The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 42,519 since October 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities reported in a statement issued on Saturday.
Over the past 24 hours, Israeli military operations in Gaza killed 19 people and wounded 91 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 99,637, according to Gaza health officials.
On Saturday afternoon, the Israeli army bombed a school sheltering displaced people in the Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, killing seven people and injuring many others.
Sources said that on Saturday afternoon, Israel launched airstrikes on multiple houses in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, killing at least five civilians and leaving many wounded.
In addition, Israel's intensive drone attacks left residential buildings in the areas surrounding the Jabalia refugee camp damaged and burned.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 42,519
The International Conference to Commemorate the 2575th Anniversary of Confucius' Birth, which is also the 7th Congress of the International Confucian Association (ICA), opened in Beijing on Saturday.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addressed the opening ceremony.
Wang said efforts will be made to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of China's fine traditional culture and strengthen exchanges and mutual learning among countries, ethnic groups and cultures around the world.
This will not only further enrich the Chinese civilization but also contribute to a more vibrant and diverse global civilization, he added.
Wang called for carrying forward and promoting Confucianism and all outstanding traditional cultures, thereby making new contributions to the development of a human community with a shared future.
The opening ceremony was presided over by ICA President Sun Chunlan.
Former Japanese Prime Minister and Council Chair of the ICA Yasuo Fukuda, former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema, and former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, either in person or through other means, delivered speeches. They emphasized the importance of Confucianism in addressing crises and resolving conflicts.
Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 B.C.) founded a school of thought, deeply influential on later generations, known as Confucianism.
International conference marking Confucius' 2575th birth anniversary kicks off
