Thousands of Palestinians marched on Friday across the Gaza Strip to condemn Israeli violations against the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and against policies of discrimination against Palestinians in Jerusalem. In the Jabaliya refugee camp Palestinians affiliated with the Hamas movement marched holding pictures of Mutaz Hijazi, a Jerusalemite slain by Israeli soldier early Thursday, and chanted slogans in support of Palestinian rights in Jerusalem. Hamas leader Fathi Hammad said that the Palestinian resistance would not remain silent toward violations against Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque, which was closed for the first time since 1967 by Israeli authorities on Thursday. In Gaza City, meanwhile, Islamic Jihad-affiliated Palestinians and dozens of armed al-Quds brigades fighters took part in a march condemning Israeli violations in Jerusalem. Islamic Jihad leader Ahmad al-Mudalal said the arms of the Palestinian resistance could fight Israel and would keep fighting until the liberati
Until now, the besieged Gaza Strip has stayed free of the novel coronavirus spreading across the world. As the Gaza Strip has been under a stringent Israeli-led blockade for nearly 13 years, the spread of the coronavirus - officially known as COVID-19 - has become the topic of discussion for many Palestinians, with some joking that the blockade was preventing them from being exposed.But as authorities in the coastal Palestinian enclave gear up to contain any potential outbreak, serious questions have arisen about the risks and implications of such a scenario. But given its already difficult humanitarian situation and high population density, an outbreak in the Gaza Strip could prove to be catastrophic, health officials have warned. "If the virus enters Gaza and spreads, it will get out of hand," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Majdi Thuhair told Middle East Eye, as he explained that a severe shortage of resources and personnel would make it near impossible