Twenty-two Palestinian civilians, including 15 children, were killed and dozens were injured on Sunday in Israeli shelling on the Al-Mufti school, which is housing displaced persons in the Nuseirat refugee camp of central Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Civil Defense said that "the school in Nuseirat was bombed with a heavy barrage of Israeli artillery shells" while the displaced were sheltering in the school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The Israeli military said it was "looking into the reports" of the shelling.
"The first strike happened, people rushed to check, and then the second and third shells hit, and the shells continued to fall on us. My children and I miraculously escaped death. Our neighbor Aya and her five daughters who were living in the classroom next to us were killed. They were children, all innocent children," said Fatima Al-Ajab, a displaced survivor.
The Israeli strikes continued Sunday night, targeting the tents of the displaced in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, where four displaced Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured.
"I was waking up my daughters and shouting at them. I was shouting loudly but my voice did not reach them. I wrapped my daughters in blankets and tried to pull them out of the fire. My granddaughter's hands were burned, the other one's feet were burnt as well as a daughter's stomach. The fire surrounded us from every direction. I still do not believe that we came out alive," said Um Muhammad Wadi, a displaced survivor at the hospital.
The Gaza-based health authorities said that the injuries at the attacked hospital were extremely severe, as the displaced people were burned while they were sleeping inside their tents, which caught fire due to the bombing.
"Most of the dead arrived at the hospital completely burned. We also received a large number of injured, most of them with severe burns. What made the situation more difficult is that our hospital is not qualified to deal with severe burn cases," said Muhammad Rayyan, head of the Emergency Department of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 42,289, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Monday.
A report released by UN experts says the Israeli military's targeting of hospitals in Gaza constitutes war crimes of willful killing and mistreatment and crimes against humanity of extermination.
15 children killed in Israeli shelling on central Gaza school
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
