About 4 million women, children and men, including 2.7 million who are internally displaced, remain caught in the crossfire in Idleb.
Initial reports indicated that at least eight civilians were killed by shelling, including four children and two local aid workers, while at least 13 others were injured, according to a statement issued yesterday.
Mr Cutts condemned the killings in the strongest possible terms, and expressed his deepest condolences to the families of all those who were killed or injured.
He called on the parties to the conflict to stop the fighting in line with the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire, and to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure according to international humanitarian law.
Occupied Palestinian territory
The occupied Palestinian Territory’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator Yvonne Helle has assured the humanitarian community’s support to communities affected by the largest demolition in the West Bank in years. She also reiterated the call to Israel to immediately halt unlawful demolitions.
On 3 November, 73 people, including 41 children, were displaced when Israeli authorities demolished homes and other structures in the Palestinian community of Humsa Al Bqai’a.
Humanitarian agencies recorded 76 demolished structures, including homes, animal shelters, latrines and solar panels essential to the community’s livelihoods and wellbeing. The affected community’s vulnerability is compounded by the onset of winter and the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far in 2020, 689 structures have been demolished across the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. This is more than in any full year since 2016. The demolitions have left 869 Palestinians homeless.
