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Ang barangay at ang makabagong kaisipan sa paglilingkod

DC Alviar
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Ang barangay at ang makabagong kaisipan sa paglilingkod

Sa pinakahuling tala ng Commission on Elections, 67,839,851 rehistradong botanteng hindi bababa sa 18 taong gulang ang maaaring bumoto sa barangay elections, habang 23,254,958 na rehistradong botante na 15 hanggang 30 taong gulang ang maaaring bumoto sa Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Ibig sabihin, 21,420,550 rehistradong botante na 18 hanggang 30 taong gulang ang maaaring bumoto kapwa sa barangay at SK elections. Meron lamang 1,834,408 rehistradong botante na nasa edad 15 hanggang 17 taong gulang ang maaaring bumoto sa SK elections. Binibilang natin ang mga katungkulang pupunan sa proseso ng halalan, ngunit marapat ding ibilang ang mga sarili sa mga naturang tungkulin.

Kung panahon ng “epal,” panahon din ng masusing pagmamasid sa takbo ng pamamahala ng may 42,001 barangay na nagsisilbing pinakamaliit na yunit pampulitika.

Bawat barangay ay maghahalal ng isang barangay kapitan at pitong miyembro ng barangay council, at isang SK chairperson at pitong SK council members. Gaya ng pagkakasalansan ng mga kapangyarihang maliliit at papalaki – mga kagawad, SK chairperson at mga punong barangay – pinalalakas din ng mga mamamayan ang kanilang kapangyarihan sa kanilang matalino at tapat na pagdedesisyon kung sino-sino nga ba ang pahihintulutan nilang mamuno.

Hindi tulad sa national elections, halos magkakakilala ang mga botante at mga aspirante sa pamahalaang barangay. Marami na silang pinagdaanang karanasan sa pagsasamahan o di-pagkikibuan, sa pagmamahalan o pagsisiraan, sa pagtutulungan o pagbabalewalaan. Merong kaaya-ayang istorya ng tagumpay ng tapat na pamamahala, ngunit lamang ang mga naratibo ng magulong pamamahala. Normal ito sa demokrasya. ika nga ng isang dating pinuno ng bansa bago tayo makalasap ng tunay na pagsasariling bansa (basa: kasarinlan) lagpas kalahating siglo na ang lumipas, mas ninanais pa raw nating pamahalaan tayo ng mga abusadong Pilipino kaysa ng mga dayuhan. Nakapaloob din kasi sa soberanya natin ang pumabor sa kapwa Pilipino, bukod sa magiging katawa-tawa naman tayo kung patuloy tayong magpapaalipin sa mga nagpapakilalang lahing matatalino at progresibo pero ang tunay na motibo’y pagpapalawak lamang ng teritoryo ng kanilang mga bansa. Medyo matagal-tagal na rin ang panawagan sa paglalansag ng imperyalismo at mas nangingibabaw na rin ang pagpapahalaga sa dekolonisasyon.

Ngayong establisado na ang halaga ng “sariling bansa, sariling panunungkulan,” napapanahon na ang pagbibigay ng sapat na oras sa pag-aaral sa mga lokal na pamahalaan (pambarangay, city/municipal, at panlalawigan). Kung bottom-up approach ang paiiralin, magandang simulain iyon dahil tunay ngang mas malakas ang panawagan sa barangay kaysa sa Malacanang o sa Kongreso. Pinalalapit ang serbisyo sa tao sa tuwing kagyat at epektibo ang pamahalaang barangay.

Heto ang dapat nating pagsumikapang unti-untiing lansagin sa barangay: dumi sa pulitika at sa kapaligiran (i-excuse na lang natin ang award-winning “clean-and-green barangays” o mga naturingang “cleanest barangays” pa nga).

Maruming pulitika ang nagpapasadsad sa ekonomiya. Archipelagic ang bansa pero “walastik” sa pagkakampi-kampi. Mabuti sana kung kampihan ng kaayusan, katarungan at kaunlaran; sa halip, kampihan sa kalokohan, korupsyon, kamangmangan.

