There’s a neighborhood in Orange County, California, called Little Arabia, since the majority of the people living there are Afghan and Palestinian.With Cameraperson Vazgen Varzhabetian, Angelina Bagdasaryan visited the neighborhood and spoke with locals about the situation in the Middle East.
After the Israeli defence minister told soldiers to prepare for a ground invasion of Gaza, Israel launched additional airstrikes against the Gaza Strip during the night, raising fears that Israeli forces may invade the Hamas-ruled territory at any time. Furthermore, Israel said on Friday that Kiryat Shmona, a city in the north, will be evacuated.
Israel’s leaders have invited foreign media to visit the scenes of carnage and see fir themselves what sparked the war, as international criticism of the attacks in Gaza has grown.
In the aftermath of an attack on a Gaza Strip hospital that claimed hundreds of lives, Palestinians staged protests in the West Bank for a second day on Wednesday. Rock-throwing protestors, who have vented their anger at the incident—which they blame on Israel—were dispersed by Palestinian security forces using tear gas. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was also a target of the protesters. Israel denies that it attacked the hospital.
Following extensive discussions with Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the two have agreed to develop a plan for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. As for the UN, it reports that most Palestinians in Gaza lack access to water, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Iran and Hezbollah not to get involved.
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.
Following the first Friday prayers since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war less than a week ago, Jerusalem was explosive on Friday, with clashes outside the Old City near the Palestinian-Israeli border. Yan Boechat has this report from Jerusalem.
In a Monday press conference in New York, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the deaths that resulted from the weekend’s Hamas strikes and Israeli counterattacks. According to Margaret Besheer, a U.N. correspondent for VOA, Guterres called for a two-state solution to the crisis through negotiation and urged both sides to protect civilians and Hamas to release hostages. Guterres also urged both sides to protect civilians.
The number of people killed during the Hamas incursion into Israel has surpassed 600, making it the deadliest single day in Israeli history. Israeli airstrikes in retaliation have claimed at least 300 Palestinian lives.Linda Gradstein has this report from Jerusalem. VOA News
Israel showcases its urban warfare training program, which teaches soldiers how to avoid collateral damage, at a part of an army base designed to look like a Palestinian city in response to criticism over its recent raid on the Jenin Palestinian refugee camp.