An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday night killed dozens of displaced Palestinians as they slept in makeshift tents in the Al-Mawassi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Many victims were reportedly burned alive when the fire engulfed the tents following the strike.
"We were sleeping. Suddenly we were hit by missiles. People were burned to ashes. This is not war, this is collective genocide," said a displaced Palestinian man.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, saying the blaze spread rapidly through the tightly packed shelters, leaving some victims unrecognizable.
"We tried to collect the bones of a disabled man who sat in his wheelchair. But we found nothing, as he was completely burned to ashes," said another man.
"They are all children, all refugees. Twenty were killed, they are all martyrs," said a young man at the scene.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate as displaced families face not only ongoing airstrikes but also severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and shelter.
Israeli airstrike kills dozens of displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza
Israeli airstrike kills dozens of displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza
The China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum is expected to bring new vitality to the global development and human civilization, said Colombian President Gustavo Petro in Beijing.
Petro, who delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum on Wednesday, told China Media Group (CMG) in an interview, while giving a special mention of the importance of the forum as a platform to reshape multilateralism.
"This Forum, held here in China, comes at a pivotal moment in history. And that's precisely what makes it so significant. It is taking place at a time when multilateralism is in urgent need of reshaping. There are some powers who believe they can rule the world through intimidation and shows of force. But with China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries standing together, we must make them understand: history is full of hard lessons. Those who once flexed their military might did not prevail. They may have enjoyed momentary success in the past, but this time, history will not repeat itself," he said.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CELAC Forum's operation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated in his speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum that under the careful cultivation of both sides over the past 10 years, the China-CELAC Forum has grown from a tender sapling into a towering tree.
Petro hailed the relations between China and LAC countries over the past decade, saying that the cooperation is expected to energize the global development and human civilization.
"Yes, exactly, a tree. A strong and thriving tree, with deep and well-developed roots firmly anchored in the earth. There's no doubt that over the past ten years, trade in physical goods between China and LAC countries has grown substantially. China is involved in building the Bogota metro project. China is also constructing a port in Peru, and many other large-scale infrastructure projects are being advanced through Chinese investment and engineering expertise. When we link the cultural and civilizational threads of China and LAC countries, it's as if we are nurturing a living tree, one that grows tall toward the sky and promises to bring new vitality to the human civilization," he said.
China-CELAC Forum brings new vitality to global development: Colombian president
