Solidarity! Statement of solidarity with Palestine from Kenyan artists to WANN writers

“We are outraged by the mainstream media’s continuous complicity in dehumanizing Palestinians and silencing their narrative.

We denounce antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all acts of violence and terrorism in all forms. We believe every human life matters and every human being deserves to live a life of dignity.

We are moved by the Palestinian people’s resilience, strength, and spirit and the fearlessness of the Jewish people who are speaking up against what the state of the Israel is committing in their name.

We call on all people of conscience to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the safe release of all hostages. We firmly believe lasting peace and security can only be attained through political solutions that bring an end to Israeli military occupation and state violence against Palestinians.”

Read the whole statement: Statement of solidarity with Palestine from Kenyan artists to WANN writers


Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #36. Nov 11

Israeli shelling and ground attacks intensified around hospitals in Gaza city and northern Gaza (hereafter: the north) on 11 November, with several being directly hit. According to media reports, civilians, patients, and staff were shot at while attempting to flee the Shifa hospital in Gaza city.

On 11 November, power at the Shifa and the Indonesian hospital (northern Gaza) was reportedly cut off after fuel for generators ran out; generators at Al Quds hospital (Gaza city) failed and could not be repaired due to the bombardment and fighting. At Shifa, two babies died when their life support stopped working and 37 babies in incubators are at imminent risk of death, according to the Ministry of Health in Ramallah.

On 11 November, following reports on the attacks hitting Shifa hospital, the OCHA Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, stated: "There can be no justification for acts of war in health care facilities, leaving them with no power, food or water, and shooting at patients and civilians trying to flee.”

The reported fatality toll since 7 October includes at least 192 medical staff, according to MoH Gaza. Of them, at least 16 medical staff were on duty when killed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, 101 UNRWA staff have been killed, the highest number of UN personnel killed in a conflict in the history of the organization. Eighteen Palestinian Civil Defense personnel and 44 Palestinian journalists have also been killed since this crisis began.

Here is the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel
Flash Update #36

Premature babies at Shifa hospital in Gaza. On 11 November, two babies died when their life support stopped working and 37 babies in incubators are said to be at imminent risk of death. Screenshot from a video by UNICEF, 16 October 2023

Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #35 Nov 10

An estimated 30,000 additional people fled areas north of Wadi Gaza (hereafter: the north) southwards through a “corridor” opened by the Israeli military on 10 November. At about 15:00, several explosions were recorded in that “corridor,” resulting in fatalities and injuries, among those fleeing, according to initial reports.

Israeli bombardments around hospitals in Gaza city and the North Gaza governorate intensified on 10 November, with several being directly hit. By noon, Israeli ground forces reportedly completed the encirclement of four hospitals in An Nasser area of Gaza city. One of them, a pediatric hospital, stopped operations on 9 November after sustaining significant damage. This brings to 20 (out of 36) the number of hospitals throughout Gaza that are no longer functioning. 

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation in Gaza stated today that “the destruction affecting hospitals in Gaza is becoming unbearable and needs to stop. The lives of thousands of civilians, patients and medical staff are at risk.” 

On 10 November, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, stressed following reports on attacks hitting Shifa: "under international humanitarian law, hospitals must be protected" adding that "acts of war in places of grace must stop.” 

On 10 November Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian child during a search-and-arrest operation in Ayda Refugee Camp (Bethlehem).

Read the full report: Hostilities in the Gaza Strip and Israel Flash Update #35 

A Civil Defense team on a mission to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies from beneath the rubble in a residential area of Gaza. About 2,700 people, including some 1,500 children, have been reported missing. Eighteen Palestinian Civil Defense personnel have reportedly been killed since 7 October 2023. Photo by the Civil Defense, 2 November 2023.