Hamas wants general mobilization. Israel shows photos of killed babies. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
The Islamist terrorist organization Hamas has attacked Israel. This live blog informs you about the current developments:
UN human rights office sees increasing hatred against Jews and Muslims
12.30 p.m.: In view of the conflict in the Middle East, anti-Semitic and anti-Islamic hate speech is increasing worldwide, according to the UN Office for Human Rights. “We call on politicians and other leaders to unequivocally condemn this type of hate speech,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in Geneva on Friday. Concrete measures are needed to prevent calls for hostility and violence.
“The international community should now stand in solidarity to protect all civilians – no matter where and no matter what happens,” she said.
Shamdasani, on behalf of UN High Commissioner Volker Türk, once again called on the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas to release Israeli hostages. Israel should end the closure of the Gaza Strip and withdraw the call for the evacuation of the northern part of the Palestinian territory.
UN: Israel should withdraw call to leave northern Gaza
11.25 a.m.: The United Nations is opposing the Israeli military’s call for a mass evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip. “The United Nations considers it impossible for such a step to take place without devastating humanitarian consequences,” UN spokesman Rolando Gomez said in Geneva on Friday. “The United Nations strongly calls for such an order to be repealed to prevent an already tragic situation from turning into a catastrophe,” he said.
The call for evacuation affects about 1.1 million people in the densely populated Palestinian territory, which is home to more than two million people, according to the United Nations. In addition, local UN organizations were called upon to also relocate their staff to the south.
A spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) pointed out in Geneva that the transfer of seriously ill and seriously injured patients from the northern Gaza Strip was impossible. “Transporting such people is tantamount to a death sentence,” said spokesman Tarik Jasarevic.
According to a spokesman, the Israeli army wants to make the required evacuation of residents from the northern Gaza Strip as safe as possible. “We will control the attacks so that they can move safely,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Friday. “It’s a war zone,” he emphasized at the same time. It is clear to Israel that an evacuation would take more than 24 hours. But he did not give a clear time frame. The call was sent to residents on various channels. Hagari said that everything would be done to avoid hitting sensitive places such as hospitals in air strikes.
Video | Israel’s military calls for the evacuation of Gaza City
What: Reuters
Cruise ship brings people from Israel to Cyprus to safety
11:17 a.m.: Around 1,300 people arrived in the Cypriot port city of Larnaca on Friday on board a cruise ship from Israel. Hundreds of German citizens are said to be among the passengers, reported the Cypriot broadcaster RIK. The ship “Crown Iris” had left the northern Israeli port city of Haifa the evening before.
As RIK reported, passengers should be able to fly to Germany and other countries immediately from the nearby airport in the city of Larnaka if they wish. The EU island republic of Cyprus had already made its airports and ports available on Tuesday as contact points to help people who want to leave the region.
According to information from the Cypriot radio, the “Crown Iris” not only brings people from Israel to Cyprus – it will also take around 150 Israelis back to Haifa who want to return to their homeland.
