The State of Palestine on Thursday raised the alarm over Israel’s use of “starvation” as a weapon of war in Gaza, particularly in North Gaza, where only 30 trucks are allowed to enter daily, meeting just 6% of the region’s needs.

The Palestinian government said the severe food deprivation was making survival extremely difficult for Gazans.

The authorities said this in a heartfelt letter to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, which was signed by Ambassador Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.

Revealing alarming casualty numbers, Shawesh said that 43,603 Palestinians have been killed and 102,929 injured in Gaza, mostly children and women, over 405 days of conflict.

Additionally, 188 journalists have lost their lives, in what he described as genocide and ethnic cleansing at the hands of the United States of America and Israeli.

Shawesh emphasised that empty condemnations are insufficient and urged collective action to end the prolonged Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Human Rights Watch has also reported on Israel’s deliberate blockade of food, water, and fuel, labeling it a war crime.

The organization noted that Israeli officials have publicly stated their intent to deprive Gazans of essential resources. The international community must take decisive action to address this humanitarian crisis.

Giving a statistics breakdown of the casualties, Shawesh stated, “In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as of November 9, 811 Palestinians were killed, 5,755 injured, and 13,585 permanent and temporary military checkpoints were set up.

“As of November 10, the total number of Palestinian detainees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has reached 11,600, including 430 women, 760 children, and 132 journalists, 85 of whom are still in detention, and administrative orders have exceeded 10,000 detainees.

“The arrest campaign was accompanied by human humiliation, severe beatings, in addition to the vandalism destruction of Palestinian homes and property, and theft of their money and gold. These figures do not include detainees from Gaza, where some estimates indicate that their number exceeds 5,000 without any information about them. 41 Palestinian detainees were killed as a result of ill-treatment and severe beatings

“In the Negev and Ofer prisons, prisoners face difficult conditions, especially those from Gaza. What makes matters worse is the spread of scabies among prisoners, who are all subjected to brutal torture, insults and medical neglect.

“Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, particularly in North Gaza where only 30 trucks are allowed to enter per day, which is nearly 6% of the daily needs. This deprivation of food is making it difficult for the people in Gaza to even survive.

“Using the starvation as method and measure of war on Gaza specially on the north will lead to catastrophic health consequence on the short and long run.

“The people who are still in North Gaza are living under an immobilizing siege, are being deliberately and continuously bombed, and are without food, water, and medical supplies. Anyone who tries to flee in search of these necessities is targeted by Israeli drones and killed.”

Citing Joyce Msuya Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs “Now is the time for Member States to use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law through diplomatic and economic pressure, responsible arms transfers and combating impunity, Now is the time for the Security Council to use its powers under the UN Charter to ensure compliance with international law and full implementation of its resolutions.”

“In the upcoming months, the occupied West Bank will be in the eye of the storm. Israel intends to extend its sovereignty over it, believing that the upcoming US administration will support this move. This will be the final nail in the coffin of the peace process and the two-state solution.”

Four lecturers of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, have been dismissed for their alleged for involvement in sexual harassment and examination misconduct.

The lecturers, whose identities have not been revealed, were dismissed following the approval of their dismissal given by the Governing Council of the university.

It was gathered that at the university’s second council meeting, chaired by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, the Governing Council commended the university management for adhering to due process during the investigation of the allegations.

Ndoma-Egba urged the university management to promptly address the remaining cases of misconduct, particularly the one currently attracting media attention in the Faculty of Science.

While cautioning staff and the faculty against violating the university’s rules, Ndoma-Egba assured that the university would not ignore any misconduct.

He also encouraged students to report any incidents of harassment or mistreatment to the appropriate authorities without fear.

Recall that the university had in May announced the suspension of a lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies over alleged sexual harassment of a 300-Level student from the same Department.

The suspended lecturer was also referred to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation and possible prosecution if found guilty, while the university stressed that the lecturer was relieved of all his duties and positions.

Nearly 40 years after his professional debut, and 19 years after retiring, 58-year-old Mike Tyson will return to the ring on Friday in a Netflix-backed bout that has stirred widespread condemnation in the boxing world.

Tyson, who dominated the heavyweight division in the late 1980s, will lace up the gloves once more to face YouTuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The bout, set for eight two-minute rounds, was initially scheduled for July but was postponed in May when Tyson required medical treatment after vomiting blood on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles due to a bleeding ulcer.

The incident has fuelled criticism of Friday’s fight, with many condemning it as a macabre spectacle that poses undue risk for Tyson, who last appeared in a professional ring in 2005, ending in a technical knockout loss after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

‘It Shouldn’t Be Happening’

“Mike Tyson retired from boxing 20 years ago and was already worn out,” British promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no concern for him, or you’re being reckless. This shouldn’t be happening.”

Hearn’s fellow promoter, Frank Warren, echoed the sentiment.

“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Comparing the fight to a roadside accident, Warren added, “You’re on the motorway, and everyone’s slowing down just to look at a crash — that’s what this is.”

Tyson, reportedly earning around $20 million for the bout, has dismissed concerns for his wellbeing, claiming critics are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he responded earlier this year. “Those who criticise wish they were in my place. No one else can do this.”

At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson declared that his intense training camp had convinced him he was tougher than he’d realised.

“When I agreed to this fight, I thought, ‘What was I thinking?’ But I completed the process. The fight is the celebration. All the hard work is done.”

At Wednesday’s press conference in Texas, a focused Tyson avoided pre-fight hype, saying simply, “I’m just ready to fight.”

Injury Fears

A global audience on Netflix and thousands in AT&T Stadium will be watching on Friday to see if Tyson’s efforts pay off.

Paul, who was born six months before Tyson famously bit off a portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their 1997 rematch, first gained fame on YouTube before turning to boxing.

Since his first bout against a fellow YouTuber in 2018, Paul has fought various opponents, including a basketball player, MMA fighters, and other professional boxers. In 11 matches, he has won 10 (seven by knockout) and lost one.

“I feel really good, sharp, powerful, and explosive. It’s going to be a short night for Mike,” Paul said at Tuesday’s open workout, where he sported a rooster-shaped headdress.

It’s clear that a prime, 1980s Tyson would likely have disposed of Paul within minutes. But does Tyson still retain any trace of the power and skill that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986, at age 20?

Veteran promoter Bob Arum, 92, is blunt.

“The answer is no,” Arum told SecondsOut.com last month.

“A 58-year-old man, no matter how good or athletic they were, can’t compete at that level anymore.”

“I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him almost no chance.”

AFP