Defying the United Nations General Assembly’s appeal for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its assaults on Gaza, killing at least 85 Palestinians in a single day. According to a report by Qatar-based Al Jazeera on Thursday (September 25), an Israeli strike on a stadium at the Nuseirat refugee camp, which had been sheltering displaced families, killed 12 people, including seven women and two children.
The Al-Ahli Stadium in Gaza, once a place of refuge for war-affected civilians, turned into the site of a massacre. Najwa, a woman who fled Gaza City, said in despair: “We left with nothing. We are terrified. Even moving from one place to another costs money, and we cannot bring anything with us. We are completely helpless.”
The UN reported that Israeli forces are spreading fear in Gaza City and forcing thousands of people to flee south. Israeli army chief Yaal Zamir, however, claimed, “Palestinians are being moved south for security reasons.” He further said that most residents have already left Gaza City, allowing the military to advance its operations.
The UN Commission of Inquiry, however, gave a different assessment, saying Israel’s campaign is aimed at establishing permanent control over Gaza and ensuring Jewish majority dominance in the West Bank.
Since the war began on October 7, 2023, at least 65,419 Palestinians have been killed and around 167,000 injured. Many more are feared to be trapped under the rubble.
The Gaza issue sparked intense criticism at the UN General Assembly session. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “Those who kill children to terrorize people are not worthy of humanity.” Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa called for an immediate ceasefire, declaring: “We stand with the people of Gaza. This war must stop now.