Malala Yousafzai donates $0.3 mn to aid Palestinians amidst conflict, calls for ceasefire from Israel

WEB DESK: Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel laureate and education activist, has announced a donation of $0.3 million to the charities actively assisting the Palestinian population during the ongoing conflict.

In a video shared on her X, Yousafzai vehemently condemned the recent devastating bombing carried out by Israel on Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. She used her platform to advocate for peace, emphasising that collective punishment is not the solution.

I’m horrified to see the bombing of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and unequivocally condemn it. I urge the Israeli government to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and reiterate the call for a ceasefire. I am directing $300K to three charities helping Palestinian people under attack. pic.twitter.com/JiIPfnTUvY

— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) October 17, 2023

“I am here to add my voice to those from Palestine, Israel, and around the world crying out for peace. Collective punishment is not the answer. Half of Gaza’s population is 18 years old; they should not be forced to live their entire lives under bombing and an unjust occupation,” Yousafzai expressed.

She called upon the Israeli government to permit the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and urged individuals worldwide to contribute to organisations providing essential humanitarian assistance.

Meanwhile, she also shared the list of the organisations for donation.

@AneraOrg https://t.co/tXbIQguSBb

— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) October 17, 2023

@ThePCRF https://t.co/xMEgOnuIZe

— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) October 17, 2023

https://twitter.com/Malala/status/1714398926860595473

Furthermore, Malala Yousafzai stressed the collective responsibility to convey expectations to leaders for an immediate ceasefire and the pursuit of enduring peace.

In Gaza’s deadliest day, hospital strike kills about 500

Gaza authorities said an Israeli air strike on Tuesday killed about 500 people at a hospital in the Palestinian enclave, but Israel said a Palestinian rocket had caused the blast.

The death toll was by far the highest of any single incident in Gaza during the current violence, triggering protests in the occupied West Bank, Istanbul and Amman.

The health minister in the Hamas-run government of Gaza, Mai Alkaila, accused Israel of “a massacre” at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital. The strike killed hundreds of people and occurred during Israel’s intense 11-day bombing campaign in Gaza.

Earlier a Gaza civil defence chief said 300 people were killed and a health ministry official said 500 were killed. Hamas said the blast mostly killed displaced people.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said analysis by its operational system showed “an enemy rocket barrage” aimed at Israel was passing the hospital at the time of the strike and blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “barbaric terrorists” in Gaza had attacked the Gaza hospital, not Israel’s military.