The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 41,965, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Tuesday.
Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli military operations in Gaza caused 56 deaths and 278 injuries in the region, bringing the total injuries to as high as over 97,500, said the authorities.
About 20 armed fighters of Hamas were killed in the northern Gaza's Jabalia region over the past day, according to a report released by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Tuesday.
The report added that across Gaza a great number of weapons including grenades, anti-tank rockets, and rifles were seized, many footholds of Hamas were removed, and over 70 targets were stricken from air.
The Israeli military shoot at the offices of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza on Tuesday after they encircled the institute, said the health authorities in Gaza, adding the military also demanded the patients in multiple hospitals across the Gaza Strip to leave.
An Israeli soldier was killed in a close combat with the Al-Qassam Brigades, said the military wing of Hamas on the same day, adding that it also attacked the Israeli military reinforcements with bombs.
Air-raid siren could be heard in Israel's southern city of Sderot and nearby towns on late Tuesday with the Israeli military claiming that two rockets sent from Gaza were intercepted. Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, claimed the responsibility of the attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday, the one-year anniversary of Gaza conflict, appealed for peace in the Middle East.
He noted that since Oct. 7, 2023, "a wave of shocking violence and bloodshed has erupted," and the war that followed "continues to shatter lives and inflict profound human suffering for Palestinians in Gaza."
"It is time for the release of the hostages. Time to silence the guns. Time to stop the suffering that has engulfed the region. Time for peace, international law and justice," he said, adding that the UN is fully committed to achieving these goals.
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 41,965
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 41,965
Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 41,965
The 9th Chinese Cinema Festival in Sao Paulo, taking place as Brazil and China celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, packed theaters with audiences eager to see classic and modern Chinese films.
With 14 movies to choose from, the event proved an overwhelming success. One film buff was drawn by his interest in Chinese martial arts.
"I really liked it. I enjoy Kung Fu films. I practiced martial arts for quite a while, so I'm really interested in this," said Hector Felix, a sales assistant.
The festival was organized with the support of Sao Paulo's Confucius Institute, one of the most important organizations working to spread Chinese culture around the world, including in Brazil.
"A lot of people from other countries are very interested in China, not only in its current development but also the history of China and why China can develop so fast. That must have something to do with its history and Chinese culture. So that's why language and culture are very important for us to know, and that's what our Confucius Institute is doing now," said Ye Dan, director of the Confucius Institute.
As Brazil and China continue to strengthen their political and economic ties, there is also space for events like this Cinema Festival to enhance cultural integration between the two nations.
Romualdo Matos, a Portuguese language teacher, said he was taking the opportunity to broaden his knowledge of Chinese cinema and culture.
"I find it interesting how they value antiquity and ancestry. Even in more modern films, I notice they emphasize this connection to culture and tradition. For a long time, we came to know China through its products, and now we are getting to know China through its culture. This is really great," said Matos.
As the theme of the festival — "Far... But Close" — suggests, Brazil and China may be physically distant, but cultural exchange can help build a bridge and bring these two sides of the planet closer together.
Sao Paulo Chinese cinema festival casts lens on China for Brazilian viewers