VP dodged criticism — analysts

November 12, 2023 | 7:45 pm

Sara-Duterte — PNA PHOTO BY ALFRED FRIAS

SOME political analysts are of the opinion that Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio only gave up her pursuit of confidential funds for her office next year to avoid being a target of criticism.

“This is meant to counter the ongoing offensives being made against her and her allies by her detractors and rivals in the House,” Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Aguirre said the move may help the Vice President gain public sympathy if she appeared as the “underdog” and “the bigger person” in the argument about secret funds for civilian agencies.

“She (Ms. Duterte-Carpio) is now backtracking given the public opposition as well as the reactions of the House,” Maria Ela L. Atienza, who teaches political science at the University of the Philippines, said in a Viber message.

Office of the Vice President (OVP) Media and Public Relations chief Jefry M. Tupas did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment on these views.

Citing a statement from Ms. Duterte-Carpio, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara told plenary last week that the Vice President would not pursue her request for P500 million in confidential funds next year “because it is seen to be divisive.”

Last week, senators ended plenary debates on the P1.874-billion budget of the OVP, pending amendments.

Ms. Duterte-Carpio will also forgo the Department of Education’s (DepEd) request for P150 million in confidential funds, asking senators to realign the funds to the country’s learning recovery program.

The House of Representatives had stripped confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of Vice President and the Department of Education next year.

The lower chamber transferred P1.23 billion worth of these budgets to security agencies amid worsening tensions with China. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Women’s union flags job bias

November 12, 2023 | 7:45 pm

Job seekers — JOB SEEKERS attend a job fair in Manila, May 31, 2023. — PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

WOMEN-LED labor union expressed concern over the weekend that the higher unemployment rate among females might be indicative of cultural precepts that women should prioritize unpaid domestic work in the household.

Citing results of the September Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that joblessness in September was higher for females at 5.2% than males at 4.1%, the Federation of Free Workers Women’s Network (FWN) said women jobseekers easily face discrimination for their domestic roles.

“Even if they (women) apply for a job, employers still ask them if they are married because employers think they will have a hard time at work if they are married or have children,” FWN President Maria Victoria G. Bellosillo said.

Other factors contributing to the gender disparity in terms of employment are the lower pay for female workers compared to their male counterparts and harassment in the workplace.

The FWN has been lobbying for the implementation of a national wage increase to address the gender pay gap.

“Support for a higher minimum wage is crucial because there is still a gender pay gap experienced by female workers, where the average basic pay for men is still higher than that of women,” FWN focal person for gender equality Anna Leah Colina, speaking in Filipino, said.

Ms. Colina added that women workers in the electronic manufacturing industry face the brunt of its decline as they experience reduced working hours. September LFS results showed that the industry dropped 888,000 workers year on year.

“We feel the economic crunch in the manufacturing sector, and it’s affecting women. In electronics, where the majority of workers are women, there’s a slowdown in global demand, leading to temporary shutdowns, resulting in a ‘no work, no pay’ situation, and a reduction in their work days,” she said.

Ms. Bellosillo said that aside from equal pay and benefits, women employees’ rights must be respected by providing them sufficient parental leave and breastfeeding areas in workplaces.

She also emphasized the call against workplace harassment against women as President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. endorsed the ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention (ILO C190) which establishes the right of workers against violence and harassment. She said harassment in the workplace caused some women to leave their workplace and distress in their mental health. — Jomel R. Paguian

IPAs spark accountability debate

November 12, 2023 | 7:45 pm

A PROPOSAL returning tax incentive power to investment promotion agencies (IPAs) will only give rise to accountability issues, professor and former Department of Finance (DoF) undersecretary Cielo D. Magno said over the weekend.

“We have to remember that incentives are foregone revenues of government which could have been used to provide social and economic services to the public. There must be accountability to ensure that when we give businesses incentives, we are getting something in return from these foregone revenues,” Ms. Magno, who currently teaches economics at the University of the Philippines, said in a Viber message.

The proposed shift, part of the CREATE MORE Bill pending in Congress, would weaken the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) and if it were dissolved, “water down” accountability, she added.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. sought the power to grant and approve tax incentives to IPAs, Albay Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente Salceda told the House Ways and Means Committee last week.

The move would essentially “wind down” the FIRB’s power to grant and approve fiscal incentives.

