Thai Death Toll in Israel-Gaza Conflict Climbs to 20: Govt

 

Thai Death Toll in Israel-Gaza Conflict Climbs to 20: 

 October 12, 2023

 

in World

 

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BANGKOK, Thailand—Twenty Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, the Thai government said Wednesday, up from the previous toll of 18.

The foreign ministry said the number of Thais held hostage had increased by three to 14, based on unofficial reports from Thai citizens in Israel.

Following the attack on Saturday, around 150 people of varying nationalities, including women and children, have been held by Hamas.

“The death toll of Thai nationals has risen to 20,” ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke told reporters in Bangkok, adding that the number of wounded had increased to 13.

The first repatriation flight with wounded Thais was expected to land in the capital on Thursday.

More than 5,000 Thai citizens have requested repatriation, Kanchana said.

There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, mostly working in the agriculture sector, according to Thailand’s labor ministry.

The death toll in Israel has surged above 1,200 while Gaza officials reported 900 people killed so far, and Israel’s army said the bodies of roughly 1,500 militants had been found.

End of Israeli regime, US has begun', Malay politician says

TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (MNA) – Today, what is being witnessed is the beginning of the end of the Israeli regime, imperialism, the United States, and the West, a senior Malaysian politician said while commenting on the future of the Gaza war.

Speaking in an interview with Mehr News Agency on the sidelines of the Tehran International Conference on Palestine, Muhammad Khalil bin Abdul Hadi, Deputy Member of the Terengganu State Executive Council (EXCO) of Malaysia stressed the need for unity of all Muslims in support of Palestinians.

"When we talk about the Palestinian issue, this common issue between Muslim countries and nations, whether you are Iranian, Malay, Arab, Sunni or Shia, we have to unite," he said.

Hailing Iran's policy of supporting oppressed Palestinian people, he noted, "Iran is a country that is consistent on its policy towards the Palestinian issue since the victory of Islamic Revolution in 1979."

He went on to say, "Since the revolution, we recognized Iran and we worked together towards this issue."

Commenting on the future of war between Palestinians and the Israeli regime, he said, "I think now what we see is the beginning the end of the Israeli regime and imperialism, the United States and the West."

"Because it is the first time that we see that all nations of the world, not only the Muslim nations, are against Zionism and the Americans' support for Israel," he underlined.

Responding to a question raised by other reporters about the measures taken by the Malaysian government about the issue of Gaza, he said, "At the moment the government and the people stand united with Palestinian people and against the Israeli occupation."

"We are consistent in supporting the Palestinian people to defend themselves from Zionism and Israel," he concluded.

Rescuers Comb Rubble After Russian Strikes Kill 39 Across Ukraine

Rescuers in Ukraine searched through rubble Saturday after Russian strikes killed at least 39 people the day before, one of the fiercest attacks since the early days of the war.

Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in Friday's barrage, Ukrainian officials said.

The strikes — during which a Russian missile passed through Polish airspace — triggered international condemnation and fresh promises of military support to Ukraine, which has been fighting off invading Russian troops since late February 2022.

Ukraine's military estimated Russia had launched 158 missiles and drones on Ukraine and 114 of them had been destroyed.

Air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat told AFP that this was a "record number" of missiles and "the most massive missile attack" of the war, excluding the early days of constant bombardment.

Russia tried to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses across most major cities, launching a wave of Shahed attack drones followed by missiles of numerous types fired from planes and from Russian-controlled territory.

At least 39 people were killed in Friday's strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Work is still underway to eliminate the consequences of yesterday's Russian attack," he wrote in a post on social media Saturday.

"In total, 159 people were injured in this terrorist attack. Unfortunately, 39 of them have been killed so far," he said.

Jan. 1 will be declared a day of mourning in the capital Kyiv, where at least 16 people were killed, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.