets and shelter centers in different areas of Gaza during the past 24 hours, killing and injuring dozens of citizens.

The Israeli army’s large-scale genocidal campaign in northern Gaza, especially in Jabalya and Bait Lahya, has been ongoing since October 5, 2024, where its forces continue to intensively bomb homes and shelters and attack civilians while imposing a tight siege on the entire area.

Deliberate Israeli attacks on ambulance and civil defense workers already deprived northern Gaza of any rescue services.

Four Palestinians were killed and others were injured in an Israeli genocidal attack on a residential apartment near the Al-Sha’biya intersection in the Al-Daraj neighborhood in central Gaza City.

Similar attack also occurred last night and this morning, leaving more than 15 citizens killed and several others injured and missing in Al-Shaikh Radhwan neighborhood, north of Gaza City.

A number of citizens were also injured when the Israeli warplanes targeted the Abu Watfa family home near Al-Shaikh Radhwan Bridge.

Warehouses adjacent to the Al-Mawhoobeen School in Al-Shaikh Radhwan neighborhood were also targeted, leaving several people injured.

Meanwhile, the Israeli artillery shelled Al-Jalaa Street, west of Gaza City.

Earlier Wednesday evening, more than 20 civilians were killed and others were injured after the Israeli forces targeted a residential area west of Gaza City.

According to local sources, 18 civilians were killed and others were injured in a violent attack on a residential area that targeted the 'Alloush, Al-Ka'hlout, Siyam Al-Shaikh Ali, and Abu Jalala families.

Israeli forces have intensified their bombardment of the Gaza Strip after mediators announced that a ceasefire deal has been struck. The attacks have killed at least 40 Palestinians, including many children, according to media reports.

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Two Palestinians killed and several injured by an Israeli genocidal airstrike on Gaza City

GAZA, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

Two Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a home in Al-Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

According to WAFA correspondent, the Israeli military struck the home of Mu'hammed Al-Qarm, near the Tariq Bin Ziyad Mosque. The attack resulted in the killing of A'hmed Yasir Al-Qarm and Bassam 'Haytham Al-Bateeiji.

Medical sources reported that the death toll in Gaza has risen to 77 since the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, including 21 children and 25 women. The agreement is scheduled to take effect on Sunday.

The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 2023 has so far resulted in at least 46,788 documented Palestinian fatalities, with over 110,453 others injured.

Thousands of victims are feared trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency and civil defense teams due to Israeli attacks.

M.N.

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Three Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli air attacks on Gaza

Wednesday 15-January-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

Three more Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, bringing the total number of Palestinian media workers killed in the 15-month genocidal war on the Gaza Strip to at least 206.

Journalist A'hmed Al-Shayya'h was killed in an Israeli bombing of a charitable soup kitchen in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younus city in the southern Gaza Strip. Several people were also killed and injured in the attack.

'Aql Sali'h was killed in an Israeli air attack that targeted a group of people in Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

Meanwhile, the activist Ahmed Abu Alrous and four other people were killed in Al-Nusayrat in central Gaza when an Israeli air attack hit his vehicle.

The Israeli genocidal attacks have now killed 59 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn Wednesday.

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Following the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Israeli warplanes bomb a shelter in Gaza city, killing more Palestinian civilians

GAZA, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

Despite the ceasefire agreement that was announced in the Gaza Strip, which is scheduled to go into effect next Sunday (January 19, 2025), a number of Palestinian civilians were killed and injured on Thursday afternoon after the Israeli occupation warplanes bombed a shelter for the displaced people in al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City,

WAFA correspondents said, quoting medical sources, that two people were killed and injured in the Israeli occupation's bombing of a shelter for the displaced in Al-Fala'h School, in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood.

According to medical sources, the number of people who were killed in various parts of the Gaza Strip since dawn today has risen to 50.