“The proposal to revert authority to the relatively autonomous IPAs will not only prevent that kind of nationally coordinated incentives system for national development but will likely even encourage them to compete with each other to attract foreign investment,” IBON Foundation executive director Jose Enrique A. Africa said via Viber.

“The first order of business on the matter of fiscal incentives is to design these as part of a much broader strategic industrialization policy and not just to attract FDI for its own sake,” Mr. Africa added.

The CREATE is also sought amendments to address issues in delayed value-added tax (VAT) refunds.

“If we want to fix VAT refund, accelerate the implementation of e-invoicing and the digitalization of BIR and pass the Ease of Paying Taxes bill,” Ms. Magno said. “Removing the accountability process in awarding incentives will not solve the problem regarding VAT refund.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Gov’t needs climate fund support

November 12, 2023 | 7:42 pm

ACKNOWLEDGING government limitations, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) is calling for more private sector investments for climate action projects, an official said over the weekend.

“The government simply cannot do it alone,” Robert E.A. Borje, vice-chairman of the CCC told reporters on Saturday. “So (the private sector) needs to invest also. It also becomes a good business sense because they need to adapt.”

However, he said government should be able to provide the incentives and the support needed so that companies would invest in these projects, making them “as strong and as climate adaptive as possible.”

Mr. Borje said the CCC is “almost done” with the national adaptation plan which aims to reduce the impact of climate change, create long-term support mechanisms for climate change technologies, and facilitate the adaptation of climate change measures into policies, programs and activities.

By next year, the CCC will work on the implementation plan of the Nationally Determined Contribution, a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

“Moving forward it is important that there is enough funding for these two, and that is the next step,” Mr. Borje said.

Meanwhile, the CCC is also planning to conduct a climate roadshow. “We will go to the different, key, local government units along with other stakeholders para pag-usapan ang ano pa ang dapat gawin pag dating sa adaptation (ng climate initiatives),” he said. — Adrian H. Halili

SC upholds architects’ authority

November 12, 2023 | 7:41 pm

supreme-court-philstar — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC), in a decision issued by the SC Second Division on March 15 and released on Nov. 9, ruled that only licensed architects, not civil engineers, can prepare, sign, and seal architectural documents.

This ruling overturns a Court of Appeals (CA) decision that questioned certain rules in Presidential Decree No. 1096, the National Building Code.

The SC said that the decision “cannot be considered to have any legal effect nor part of the National Building Code,” because the Code, as published in the Official Gazette, did not mention that civil engineers may sign architectural plans in the first place. Moreover, the SC ruled that the Architecture Act of 2002 impliedly repealed provisions in the Civil Engineering Law of 1950 which authorized civil engineers to prepare, sign, and seal various plans, including architectural documents.

“The repeal of a statute is a matter of legislative intent…The language of [the Architecture Act] reveals an intention on the part of the legislature to provide for a limitation on the civil engineers’ authority to prepare, sign, and seal documents relating to building construction,” said the High Tribunal.

In the same ruling, the SC upheld that only registered and licensed architects, or interior designers, may prepare, sign, and seal the architectural interior or interior design documents.

The ruling was made after Leo Cleto Gamolo and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. filed a petition for declaratory relief before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to authorize civil engineers to sign architectural documents.

The RTC denied the petition on Jan. 29, 2008, but was overturned by the CA on Jan. 5, 2012. — Jomel R. Paguian

Solomon grabs second straight SSL MVP as National U repeats

November 12, 2023 | 6:58 pm

ALYSSA SOLOMON added another feather in her cap to further prove her stature as one of the best players not only for National University (NU) but in the entire Philippine volleyball archipelago.

The towering spiker stood tall once again with her second straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-Season Championship Season 2 as the Lady Bulldogs completed a back-to-back title sweep.

Ms. Solomon, the 6-foot-2 bonafide Lady Bulldog since her high school days, was also hailed as the Best Opposite Spiker for a statement campaign entering their redemption tour in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Ms. Solomon was steady in the finals against the gritty University of Santo Tomas (UST) ignited by a 15-point outing on 11 hits, three aces and a block in NU’s 21-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-17 Game 1 win.

Joining forces with First Best Outside Hitter Michaela Belen in a lethal Lady Bulldogs duo, Ms. Solomon then hammered 14 points on 10 attacks, three aces and a block as they fended off the Golden Tigresses anew, 25-17, 15-25, 25-20, 25-20, in the clinching Game 2.

