The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza had risen to 44,282, with 104,880 injured, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement released on Wednesday.
In the past 24 hours, Israeli military operations in Gaza caused 33 deaths and 134 injuries, according to the statement.
The Israeli Defense Forces continued to carry out military operations in many places in the Gaza Strip from Tuesday evening to Wednesday.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Israeli army said they raided a building that was once used as a school in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip, and killed several Hamas members during the attack.
According to the Palestinian News Agency and Palestinian TV, the Israeli army attacked Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday evening, killing three people and injuring eight others.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah officially came into effect at 04:00 local time on Wednesday, and Hamas officials said they understand and welcome the agreement.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior spokesman for Hamas, told the media on Wednesday that Hamas understands the right of Lebanon and Hezbollah to reach an agreement to protect the Lebanese people, and he hopes that this agreement will pave the way for an agreement to end the massacre in Gaza.
AFP quoted an unnamed senior Hamas official as saying that Hamas had informed the mediating parties Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye that it was willing to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and exchange of detained personnel.
Multiple media reported on Wednesday that an Egyptian delegation will visit Israel on the following day to promote ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 44,282
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 44,282
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 44,282
A 93-year-old veteran of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) remains committed to attending the annual on-site ceremony to welcome the return of the remains of CPV martyrs from the Republic of Korea (ROK), paying his full tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea in the early 1950s.
Since China and the ROK signed a handover agreement in 2014 for the repatriation of CPV soldiers' remains, Li Weibo, the CPV veteran, has shown up at the site of welcome ceremony for martyrs every year, dressed in uniform and wearing his medals, to honor the departed comrades with his deepest respect.
"The first time I saw the news on TV, I immediately put on and straightened my uniform, then went to the site of the ceremony. I saluted to honor my comrades there," said Li.
In 1950, at the age of 19, Li graduated early from university and enlisted in the CPV as an anti-aircraft artilleryman. During the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953), the artillery regiment Li served in was responsible for securing the corridor between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Over the course of the war, the regiment had shot down 15 enemy aircraft and damaged 17 others.
"At that time, we had very few anti-aircraft artillery soldiers, but we defeated a powerful enemy with outdated weapons. So the weak overcame the strong," said Li.
After the war, whenever he missed his fallen comrades, Li would visit the martyrs' cemetery to honor them and express his eternal remembrance.
Besides, over the past decade, he has attended the welcome ceremony every year to witness the return of his comrades' remains. He hopes that, even after their passing, they can see the growing strength and prosperity of their homeland in their own way.
"I saw our country using a large transport plane to bring back the martyrs' remains, escorted by two fighter jets. Now, our nation's aviation has grown stronger. I want them to come back and see how much our country has developed and prospered," said Li.
Despite being over 90 years old, Li said he will continue to be one of the welcoming group members to honor the return of the CPV martyrs, always standing straight and wearing his uniform with pride.
"I want to be there to welcome them every time they return in the rest of my life. I will prepare my uniform in advance, straighten it, and be ready to welcome when they come home," the CPV veteran said.
From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts.
CPV veteran upholds tradition of welcoming comrades' remains home from ROK
