KUALA LUMPUR – Two Palestinian boys were shot dead by the Israeli army when the forces raided the Jenin refugee camp in the north of the occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said eight-year-old Adam Samer al-Ghoul was shot in the head and 15-year-old Basil Suleiman Abu al-Wafa died after being shot in the chest.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement to Israeli media, the Border Police, Israeli army and Shin Bet security agency said two people – Muhammad Zubeidi and Hussam Hanoun – were killed for resisting with weapons.
The Israeli forces also acknowledged that another two people were killed in the area.
At the same time, the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas is expiring at 7am local time (1pm Malaysian time), but Al Jazeera reported that there may be a window for an extension of 48 to 96 hours.
So far, 30 Palestinians women and children have been released from Israeli prison, after 16 (10 Israelis, four Thais and two Russian-Israelis) were released by Hamas in Gaza the previous day.
As far as mediation talks go, Qatar and Egypt are hoping to talk Israel and Hamas into an extended truce in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel where he is expected to discuss the release of more captives and increased access to humanitarian aid.
Yesterday, China called for a roadmap and schedule for the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel issue.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the United Nations when it chaired the Security Council meeting that a comprehensive ceasefire should be in place in order to prevent an even larger humanitarian disaster and those in captivity should be released.
He added that humanitarian supplies should have unhindered access to Gaza and more border crossings be made available.
Wang said the two-state solution, which is the way out to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, should be brought back as soon as possible.
Since the war started on October 7, more than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 1,200 in Israel. – November 30, 2023