Ms. Belen, who fired 17 points in the finale, and Ms. Solomon were joined by teammates Camilla Lamina (Best Setter) and Erin May Pangilinan (First Best Middle Blocker) in the honor roll of the SSL Season 2 backed by Mikasa, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Summit Bottle Water, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, R and B Milk Tea, Potato Corner, Rebel Sports, Converge ICT Solutions, Genius Sports and United Auctioneers, Inc.

UST’s Angeline Poyos (Second Best Outside Hitter) and Maria Bernadette Pepito (Best Libero) as well as Adamson’s Lorene Toring (Second Best Middle Blocker) were also recognized as part of the SSL Super Team.

But the moment belonged to the entire Lady Bulldogs, who just ushered in a dynasty with two straight perfect campaigns in 18 games since the inaugural season of the SSL in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Sports Commission.

And they’re out to ride on the momentum for the ultimate mission of reclaiming the lost glory in the UAAP with returning mentor Norman Miguel at the helm. — John Bryan Ulanday

UPHSD nips LPU on Omega’s game-winning triple, 81-80

November 12, 2023 | 6:58 pm

Games Tuesday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
1:30 p.m. — Letran vs AU
3:30 p.m. — JRU vs EAC

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help’s (UPHSD) Mark Omega was always a reluctant three-point shooter and would just happily fill his role as a physical and rugged force and inside presence.

But with time running out and the game on the line, the 23-year-old bruiser from Cagayan Valley didn’t hesitate, took and nailed perhaps the biggest shot of his life by banging in the game-winning triple in an epic 81-80 squeaker over Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) on Sunday.

It was a shot heard all over the Filoil EcoOil Arena and back in Las Piñas as it sent the Myk Saguiguit-mentored Altas to their fourth straight win and eighth overall in 15 games and into NCAA Season 99 Final Four contention.

After that shot and UPHSD made the huge stop with 2.3 seconds to go, the Altas whooped it up on the court and mugged and hugged Mr. Omega, with some shedding tears of joy, as if they just won a championship.

It was an unbelievable feeling for a UPHSD team finally living up to its pre-season reputation as the tournament dark horse.

It was a heartbreaker for the LPU Pirates, who appeared headed to snaring the win until fate intervened.

LPU fell to 11-4 instead and its five-game streak snapped.

Earlier, College of St. Benilde (CSB) dominated the boards and San Sebastian College-Recoletos with an emphatic 78-68 win, the former’s 10th against five defeats.

Last year’s MVP Will Gozum reclaimed his starting job and reciprocated with a 14-point, eight-carom and four-assist performance but it was the smaller backcourt tandem of Miguel Cortez and Robi Nayve who came out bigger as the two finished with double-double efforts including 10 boards each.

“It’s good now that I can challenge my bigs to rebound more than the guards. Overall, it was a good rebounding game for us,” said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

In the third game, Mapua held San Beda to just five points in the fourth quarter and leaned on Paolo Hernandez’s huge triple late to eke out an 71-69 win and seize the solo lead with a 12-3 card.

The Lions dropped from No. 4 to No. 5 with an 8-6 mark. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

CSB 78- Gozum 14, Nayve 13, Oczon 13, Mara 12, Corteza 6, Carlos 4, Cajucom 4, Sangco 4, Jarque 3, Turco 3, Morales 2, Marcos 0, Arciaga 0

SSC-R 68- Calahat 14, Despyo 11, Re. Gabat 8, Are 8, Escobido 7, Felebrico 6, Sumoda 5, Shanoda 5, Una 4, De Leon 0

Quarterscores: 21-12; 43-41; 58-54; 78-68

Second Game

UPHSD 81- Nitura 18, Pagaran 14, Roque 14, Omega 10, Razon 9, Abis 8, Boral 5, Gelsano 3, Barcuma 0, Nunez 0, Ferreras 0, Cuevas 0

LPU 80- Valdez 16, Barba 14, Umali 11, Montano 11, Guadana 11, Omandac 8, Bravo 5, Cunanan 4, Versoza 0, Villegas 0, Penafiel 0, Fuentes 0, Moralejo 0