Local health authorities confirmed that the Palestinian death toll from the Israeli onslaught since October 7, 2023 has risen to 46,707 reported fatalities, with an additional 110,265 individuals sustaining injuries. The majority of the victims are women and children.

According to the same sources, emergency services are still unable to reach many casualties and dead bodies trapped under the rubble or scattered on roads across the war-torn enclave, as Israeli occupation forces continue to obstruct the movement of ambulance and civil defense crews.

Israel's genocidal onslaught continues unabated despite calls from the United Nations Security Council for an immediate ceasefire and directives from the International Court of Justice urging measures to prevent genocide and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

K.T.

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Killing, Injuring, and Abduction of Palestinians in the West Bank by Israeli Occupation Regime Forces

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West Bank: Israeli occupation forces kidnap 22 Palestinians, in the past 24 hours

RAMALLAH, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

The Israeli occupation forces kidnap at least 22 people, including former detainees, in the occupied West Bank, during the last 24 hours.

The Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission and the Palestinian Prisoner's Society said in a joint statement that the detention operations were concentrated in the city of Hebron, as well as in cities of Toulkarm, Ramallah, Bait La'hm (Bethlehem), and Toubas., accompanied by widespread raids and abuse, assaults and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to vandalism and destruction of citizens' homes.

They pointed out that the occupation continues to carry out field investigations of dozens of citizens in several towns, detaining them for hours and releasing them later.

PPS and the Commission affirmed that, the total number of Palestinians detained in the occupied West Bank since October 7th has risen to over 11,000. This figure includes those detained from their homes, at military checkpoints, those who surrendered under pressure, and those taken hostage.

K.T.

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IOFs launch new kidnapping campaign in the West Bank and Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem)

Thursday 16-January-2025

WEST BANK, (PIC)

The Israeli occupation forces (IOFs) launched a raid and arrest campaign in various areas in the West Bank and Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem), at dawn Thursday.

In Ramallah, the IOFs kidnapped two young men after storming their family homes in 'Aroura town, northwest of the city.

Similar raids were reported in Bait Rima town, northwest of Ramallah.

In Tulkarem, the IOFs arrested four young men in Dthinnaba suburb, east of the city.

The Israeli forces also detained another citizen from Dthinnaba suburb for several hours before releasing him.

Violent raids were also carried out in Tammoun town, southeast of Tubas, some of which belonged to ex-prisoners.

The IOFs raid on Tammoun coincided with intensive and continuous flights of military reconnaissance drones at low altitudes.

Sa’ir and Soureef towns of Al-Khaleel (Hebron) also witnessed similar raids and kidnappings.

In Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem), a young girl was kidnapped from Al-'Aisawiyya town.

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Aggression and Attacks by Illegal Israeli Settlers and Soldiers

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Note: Despite the Biden administration total support for the Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the U.S. official policy is still considering the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories as illegal.

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Illegal Israeli settlers attack Qusra, Bureen villages south of Nablus

Thursday 16-January-2025

WEST BANK, (PIC)

A group of the illegal Israeli settlers attacked Qusra and Burin villages, south of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank, on Thursday under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.

Local sources reported that several citizens suffered from teargas inhalation after confronting the settler attacks on their homes on the outskirts of the two villages.

The settlers also burnt a vehicle in Burin belonging to citizen 'Adnan 'Izzat Al-Zabin, while the Israeli forces prevented civil defense crews from putting out the fire.

In the past year, settler attacks in the West Bank have killed ten Palestinians, caused 373 fires in Palestinian areas in Nablus, Ramallah, Jineen, and Toulkarm, and resulted in 451 violations that have caused 14,212 trees—including 10,459 olive trees—to be uprooted, damaged, sabotaged, and poisoned.

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Illegal Israeli settlers graze sheep on Palestinian land near Al-Khaleel (Hebron)

Al-Khaleel (Hebron), January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

A group of the illegal Israeli settlers grazed sheep on agricultural crops and trees on citizens' lands in Masafir Yatta, south of Al-Khaleel (Hebron).

