Qatari Newspapers Editorials -1-

In its editorial titled "Decline in International Support for the Occupation", Al-Watan said that the Israeli occupation continues its intensive and unprecedented ground, air and naval bombardment of Gaza Strip for the 24th consecutive day, while preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, despite warnings from United Nations and relief agencies about the catastrophic impact of these actions on the lives of civilians.

The death toll from the violent and ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip has risen to more than 8,300 martyrs, most of whom are children, in addition to more than 21,000 wounded, the paper noted.

The Israeli warplanes heavily targeted the vicinity of Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza in an attempt to force the displaced residents inside to move southward. Al-Quds Hospital currently shelters 12,000 displaced citizens who sought refuge there, along with approximately 400 patients and wounded individuals who are now at risk of being targeted. Israeli authorities renewed their warnings yesterday about the bombing of Al-Quds Hospital and ordered its immediate evacuation, Al-Watan added.

The daily crimes and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation led to a decline in the level of international legitimacy supporting the occupation state in its aggressive war on Gaza. Israeli officials have acknowledged this declining support due to the genocide and massacres perpetrated by the occupation state against the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip, Al-Watan pointed out.

In conclusion, Al-Watan called on the United Nations Security Council to take action to stop the heinous aggression on Gaza Strip, in order to prevent further bloodshed and the loss of more lives.

Under the headline "Gaza Needs Access to Aid", English daily The Peninsula stressed the importance of delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinians who are in dire need of fuel, food and clean water as the war enters its fourth week.

Israel has expanded its military incursion deeper into the northern part of the Gaza Strip as the United Nations and medical staff expressed fears over air strikes hitting closer to hospitals, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter alongside thousands of wounded, the paper said.

The largest convoy of humanitarian aid to arrive in Gaza still fell far short of needs, relief workers said. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society also revealed that only 118 trucks have been received so far inside the Gaza Strip due to the complex inspection procedures imposed by Israel, which impedes the arrival of aid to Gaza, The Peninsula added.

Despite widespread calls for de-escalation, Israel has maintained its ban on the entry of fuel into the Gaza Strip. Emboldened by support from Western powers, Israel imposed a complete closure on Gaza from the two crossings it controls, leaving the Rafah crossing from Egypt as the only entry to the strip, the newspaper noted.

The Peninsula condemned using civilians as pawns in power games. The international community is already complicit, but humanity should always prevail no matter what aid must get to Palestinians, and Israeli aggression must be called to order.

Source: Qatar News Agency