Quarterscores: 24-25; 39-47; 65-66; 81-80

Third Game

Mapua 71- Escamis 21, Cuenco 14, Bonifacio 11, Rosillo 8, Asuncion 6, Hernandez 4, Soriano 4, Recto 3, Igliane 0, Morenos 0, Dalisay 0

San Beda 69- Cortez 24, Andrada 15, Puno 9, Tagle 7, Visser 4, Jopia 4, Cuntapay 3, Payosing 3, Royo 0, Gonzales 0, Gallego 0, Alfaro 0

Quarterscores: 19-17; 40-38; 54-64; 81-80

Kaya FC lady booters win first PFF Women’s League crown

November 12, 2023 | 6:58 pm

KAYA FC-Iloilo added another feather to its cap as it captured its first Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Women’s League crown on Saturday (Nov. 11) night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Kaya lady booters leaned on sub Sheen Nicole Ramores for the game-winning late strike in a slim 1-0 win over Manila Digger FC in the finale.

Ms. Ramores found herself unmarked and made the Manila Digger’s defenders pay by blasting the marginal low strike at the 86^th minute.

The Kaya ladies continued the winning tradition of the club after their male counterparts won the Philippines Football League’s league diadem and the Copa Paulino Alcantara (Cup) jewel earlier.

“I’m happy for Kaya. It’s another historic achievement for the club,” said coach Let Dimzon. “We’re the first club to win the PFF Women’s League and it’s a huge honor for us to get this title.”

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University took third place honors after beating De La Salle University, 2-1.

Dionesa Tolentin scored the winner in the 53^rd minute after Angelica Teves leveled Carmela Altiche’s opener. — Olmin Leyba

Arsenal wins to move level with Man City, Spurs slip up at Wolves

November 12, 2023 | 6:57 pm

ARSENAL beat struggling Burnley 3-1 to move level on points with leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after Tottenham Hotspur slipped to a last-gasp loss at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Manchester United recovered from their midweek Champions League defeat with a 1-0 victory over Luton Town, Everton scored a late winner to triumph 3-2 at Crystal Palace and struggling Bournemouth upset depleted Newcastle United 2-0 in the late game.

Leandro Trossard, William Saliba and Oleksandr Zinchenko scored in Arsenal’s victory which lifted them above Spurs to second in the table, level on 29 points with Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Josh Brownhill had equalized for the visitors early in the second half but their joy was shortlived as Arsenal quickly retook the lead and secured the win to condemn Burnley to a sixth straight defeat.

Arsenal’s afternoon was slightly soured by substitute Fabio Vieira being shown a straight red card but manager Mikel Arteta, who blasted officials after the loss to Newcastle United a week earlier, gave the referees high marks.

“Please ask me about VAR because today it was good… I hope that I’m on TV saying the referees are so good and I’m completely with them and being very constructive,” Mr. Arteta said.

A late turnaround from Wolves thwarted Tottenham’s chance of returning to the Premier League summit earlier on Saturday as Pablo Sarabia and Mario Lemina scored in stoppage time to secure the hosts’ 2-1 win. — Reuters

Emily Kristine Pedersen enjoying strong showing at The Annika

November 12, 2023 | 6:57 pm

DENMARK’S Emily Kristine Pedersen shot a 6-under 64 on Saturday and holds a three-shot lead after three rounds of The Annika in Belleair, Florida.

Ms. Pedersen’s bogey-free round leaves her at 18-under 192 at Pelican Golf Club, matching the LPGA record through 54 holes first set by tournament host Annika Sorenstam at the 2003 Mizuno Classic. It was later matched by Japan’s Nasa Hataoka (2018), South Korea’s Sei Young Kim (2018) and Danielle Kang (2021).

Amy Yang of South Korea and Lilia Vu are tied for second, three shots behind Ms. Pedersen. Ms. Yang carded a 61 and Vu shot 62 on Saturday.

Ms. Pedersen set the 36-hole event record on Friday when she was at 12-under 128.

On Saturday, she made consecutive birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 and later made four more on the back nine.

Ms. Yang eagled the par-4 No. 5 also had seven birdies in her bogey-free round. She made four birdies on the front nine and three on the back and said she tried to simplify her mental approach.

Lilia Vu birdied seven of the last 12 holes and had eight overall during her bogey-free round. She finished strong with three birdies in the final four holes.