Activist Osama Makhamra told WAFA that the colonists released their sheep on civilians' crops and trees in several areas in Masafir Yatta.

The occupation forces also took photos of Palestinian people's homes in Al-Fukheet community in Masafir Yatta.

It is noteworthy that the colonists have escalated the pace of pastoral colonization and attacks on citizens' property.

The report of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission monitored that colonists committed 451 violations last year, which resulted in the uprooting, damage, sabotage and poisoning of a total of 14,212 trees, including 10,459 olive trees.

K.T.

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Illegal Israeli settlers attack villages near Nablus

NABLUS, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

Last night, a group of the illegal Israeli settlers attacked the villages of Qusra and Bureen, south of Nablus, under the protection of the Israeli occupation army.

WAFA correspondent reported that a number of citizens suffered from suffocation while confronting the colonists' attack on homes on the outskirts of the two villages.

He pointed out that the settlers burned a vehicle in Burin belonging to citizen 'Adnan 'Izzat Al-Zabin, and the occupation forces prevented civil defense crews from extinguishing it.

The report of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission monitored the martyrdom of 10 citizens during the past year at the hands of settlers, who caused 373 fires in properties and fields in the governorates of Nablus, Ramallah, Jineen, and Toulkarm, in addition to 451 violations that resulted in the uprooting, damage, sabotage and poisoning of a total of 14,212 trees, including 10,459 olive trees.

K.T.

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News Related to the Israeli Genocidal War on the Palestinian People

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US organization calls for investigating crimes committed by Israel in Gaza

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

The American Physicians Against Genocide organization called for the deployment of teams to investigate the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip, and the targeting of health care workers and journalists.

In a statement issued today, Thursday, the organization called for the immediate and unconditional release of health care workers detained in the occupation prisons, and ensuring their protection as required by international law.

It also stressed the need for unrestricted access to humanitarian, medical and relief aid for all citizens and international missions urgently.

K.T.

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The Gaza “humanitarian zone” struck nearly 100 times by the Israeli occupation forces, in 8 months of the Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip

Wednesday 15-January-2025

GAZA, (PIC)

The BBC Verify investigative program revealed that the so-called Humanitarian Zone in Gaza, an area allegedly designated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOFs) as a safe refuge for civilians, has been subjected to 97 Israeli airstrikes since last May.

This area, which extends along a coastal strip, is one of the most densely populated areas, with more than a million people living in tents, dilapidated infrastructure, and limited access to aid, according to estimates by international humanitarian organizations.

Figures indicate that the IOFs airstrikes have escalated significantly since the beginning of May 2024, with at least 22 strikes recorded early this month alone. According to Palestinian media, these attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of more than 550 people.

“There are almost daily strikes on the humanitarian zone, whether from Israeli military ships, quadcopters or small drones,” Gavin Kelleher, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s outreach manager in Gaza said, adding that “There is frequent shooting in this area, despite being designated by IOF as a ‘unilateral’ humanitarian zone.”

Kelleher went on saying that Israeli occupation army “is keen to maintain the illusion of a humanitarian zone within a certain size, yet this zone can be subject to evacuation orders at any time and may be targeted, too.”

The BBC noted that although the Israeli occupation army has avoided using the term “safe zone,” its statements have led civilians to interpret the term “humanitarian zone” in this way.

Juliette Touma, from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), said, “We have said this over and over again, there is no safe zone in Gaza, there is no safe place, no one is safe, no place is safe.”

The Israeli occupation army pushed the people of the Gaza Strip towards the so called “safe or humanitarian zone” in November 2023, claiming that the southern Gaza Strip was a “safe area”.

The IOF reduced the area of the “safe zone” from 230 to 36 square kilometers, with about 1.7 million displaced people are now living on only 10% of the total area of the Strip without no services.

