One of the most visited places in the world, Jerusalem’s Old City, has closed its stores, churches, and other public areas due to the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas militants, that started on October 7. Tourists and pilgrims have fled the city in fear of escalating violence.
After three days of fierce fighting, an apparent cease-fire between Israel and the Islamic Jihad appears to be holding. The 2 million Palestinians who live there continue to confront difficulties, as evidenced by the most recent fighting in Gaza. 95% of the water is undrinkable, and unemployment and poverty are also rampant
The unrest in Gaza and Jerusalem has spread across Israel’s neighbourhoods
Press briefings by Sofiane Mimouni, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations and Chair of the Arab Group for the month of May 2021; Abdou Abarry, Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for the month of May 2021; and Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations
On Sunday (16 May), United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that the current hostilities in Gaza and Israel are “utterly appalling,” and that “fighting must end.” βIt has to end right now.β
Suleiman Abu-Namous is a 110-year-old Palestinian who has been living in different refugee camps since 1948. Currently settled in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip, Abu-Namous fears he could lose his home due to funding cuts by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
Seemingly untouched by decades of conflict, a Christian winery near Bethlehem has been making wine since 1885
Hamas said Israeli undercover forces entered the territory in a civilian vehicle late Sunday and exchanged fire with Hamas gunmen. The clashes killed an Israeli lieutenant colonel and prompted Israeli airstrikes and a salvo of rocket fire from Gaza toward Israel