Kia Ora Gaza

Palestinian firefighter at the scene after Gaza’s sole power station was bombed by Israel yesterday.

Reuters report, 30 July 2014. Gaza.

At least 43 people have been killed in Gaza, including many at a UN school, during another night of heavy shelling, medics said.

Dozens of people, including a young child, were killed in the early hours of Wednesday, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its 23rd day.

The Jabalia refugee camp, used as a shelter for those displaced by the war, was shelled shortly after 5:30am (0230 GMT), a UN official said.

The death toll of Palestinians has reached 1245.

POWER STATION KNOCKED OUT

Thick black smoke rose from blazing fuel tanks at Gaza’s only power station which Israel knocked out on Tuesday. Officials said the plant could be out of action for a year.

Power was cut to the city of Gaza and other parts of the territory after what officials said was Israeli tank shelling of the tanks containing 3 million liters of diesel fuel. [See photo above].

“The power plant is finished,” said its director, Mohammed al-Sharif. An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment and said she was checking the report.

(Abridged)

Palestinian Journalist Mohammed Omer: ‘Lifting the Blockade Isn’t a Hamas Demand—It’s a Human Right’

Democracy Now! report from Gaza, 29 July 2014

The Palestinian death toll has topped 1,100 after one of the deadliest 24-periods since the Israeli assault on Gaza began 22 days ago. Most of the dead have been civilians. More than 180,000 Palestinians have been displaced over the past three weeks — that is roughly 10 percent of the population of Gaza.

Award-winning Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer. “I believe Israel wants to make people turn against the resistance,” Omer says. “There is no way for people to turn against the resistance — in fact it is the other way around. People in the street say we do support resistance because that is the only way to end the occupation. … I’m afraid we are going to have more radical generations in the Gaza Strip, and I fear for the future of Gaza and the future of the West Bank — and I fear the future of the region if the international community is not acting now to end the blockade and the operation in Gaza.”

http://www.democracynow.org/topics/gaza

BREAKING NEWS: The Shrouq Tower, Gaza City, also known as the Media building is on fire.

After Israeli airstrikes, journalists from inside the tower are asking for help, because they’re unable to breathe. But no ambulances have been able to properly reach the building. Reports are also saying that Aqsa radio is no longer on air. Israel’s greatest fear is the truth.
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Volunteers unloading urgently-needed medical supplies for Gaza.

Yesterday Kia Ora Gaza transferred our first payment of $25,000 for urgent medical aid to Gaza. Donations raised with the generous support of hundreds of Kiwis go to international emergency medical aid appeal via our partners Viva Palestina Malaysia, directly to Gaza.

Over 20 truck loads of urgently needed supplies have already managed to get into Gaza through the Rafah crossing under threat of Israel bombardments. More aid convoys are preparing to deliver more medical aid in cooperation with the Arab Medial Union, the Palestinian International Medical Aid and the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations.

Donate to this ongoing appeal NOW:

Kia Ora Gaza Trust, 03-0211-0447718-000, Westpac Bank, Onehunga.

Afterwards, email office@kiaoragaza.netwith your deposit details so our Board of Trustees can send you an e-receipt..

BY PT EDITOR The Palestine Telegraph, 29 July 2014

Gaza – Massive Israeli attacks target Gaza civilians in different parts of the Gaza strip. The army has launched immense air and artillery shells in the northern, southern and central parts of Gaza.

Abu Khusa family house in central Gaza was bombed leaving a number of dead and wounded. Another house for Abu Shalof family in Rafah was bombed wounding 15 children. Al Qurmzi mosque in eastern Gaza of Al Shijaya was also bombed.

Rockets targeted key Gaza factories like the juice and soft drinks as well as the carton factory. Public and civilian targets have been bombarded including Al Amin Mosque in western Gaza and Al Sanabil residential complex in the area.

Following the speech of Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli attacks on Gaza escalated where more than 150 rockets fired at different civilian targets.

Clashes reportedly erupted in eastern Gaza city and eastern-central parts of Gaza Strip as Israeli army tried to advance in those neighbourhoods. Palestinian resistance managed to counter Israeli soldiers trying to break into Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 30 people today mostly children. The army killed 10 children who were playing and celebrating the Muslim Eid feast.  The death toll exceeded 1170 most of them are women and children.