Hangad natin ang kapitan na magmamanibela ng kinabukasan ng barangay, at walang kupitan sa development and related funds. Hangad natin ang mga sanggunian na tunay na may nalalaman at may napatunayang may karanasang makipagkaisa at magbigay ng tamang sangguni sa puno. Wala sa kanila ang pasimuno ng gulo at nagpapalagpas ng kriminalidad; bagkus, may dignidad at pinahahalagahan ang konstitusyonal na konseptong “may pagtitiwala sa publiko ang pampublikong tanggapan”, sa halip na sirain ang ganoong pagtitiwala.

Kung may inaasahan sa mga pinuno, umaasa naman ang Diyos sa kooperasyon ng mga nasasakupan. Ulitin natin: Inaasahan ng Diyos na pahahalagahan ng tao ang ipinamahaging kapangyarihan. Kung alam ng tao na madi-disappoint ang Pinakamakapangyarihang Diyos sa pagsunod sa maling gawi ng ini-appoint Niyang barangay/barangay officials gamit ang kapangyarihang hiram, may balik sa atin iyon.

Malaki ang pagkukulang natin, at deka-dekada na lamang na iniintindi ng political scientists sa Pilipinas, ang kritikal na usapin ng pagkamamamayan. Abala ang tao sa sariling pamamahay, ikinatutuwa ang katahimikan o pagsasawalang-kibo, at sa huli’y mararamdaman ang pagkukulang ng mga pinuno. Hanggang sa ang pagkukulang ay nanganganak ng magkakasunod na pagkukulang at ang mga pagkukulang ay nauuwi sa tahasang pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan.

Sa hanay ng mga mauunlad na barangay, inaasahang magiging kaakibat sila sa pambansang progreso. Sila naman ang nakaaalam ng kanayunan na dapat nilang tulungan, kaya marapat lamang na pangunahan nila ang pagpapaunlad ng iba pang mga barangay habang napananatili nila ang kaunlaran ng sarili nilang matulunging barangay. Halimbawa, hindi na umuubra ang kilos-barrio sa mga gated subdivision. Makaiiging may matataas na pinag-aralan at innovators (mga maaambisyon) ang mga pinuno ng mga sagana at nakaaangat sa buhay na mga komunidad. Kapag hindi, baka mga sarili lang ang kanilang natutulungan.

Ang dumi sa paligid naman ay malawak na usapin din. Kailangan ang tapat na pamumuno at political will upang maiwasan ang pagtataksil sa integrity of creation dahil baka ang creek ay binenta na sa geek. Baka ang dagat ay dagat na ng basura sa di-pagtalima sa mga environmental laws at mga adbokasiya sa bantay-lawa at bantay-dagat. Baka ang sweldo sa barangay ay part-time na kita na lamang dahil nagiging tau-tauhan ng mga pasaway na mga pabrika.

Kung babaguhin at palalawakin ang isipan patungo sa modernong paglilingkod mapa-barangay o buong bansa, mas mapagtitibay pa natin ang tiwala sa mga gumagamit ng hiram na kapangyarihan.

EU increases pressure on Meta and TikTok over tackling disinformation in Israel-Hamas conflict

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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EU increases pressure on Meta and TikTok over tackling disinformation in Israel-Hamas conflict

LONDON. The European Union has escalated its scrutiny of Big Tech companies, demanding that Meta and TikTok provide comprehensive details about their efforts to combat illegal content and disinformation during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The European Commission, the executive branch of the 27-nation European Union, has formally requested that these social media giants furnish information regarding their compliance with the sweeping new digital regulations designed to clean up online platforms.

Specifically, the European Commission has asked Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok to elucidate the measures they have taken to mitigate the risk of disseminating and amplifying terrorist and violent content, hate speech, and disinformation.

As of August, the European Union’s new rules, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), have come into force. These rules impose additional obligations on major tech companies to prevent various forms of illegal content from proliferating on their platforms, under the threat of substantial fines for non-compliance.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has become a litmus test for the effectiveness of these new regulations. Social media platforms have been inundated with photos and videos depicting the devastation, alongside posts from users disseminating false claims and misrepresenting content from unrelated events.

Last week, Brussels issued its first formal request under the DSA to Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for digital regulation within the EU, had previously sent warning letters to the three major platforms, including YouTube, highlighting the risks posed by the ongoing conflict.

“In our discussions with these platforms, we have expressly urged them to be prepared for the possibility of live broadcasts of executions by Hamas, which is an imminent risk that we must protect our citizens from. We are seeking assurances that these platforms are well-prepared for such scenarios,” Commissioner Breton stated in a speech on Wednesday.

