Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli attacks killed at least 37 people on Thursday, as a US-backed aid group reported it had resumed operations after a one-day hiatus.
But Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rejected the term “war” to describe the conflict in the devastated Palestinian territory, accusing Israel instead of carrying out “premeditated genocide”.
Gaza civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said that “37 people have been martyred in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip”, reporting attacks up and down the length of the territory.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
“What is happening in Gaza is not a war. It’s a genocide being carried out by a highly prepared army against women and children,” said Brazil’s Lula, who has previously used the legal term to describe the conflict.
“It’s no longer possible to accept,” he added.