Israeli strike kills at least 17 Palestinians as Gaza evacuation orders expand

China

Israeli strike kills at least 17 Palestinians as Gaza evacuation orders expand

2024-08-18 15:36 Last Updated At：08-19 01:07

At least 17 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on Saturday in the central Gaza town of Zawayda, as Israel issued new evacuation orders, further shrinking the so-called "humanitarian area" to about 41 square kilometers, or 11 percent of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that an entire family of 17 members, including children, was killed in Saturday’s strike while seeking shelter in the Al-Zawaida area of central Gaza. The family had moved to the area after being displaced from Khan Younis, only to be struck by an Israeli missile while they slept.

"All 17 killed were civilians. They fell asleep and never woke up again. They hit them with F-16 fighter's missiles that wiped out the entire area. When we came here in the morning, we never imagined that someone used to live here. Everything here was completely destroyed," said Mahmoud Al-Ijla, an eyewitness.

Al-Aqsa Hospital, the only hospital in central Gaza struggling to continue providing medical services, reported receiving dozens of victims from the ongoing Israeli airstrikes.

"The occupation army is still targeting citizens on a daily basis. Large numbers of injured and martyrs arrive to us successively. We call on the whole world to intervene immediately to stop such massacres, especially since we in the Gaza Strip lack medicines and medical supplies," said Khalil Al-Dekran, a doctor at the Al-Aqsa Hospital.

The Israeli army issued new evacuation orders to Palestinians in the central Gaza area, including Al-Maghazi camp and large parts of the city of Deir Al-Balah, forcing thousands of already displaced Palestinians to move once again.

Israel denied targeting civilians, stating that its strikes are in response to Hamas rocket fire detected in those areas.

"Our displacement was repeated dozens of times. Now we are forced to move from here. We do not know where to go. I swear I don't know where to go. Enough, both sides must have mercy on us who are caught up in this conflict," said Abu Mustafa, a displaced Palestinian.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on Saturday that the so-called “humanitarian zone” in Gaza has shrunk to just 11 percent of its total land area, causing chaos and fear among the displaced who are struggling to find a safe place to shelter.

Amid repeated displacement and relentless missile attacks, thousands of Palestinian families in Gaza, including children, are living in a state of constant terror, fearing that it is only a matter of time before they too become victims.

Chinese floating airship collects atmospheric data over world's third-largest ice sheet

2024-09-13 02:05 Last Updated At：02:27

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's self-developed floating airship Jimu No.1 successfully carried out atmospheric research over the Purog Kangri Glacier in Xizang Autonomous Region earlier this month.

The Purog Kangri, situated in Xizang's Nagqu City is the world's third-largest ice sheet and the largest outside of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Due to growing threats from global warming, meterological data collection is crucial to efforts to conserve the glacier.

Under the operation of 65 scientists, the airship managed to ascend to 6,300 meters and gather valuable data such as greenhouse gases, aerosols, and other atmospheric conditions over the glacier.

This atmospheric research was conducted during the monsoon season, when adverse weather, including thunderstorms and snow, frequently pose challenges to the research, further testing the airship's capability.

"We chose the monsoon season because the meteorological conditions are particularly complex, presenting a completely new challenge for us," said Zhao Aibin, on-site supervisor from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The data collected during this operation will significantly contribute to the understanding of the Purog Kangri Glacier's environment, helping scientists better predict changes in the region's atmosphere and climate.

This research is expected to continue until the end of September, with the findings offering critical insights into atmospheric circulation patterns.