Israel-Palestinian conflict

Kenya has joined the world in condemning the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.

During a United Nations Security Council debate on the violence in East Jerusalem on Monday, Kenya urged all authorities and particularly law enforcement to de-escalate the situation in Jerusalem before it leads to a more extensive wave of violence.

“We insisted that the agreed status quo on Jerusalem be respected,” said the Kenyan Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.

The violence escalated on Tuesday after Israel bombarded Gaza with airstrikes and Palestinian militants resumed cross-border rocket fire on Tuesday.

Israeli leaders said they were pressing on with an offensive to destroy the capabilities of the armed factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist but pragmatic, militant, and nationalist organization.

At least 212 people, including almost 100 women and children, have been killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry while in Israel 10 people, including two children, have been killed, its medical service reports.

The conflict is now in its second week, with little sign of ending.

Outbreak of Violence

The outbreak of violence began after weeks of rising Israeli-Palestinian tension in occupied East Jerusalem that culminated in clashes at a holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. Hamas began firing rockets after warning Israel to withdraw from the site, triggering retaliatory airstrikes.

US President Joe Biden calls for a ceasefire

US President Joe Biden has called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and urged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians.

Mr Biden “encouraged Israel to make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent civilians”.