Meta and TikTok have not responded immediately to email requests for comments. They have until Wednesday to provide responses related to their crisis response. Furthermore, they face a second deadline of November 8 to respond to questions concerning the protection of election integrity and, in TikTok’s case, child safety.

Depending on the adequacy of their responses, Brussels could decide to initiate formal proceedings against Meta or TikTok and impose fines for providing “incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information,” the commission emphasized.

Ika-4 na Pinoy na namatay sa Israel-Hamas war kinumpirma

Venus L Peñaflor
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Ika-4 na Pinoy na namatay sa Israel-Hamas war kinumpirma

Itinala ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ang pang-apat na Pinoy na nasawi sa patuloy na alitan sa pagitan ng Israel at militanteng Hamas. Sa isang pahayag na ipinaskil sa kanyang X account, ipinaabot ni DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo ang kanyang kalungkutan habang iniuulat sa publiko ang pinakabagong pagkamatay.

Hindi ibinunyag ni Kalihim Manalo ang pagkakakilanlan ng biktima alinsunod sa kahilingan ng pamilya. Gayunpaman, itiniyak niya sa pamilya ang tulong mula sa pamahalaan sa gitna ng kanilang pagdadalamhati.

Sinabi naman ni DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega na ang ika-apat na biktima ay isang babae na caregiver sa isang komunidad sa south Israel, isang lugar na kabilang sa mga inatake ng militanteng Hamas. Isa siya sa tatlong Pilipino na iniulat na nawawala sa Israel. Hindi pa tiyak kung siya ay binihag at pinatay ng grupong militanteng Hamas.

Kinumpirma rin ni De Vega na ang labi ng isa sa apat na namatay na Pinoy ay iuuwi na sa Pilipinas ng kanyang asawa ngayong Nobyembre. Samantala, ang dalawa pang labi ay inaasahang maiuuwi sa mga susunod na linggo.

Sa ngayon, wala pang impormasyon tungkol sa dalawang nawawalang Pinoy. Isa sa kanila ay may hawak na Israeli passport at naturalized citizen doon, kaya’t ito ay maaaring paliwanag kung bakit walang detalyadong impormasyon mula sa pamahalaan ng Israel.

Gaza braces for aid from Egypt as Israel prepares for possible ground assault

Venus L Peñaflor
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Gaza braces for aid from Egypt as Israel prepares for possible ground assault

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. Israel intensified airstrikes in Gaza on Thursday, with a focus on the southern region where Palestinians were urged to seek shelter. Israel’s defense minister ordered ground troops to prepare for potential invasion, though a specific timeline was not provided.

Gaza’s hospitals, already overwhelmed, struggled to make their limited medical supplies and generator fuel last. Aid from Egypt was being coordinated to address the dire situation. Doctors had to work in darkened wards, using mobile phone lights and vinegar to treat infected wounds.

A U.S. intelligence assessment presented to Congress estimated that the recent explosion at a Gaza City hospital resulted in a death toll between 100 and 300, which, while significant, was on the “low end.” The cause of the explosion remains disputed, with U.S. intelligence officials agreeing with earlier statements that it was not caused by an Israeli airstrike.

Tensions escalated with Palestinian militants firing rockets into Israel from Gaza and Lebanon, while violence erupted in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, in a passionate address to Israeli infantry troops stationed at the Gaza border, urged them to prepare for potential action. Israel had amassed tens of thousands of troops along the border, raising concerns about a ground assault.

The situation in Gaza remained dire, with many residents facing food and water shortages and a lack of medical supplies. Egypt and Israel were in negotiations to deliver fuel to hospitals in Gaza, while the first aid trucks were expected to arrive soon.

Amid these challenging circumstances, conditions at Gaza’s second-largest hospital, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, worsened further as power outages became widespread. Patients in critical condition were left without ventilators due to a shortage.

The Gaza Health Ministry implored gas stations to supply fuel to hospitals, and a U.N. agency allocated its remaining fuel reserves to medical centers.

The situation in Gaza continued to deteriorate, with thousands killed and injured, and many more missing under the rubble. In Israel, over a million Palestinians had fled their homes, leading to the emergence of a major tent camp for displaced people, a sight not seen since 1967.

