Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 39,929: ministry

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,929, the health authorities in the besieged enclave said on Tuesday.

A total of 92,240 people had been wounded in Gaza since the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, the health authorities said in a statement.

The statement said that in the past 48 hours, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip resulted in 32 deaths and 88 injuries.

Since the conflict broke out on Oct 7 last year, more than 16,000 children and over 11,000 women in Gaza have been killed, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Monday.

The media office reported that 69 percent of the wounded in Gaza are women and children, and a total of 17,000 children in the region have lost at least one parent.

It added that 885 medical workers have been killed in the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, 34 hospitals have stopped treating patients, and 80 medical centers have been forced to close.

The exchange of fire between the two sides continues.

Five people were killed in Israeli attacks on Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip and seven more were killed after Israel bombed a house in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, also in the central Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

At least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the eastern part of the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza on Monday, according to a Palestinian news agency.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement Monday claiming they had confirmed the death of 31 Palestinian armed militants in a bombing of a school in Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday.

Also on Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) released a video showing their militants attacking Israeli targets and soldiers.

Israeli Government Spokesperson David Mencer on Monday said that according to the proposal of the United States and other mediators, Israel will send a delegation to participate in ceasefire talks on August 15. He said the talks aimed to finalize the framework of a ceasefire agreement and the implementation details. Israel hopes that the detainees will be released and other goals of the war will be achieved.

Hamas released a statement on Sunday claiming that it has always hoped for the success of the efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators since the latest round of conflict began. To this end, Hamas has participated in several rounds of talks and responded to the proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli detainees in early July. However, Israel subsequently introduced new conditions that had not been previously discussed, continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip, and targeted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the statement said, confirming Israel's intention to continue the war and its unwillingness to reach a ceasefire agreement. Even after calls from Qatari, Egyptian, and American leaders for Israel and Hamas to resume talks on the 15th, Israeli troops bombed a school in Gaza on Saturday, killing more than 100 people. Hamas has called on the mediators to submit an implementation plan and compel Israel to adhere to it based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and previous consultation outcomes, rather than conducting further negotiations or presenting new proposals that might serve as cover for Israeli attacks.

On Thursday night, the leaders of the US, Egypt, and Qatar called on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations in Doha, Qatar, or Cairo, Egypt, on the 15th, in order to resolve all remaining differences and begin implementing the agreement.

Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 39,929: ministry

Macao has been emerging as a global hub for conventions and exhibitions in recent years by exploring the enormous opportunities in the sector, driving the region to advance its economic diversification and embrace a brighter future.

Macao has received many awards this year, such as the Best Convention City (Asia) and the Best BT-MICE City, showcasing the recognition for and influence of Macao's exhibition industry.

More than 1,000 electronic game enthusiasts from all over the world gathered recently in Macao to participate in a esports themed event.

Su Zhili, organizer of the event, said that Macao's rich experience in hosting large-scale events, coupled with its good infrastructure, has driven him to choose the region as an ideal destination to hold such an activity.

"Macao has held many similar large-scale events. It has rich experience, and the facilities at the venue are relatively mature, so we can start our work comfortably," said Su.

During the first three quarters of 2024, Macao held more than 1,000 conferences and exhibitions in total.

"We will invite more professional, special conferences to be held in Macao and also cultivate more exhibition brands with international influence in Macao, so as to promote Macao's exhibitions to be more market-oriented, professional, international, digital and greener from various aspects. This is our goal," said Elaine Wong, member of the Macao Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute.

In addition, multiple large exhibitions and conferences, such as the Macao International Trade and Investment fair, the Macao Franchise Expo, and the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum, are held regularly in Macao.

With the introduction of a series of policies and measures to facilitate the exchanges between the mainland and Macao, as well as the construction and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Macao's convention and exhibition industry will embrace more opportunities for development in the foreseeable future.

"We have such a good industrial base in the Greater Bay Area. The mode of 'Convention and Exhibition + Industry' not only integrates the industries of Macao, but also the industries of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, Macao actively integrates into the national development and plays a role in the Belt and Road. Why are we so confident in Macao's convention and exhibition sector? Because it is backed by the motherland, and the country gives Macao great support," said Alan Ho, chairman of the Macao Association of Convention, Exhibition and Tourism Sectors.

Macao emerges as global hub for conventions and exhibitions, driving economic diversification and international recognition