Most of the new “safe zone” is located in the Dair El-Bala'h, in the Governorate of Center Gaza Strip, and a small part in the humanitarian Mawasi area.

Due to displacement, Central Gaza has been turned into a population center unparalleled in the world or history.

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Tragically overdue ceasefire will not repair lives of Palestinians shattered by Israel’s genocide in Gaza: Amnesty

NEW YORK, January 16, 2025 (WAFA) –

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said that the news that a ceasefire deal has been reached will bring some glimmer of relief to Palestinians victims of Israel’s genocide, adding that "it is bitterly overdue."

“For Palestinians, who have endured more than 15 months of devastating and relentless bombardment, have been displaced from their homes repeatedly, and are struggling to survive in makeshift tents without food, water and basic supplies, the nightmare will not be over even if the bombs cease," she said.

“For Palestinians who have lost countless loved ones; in many cases had their entire families wiped out or seen their homes reduced to rubble, an end to the fighting does not begin to repair their shattered lives or heal their trauma," she noted.

“There is no time to waste. Israel’s continuous and deliberate denial and obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza has left civilians facing unprecedented levels of hunger and children have starved to death. The international community which has thus far shamefully failed to persuade Israel to comply with its legal obligations must ensure Israel immediately allows lifesaving supplies to urgently reach all parts of the occupied Gaza Strip to ensure the survival of the Palestinian population."

"This includes guaranteeing the entry of vital medical supplies to treat the wounded and sick and facilitating urgent repairs to medical facilities and other vital infrastructure. Unless Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza is promptly lifted, this suffering will only continue. They must also urgently grant access to independent human rights monitors into Gaza to uncover evidence and reveal the extent of violations," Callamard concluded.

K.T.

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Editorial Notes about terms & names of people and places:

1. Names of people and places have been standardized to match standard Arabic grammatical rules.

2. Underlined letters and letters preceded by an apostrophe are references to Arabic letter sounds, which does not exist in the English alphabet.

3. The English letter i is equivalent to the Arabic short vowel known as kasra, as in Ibraheem and Qasim as well as in the English words sit and bit. So, it is incorrect to use it as a long vowel for such Arabic names as Jameel and Jibreel.

4. The English letter e is equivalent to the Arabi short vowel known as fat'ha, as in A'hmed and Mu'hammed.

5. It is more accurate to refer to the land-grabbing Israelis, who establish illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, as illegal Israeli settlers, than referring to them as colonists.

The term colony is a reference to a large entity or a country, such as American states before independence. It was also a reference to Egypt, and India, when they were British colonies.

In addition, the term "colony" represents a positive nostalgic theme, in the minds of native speakers of English, particularly in America and Britain.

6. It is more accurate to use the verbs "abduct" and "kidnap" than the verbs "detain" and "arrest," in reference to taking Palestinian citizens by force to prisons and interrogation centers, by Israeli occupation regime soldiers. This is because the presence of the Israeli occupation regime forces is illegal in the Palestinian territories, and they have no jurisdiction over the Palestinian people.

Click here for more about using the apostrophe and the underlining of letters in the transliteration of Arabic names.

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Names of some of the Palestinian cities, as pronounced in standard Arabic, and their foreign names in parentheses:

Al-Khaleel (Hebron)

Al-Nusayrat

Al-Quds (occupied Jerusalem)

Aree'ha (Jericho)

Al-Zaytoun (al-Zeitoun)

Bait (Beit)

Bait La'hm (Bethlehem)

Dair El-Bala'h

Jineen (Jenin)

Khan Younus (Khan Younis)

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Person's names as pronounced in standard Arabic:

A'hmed, 'Hasan, Mu'hammed, Younus, Yousuf,

'Hasan Mulai'hat,

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Conflict terminology

The Israeli occupation apartheid regime (the Israeli government)

Illegal Israeli settlers (instead of settlers, colonists)

A group of the illegal Israeli settlers

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