The agreement to deliver aid through the Rafah border crossing remained delicate, with strict conditions set by Israel to ensure aid goes only to civilians in southern Gaza.

Israel’s decision to allow aid from Egypt followed a request from President Joe Biden after intense discussions with U.S. officials. U.S. diplomats expressed concerns over Israeli intentions to deny basic necessities to Gaza, and Israeli officials made comparisons to past conflicts.

The situation remained highly volatile, with ongoing violence and uncertainty in both Gaza and the surrounding regions.

Chinese electric vehicles gain popularity in Europe despite industry concerns

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Chinese electric vehicles gain popularity in Europe despite industry concerns

LONDON. Despite growing concerns within the European automotive industry, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are gaining traction among European consumers due to affordable pricing, advanced features, and stylish designs. As climate-conscious car buyers in Europe contend with rising living costs, Chinese EVs have become a popular choice, challenging established European brands.

Laima Springe-Janssen, a resident of Copenhagen, Denmark, opted for a compact SUV from China’s BYD when replacing her gasoline-powered SUV. She cited the affordable price, which was equivalent to about $50,000, and the inclusion of features like a 360-degree dash cam, two years of free charging, and an extra set of winter tires. Her enthusiasm for the vehicle highlights how Chinese automakers are making significant headway in Europe’s EV market, which plays a crucial role in the continent’s transition to green energy.

This trend has prompted the European Union (EU) to initiate an investigation into Beijing’s support for its EV industry. The competitive threat from Chinese EVs has added to technology-related tensions between the West and China, which is one of Europe’s largest trading partners and the world’s biggest auto market.

Chinese automakers are targeting Europe due to lower import tariffs compared to the United States and the region’s status as the world’s second-largest EV battery market after China. This appeal has drawn Chinese EV manufacturers to Europe, and they are rapidly gaining market share.

While Chinese automakers account for only about 3% of Western Europe’s overall car market, they make up 8.4% of the EV market, a significant increase from 6.2% in the previous year and almost nothing in 2019, according to data from independent auto analyst Matthias Schmidt.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed concerns over the flood of cheaper Chinese electric cars in global markets and the impact on European car manufacturers and jobs. The EU investigation, formally launched this month, could result in import duties.

Stellantis, which owns brands such as Peugeot, Citroen, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat, is planning to compete against Chinese EVs with new offerings. Executives at Shanghai-based Aiways, a startup focused on Europe and Israel, rejected claims of subsidies and called for fair competition to drive the transition to a green future.

Chinese EV manufacturers are distinguishing themselves through innovative designs and features, and they are targeting specific market segments. Brands like MG, owned by China’s SAIC Motor, are becoming increasingly popular in Europe, offering affordable options with impressive features. While Chinese EVs currently represent a fraction of European car sales, their rapid growth poses a significant challenge to the established players in the region’s automotive industry.

Community empowerment: A path to eradicating poverty

Melinda Bagsic Evangelista
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Community empowerment: A path to eradicating poverty

(First of three parts)

In this current era of economic uncertainties and glaring poverty in various depressed areas in the Metropolis and in far-flung barangays in the countryside throughout the country, there is a great need for government and private entities to work hand in hand together to uplift the life of the less fortunate. The programs of government alone as reported in the news daily are apparently not sufficient to address the growing needs of the people in education, health, housing and good-paying jobs among others. Something feasible and concrete must be done to pave the way towards zero poverty.

The increasing numbers of lending establishments usually owned by loan sharks is not the answer to the never-ending daily needs of financially challenged individuals. What they need is a self-sustaining financial facility that will assist them to attain their desired goal. A close scrutiny of the government’s programs to alleviate the plight of the poor through small and medium enterprises may sound good on student’s term papers but reality check would show that only few are benefited. Indigenous people are often neglected, especially those in secluded areas. Since time immemorial, there has always been a clash between the rich and the poor. Corruption and exploitation by the rich are obviously being tolerated leaving the poor at the mercy of the power that be. This has to end and it can only be done by empowering the less privileged in the community to acquire and control their own property.

The questions would be HOW and WHEN. There are financial institutions like banks that offer low-interest loans on car, education, travel and housing but it will take a lifetime for the poor to comply with the documentary requirements. In the local parlance, “Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?”

