Sderot, Israel - August 06, 2024

A UN official has recently called for ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for fear that the ongoing conflict will continue to spread in the region as it has already involved Lebanon.

During a recent interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Antonia Marie De Meo, deputy commissioner-general for Operational Support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said that the situation in Gaza is extremely dire and above all, the people urgently need a ceasefire.

Compared with a few months ago, most residents have now returned to the small Israeli town of Sderot near the Gaza border. The local government has built concrete walls to prevent possible rocket attacks, and Israeli military units previously stationed nearby have now withdrawn.

In contrast, just two kilometers away in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, multiple explosions can still be heard, and thick smoke can be seen rising in the distance, articulating that Israeli military operations inside Gaza are still ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel is determined to achieve its goal of completely destroying Hamas. However, whether this goal can be achieved and when it might happen remain unknown.

At the same time, due to Israel's hardline stance on the ceasefire and the death of Hamas leader Haniyeh in an attack, whether a ceasefire can be achieved in Gaza has once again become uncertain.

Ongoing Israeli attacks have killed at least 39,653 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since last October, health authorities in the besieged enclave said on Tuesday.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 30 Palestinians and wounded at least 31 others, bringing the death toll to 39,653 and total injuries to over 91,500, the health authorities in Gaza said in a statement.

Shotlist:
Sderot, Israel - Aug 6, 2024:
1. Various of concrete walls, Beit Hanoun seen from afar;
Ramallah, West Bank - Aug 1, 2024
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonia Marie De Meo, deputy commissioner-general for Operational Support, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Near East (UNRWA) (partially overlaid with shot 3):
"Conditions in Gaza now are absolutely desperate; the people need a ceasefire more than anything. It has been a very prolonged period and the conditions are getting worse and worse, security conditions are getting worse and worse for the people on the ground. So we are extremely concerned about the risk of having this escalate, and we see the escalation already starting into Lebanon. This is absolutely unacceptable, we need to have ceasefire everywhere, we need to have peace everywhere.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - Aug 1, 2024
3. Various of rubble, destroyed buildings in Al-Shati refugee camp;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Sderot, Israel - Aug 6, 2024
4. Various of Beit Hanoun seen from afar;
Sderot, Israel - Aug 6, 2024
5. National flag of Israel, landscape.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]