Live Updates: Gaza facing ‘unprecedented rain of destruction’ — UN expert

Saturday, October 19, 2024

06:14 GMT — Gaza facing ‘unprecedented rain of destruction’ — UN expert

Gaza has experienced “a biblical, unprecedented rain of destruction” since Israel launched its military offensive on Oct. 7 last year, the UN housing expert has said.

Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN independent investigator on the right to adequate housing, told reporters that “the ferocity” of destruction in Gaza wasn’t seen in the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

By January 2024, Rajagopal said, 60-70 percent of all homes in Gaza were destroyed, and in northern Gaza, it was 82 percent of homes. “It is far worse than that right now,” particularly in the north which is approaching the 100 percent level, he said.

05:29 GMT — US destroys 20 Houthi uncrewed aerial systems, missiles: CENTCOM

The US military has destroyed 20 one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems and land cruise missiles in Yemen's Houthi-controlled area over several days, according to a statement.

"The drones and missiles were downed by a combination of US Air Force and US Navy assets deployed to the region," it added.

04:43 GMT — Iran warns US about potential Israeli attack

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has cautioned the US that it would be held accountable for any losses Iran might suffer if it supports an anticipated Israeli attack.

Araghchi’s remarks came after US President Joe Biden acknowledged he was aware of Israel’s plans on the timing and nature of possible retaliation against Iran for a missile attack against Israel earlier this month.

The Iranian minister wrote on X that anyone with knowledge of or involvement in facilitating such an attack by Israel would bear responsibility for any potential consequences in Iran.

03:20 GMT — Israel kills 33 civilians, including 21 women, in Gaza's Jabalia

Israel has killed at least 33 Palestinians, including 21 women and many children, and wounded more than 85 others in strikes on homes in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency WAFA reported early on Saturday.

Mohammad Salha, director of al-Awda Hospital, told Anadolu Agency that the Israeli air strikes targeted a number of Palestinian homes in the Tel al Zaatar area, east of Jabalia camp.

He noted that there are still missing people under the rubble of the homes, while ambulances are unable to reach the area under fear of being targeted by the Israeli invading army.

03:00 GMT — UN expert accuses Israel, Western nations of speech breaches

Protest crackdowns, banned marches, media workers at risk — a UN expert has accused Western nations and Israel of freedom of speech violations in the year since the Gaza war broke out.

"No conflict in recent times has threatened freedom of expression so seriously or so far beyond its borders than Gaza," UN special rapporteur Irene Khan told reporters as she presented her report, "Global threats to freedom of expression arising from the conflict in Gaza."

The Bangladeshi human rights lawyer, who has been the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression since 2020, notably cited crackdowns on pro-Palestine protests in Western countries in the early months of the war.

02:30 GMT — Houthi group attacks ship in Arabian Sea for links with Israel

The Yemeni Houthi group has said it targeted a ship in the Arabian Sea for having links to Israel and reported more US-UK raids on western Yemen.

Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesman, said in a statement that the group targeted the Malta-flagged Megalopolis container ship with drones in the Arabian Sea, and achieved direct hits.

Saree said the group targeted the ship because the company that owns the ship breached the Houthi's embargo on ships entering Israeli ports.

For our live updates from Friday, October 18, 2024, click here.