What the local communities need today is an organization that would empower the economically challenged individuals to pursue their dreams by giving them constant access to vital social and economic services that would help them become better and useful citizens of this country. No institution or agency has the sole obligation to cater to the needs of the poor. It is the moral duty of both the state and the private sector to ensure that every citizen, especially the poorest of the poor have easy access to finances that would help them augment their daily needs. Filipinos are naturally enterprising. If given the opportunity to grow, they will not hesitate to grab it. A bright learner, if given the chance to pursue studies, could become a doctor, a businessman, a lawyer, a teacher or anything he or she wanted to be. A farmer, if given the necessary tools and farm implements, could produce farm products not only for his family but for the whole community at a much lower price. A solo parent which has become a trend today, if allowed to venture on a small business could eventually succeed in feeding the family thus becoming a useful member of our society.

Makabuluhang pulong ng mga lider ng kooperatiba sa Laguna, isinagawa sa Sta. Cruz

Venus L Peñaflor
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Makabuluhang pulong ng mga lider ng kooperatiba sa Laguna, isinagawa sa Sta. Cruz

STA. CRUZ, Laguna. Nagtipon-tipon ang humigit-kumulang na 400 na mga lider at kasapi ng mga kooperatiba sa lalawigan n Laguna sa idinaos na Laguna Cooperative Leaders’ Forum Oktubre 17, 2023 sa Laguna Cultural Center.

Ang ginanap na pagtitipon ay pinangunahan nina Gobernador Ramil L. Hernandez at Laguna Rep. (2nd District) Ruth Mariano Hernandez, kasama ang Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO).

Ang mga kooperatiba sa Laguna ay kinabibilangan ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda, manggagawa ng tsinelas, mga magsasaka ng niyog, mga nasa sektor ng transportasyon, mga nagtitinda sa palengke, at iba pang mga kasapi ng Serbisyong Tama Kababaihan o STK.

Mahalagang pagkakataon ito para sa lahat ng mga kasapi ng bawat kooperatiba na talakayin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan, pati na rin ang mga bagong programa mula sa pambansang at lokal na pamahalaan na naglalayong palakasin ang bawat kooperatiba. Ilan sa mga ito ay ang oportunidad na magtanim ng rubber tree at ang produksyon ng abaca, na hindi lamang magbibigay ng mga bagong pagkakakitaan kundi magpapabuti rin sa kalikasan.

Nagpasalamat si Gob. Hernandez sa suporta ng mga kooperatiba sa mga programa at sa pagpapanatili ng matibay na pagkakaisa at mga kabuhayan ng mga kasapi. May malalaking papel ang mga ito sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa, ayon sa gobernador.

Ang ginanap na Cooperative Leaders’ Forum ay inorganisa ng PCDO ay bahagi ng pagdiriwang ng 2023 Cooperative Month na may temang: “Cooperatives: Pioneering the Path to Recovery Amidst Modern Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security.”

Elon Musk’s X trials $1 fee to combat spam among new users in the Philippines and New Zealand

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Elon Musk’s X trials $1 fee to combat spam among new users in the Philippines and New Zealand

London. Elon Musk’s social media platform X has begun charging a $1 fee to new users in the Philippines and New Zealand, in a test designed to cut down on the spam and fake accounts flourishing on the site formerly known as Twitter.

The company said late Tuesday that it has started trying out the annual subscription method for new and unverified accounts. The program, dubbed Not a Bot, won’t apply to existing users.

It’s not clear why it only applies to New Zealand and the Philippines or why those countries were chosen.

“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount,” the X support account tweeted. “It is not a profit driver.”

Some experts said charging a fee might not do much to stop fake accounts and could even amplify the problem.

If X decides to roll out the $1 fee worldwide, it could be “disastrous” for the platform, said Kolina Koltai, a researcher at the investigative collective Bellingcat who previously worked at Twitter.

“There is nothing to stop a scammer from spending $100 to buy a hundred new bot accounts. In fact, it may even make the platform more bot-filled,” she said. “New users to the platform may not be inclined to pay $1 and give their credit card information to X.”

Since Musk bought the company a year ago, he has introduced a slew of changes such as renaming the platform and gutting its workforce – including its content moderation team.

Outside watchdog groups say the changes have allowed misinformation to thrive on the platform, a problem that exploded after the Israel-Hamas war erupted.

Musk previously turned to premium subscriptions as a tactic to boost the financially struggling platform’s revenue.

One of his first product moves was to shake up the site’s blue check verification system by launching a service granting checks to anyone willing to pay $8 a month. A flood of impostor accounts forced the service’s temporary suspension days after it launched.

Koltai noted that the $8 program hasn’t deterred bots or spam accounts. Researchers also point out that accounts subscribing to the blue-check service can get paid if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to post whatever gets the most reaction.

In return for their $1, new subscribers will get access to basic functions like posting content, liking or bookmarking posts, and reposting, quoting or replying to posts from other accounts.

The platform said new users who don’t subscribe will only be able to read posts, watch videos, and follow other accounts.

16 Filipino repatriates mula sa Israel nasa PH na, DMW sumalubong

Arman B. Cambe
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16 Filipino repatriates mula sa Israel nasa PH na, DMW sumalubong

Dumating sa bansa noong Miyerkules ng hapon, Oktubre 18, ang unang batch ng 16 Filipino repatriates mula sa Israel. Ang mga ito ay mga Pilipinong nagpasyang umalis na sa Israel sa gitna ng patuloy na giyera sa pagitan ng mga Israeli at Hamas militant group.

Sinalubong sila ni Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Officer-in-Charge na si Hans Leo Cacdac, kasama si Senador Raffy Tulfo, na Chair ng Senate Committee on Migrant Workers. Kasama rin si OFW Party-list Rep. Marissa Magsino, at ang mga Deputy Directors General ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) na sina Aniceto D. Bertiz III at Vidal V. Villanueva.

Ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan ay handang magbigay ng tulong sa mga OFW, kabilang ang psycho-social counseling, stress debriefing, medical referral, at temporary shelter habang naghihintay sila ng biyahe pauwi sa kanilang mga probinsya.

Sa kabila ng mga pagsubok, ang mga repatriates na ito ngayon ay ligtas na at nasa sariling bansa. Nagsilbing paalala ito ng mahalagang papel na ginagampanan ng pamahalaan sa pagsuporta at proteksyon sa mamamayan na nasa ibang bansa, lalo na sa mga oras ng krisis.

Israel to allow limited aid delivery to Gaza amid hospital blast fallout

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israel to allow limited aid delivery to Gaza amid hospital blast fallout

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. Israel announced on Wednesday that it will permit Egypt to deliver restricted amounts of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, marking a slight easing of the 10-day blockade on the region. This development follows a massive explosion at a Gaza City hospital that claimed hundreds of lives the day before, as Palestinians faced mounting desperation with dwindling food and water supplies.

The decision, which allows food, water, and medicine deliveries to civilians in the southern Gaza Strip while excluding Hamas militants, was made after a request from visiting U.S. President Joe Biden, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Notably, there was no mention of the much-needed fuel supply.

The timeline for aid delivery remains unclear, as truckloads of aid at the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s sole connection to Egypt, have been waiting for days. However, the crossing’s capacity has been limited, and it has reportedly been damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

Israel’s announcement came as anger over the hospital blast on Tuesday night at al-Ahli Hospital spread across the Middle East. This development coincided with President Biden’s visit to Israel, where he aimed to prevent a wider conflict in the region, which began when Hamas militants initiated a rampage across communities in southern Israel on October 7.

There were conflicting claims regarding the responsibility for the explosion. Hamas officials in Gaza quickly attributed it to an Israeli airstrike, reporting nearly 500 casualties. In contrast, Israel denied involvement and presented evidence indicating that the blast was the result of a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group in Gaza. Islamic Jihad disputed this claim.

The Associated Press has not independently verified any of the claims or evidence provided by the involved parties.

Upon his arrival, President Biden embraced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed concern for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians. He later stated that the hospital blast appeared not to be Israel’s fault, based on the information available.

Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel resumed shortly before Biden’s arrival, following a 12-hour lull. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued, even targeting cities in southern Gaza that Israel had designated as “safe zones” for Palestinian civilians.

After the hospital blast, Jordan canceled a meeting between Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. As a result, President Biden visited only Israel.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas was described as “pushing the region to the brink” by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The Israeli military held a briefing to present its case for not being responsible for the al-Ahli Hospital explosion, emphasizing that it was not firing in the area when the incident occurred.

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with thousands of casualties, massive displacement, and humanitarian needs reaching critical levels.

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