Alison Lee (62 on Saturday), Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (62), Spain’s Azahara Munoz (64) and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (65) are all tied for fourth place at 13-under 197.

Lexi Thompson (66) is part of a three-way tie for 12^th at 10-under 200. — Reuters

Cavs sweep Warriors

November 12, 2023 | 6:57 pm

The match wasn’t pretty by any measure. Neither the Cavaliers nor the Warriors shot well; they combined to make only 74 field goals out of a whopping 176 attempts. Not surprisingly, the complete picture reflected the poor touch of the marquee names. Donovan Mitchell had 21 points, but drew nylon in just seven of 22 stabs at the basket. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry’s needed to take 24, with nine being counted, en route to 30 markers. To the 18,064 fans at the Chase Center, however, the outcome was what mattered most. Unfortunately, even that was not to their liking.

Indeed, the Cavaliers wound up taking the Warriors anew. For the second time in six days, they proved superior to the 2022 National Basketball Association champions. It may still be early in their campaign, but they nonetheless took pleasure in winning the series against their longtime rivals. The last time the latter tasted defeat at their hands was Christmas in 2016, when LeBron James still ruled the roost, and when the euphoria of the greatest comeback in Finals history was still in the air.

It would be an understatement to argue that the Cavaliers most definitely didn’t care that they benefited from relatively friendlier whistles. They were awarded 13 more free throws off five more fouls by the Warriors. Most crucially, they got a break when defensive anchor and offensive fulcrum Draymond Green was ejected halfway through the third quarter following his second technical foul. Although the opposition used it as motivation to rally from a double-digit deficit to actually take the lead, they managed to right the ship with inspired play in the payoff period.

Considering the checkered history between the Cavaliers and Warriors, it’s a shame that they won’t meet anew in the 2023-24 season — unless, of course, they get to move past their brackets in the in-season tournament or make their way at to the Finals. In any case, there remains a lot of hoops to be played. The tantalizing proposition notwithstanding, they would do well to keep their eyes on the ultimate prize. After all, blips on the radar count for squat in the grand scheme of things.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Israel offers to evacuate babies from Gaza hospital amid fighting

November 12, 2023 | 4:25 pm

foreigners-Rafah border crossing — People sit inside a car as Palestinians, including foreign passport holders, wait at Rafah border crossing after evacuations were suspended following an Israeli strike on an ambulance, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, November 5, 2023. — REUTERS

GAZA/JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said it was ready to evacuate babies from Gaza’s largest hospital on Sunday, where Palestinian officials said two newborns died and dozens more were at risk after fuel ran out amid intense fighting in the area.

As the humanitarian situation worsened, Gaza’s border authority said the Rafah crossing into Egypt would reopen on Sunday for foreign passport holders after closing on Friday.

Hamas said it had completely or partially destroyed more than 160 Israeli military targets in Gaza, including more than 25 vehicles in the past 48 hours. An Israeli military spokesperson said Hamas had lost control of northern Gaza.

At a news conference late on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the deaths of five more Israeli soldiers in Gaza. The Israeli military said 46 had been killed since its ground operations there began.

Israel said rockets were still being fired from Gaza into southern Israel, where it has said about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage by Hamas last month.

Palestinian officials said on Friday that 11,078 Gaza residents had been killed in air and artillery strikes since Oct. 7, around 40% of them children.

Israel’s three major TV news channels, without citing named sources, said there was some progress toward a deal to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Mr. Netanyahu said he would not discuss details of any possible deal, which according to N12 News would involve 50 to 100 women, children and elderly being released in stages during a three to five day pause in fighting.

According to the reports, Israel would release women and minor Palestinian prisoners and consider letting fuel in to Gaza, while reserving the right to resume fighting.

Gaza residents said Israeli troops, who went to war to eliminate Hamas after its deadly cross-border assault on Oct. 7, had been clashing with Hamas gunmen all night in and around Gaza City where the Al Shifa hospital, Gaza’s largest, is located.

Ashraf Al-Qidra, who represents the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, said the hospital suspended operations after fuel ran out. He said two babies had died in an incubator as a result. He said there were 45 babies in total.

He said Israeli shelling killed a patient in intensive care and that Israeli snipers on rooftops fired into the medical complex from time to time, limiting people’s ability to move.

The World Health Organization expressed “grave concern” for the safety of everyone trapped in the hospital by the fighting and said it had lost communications with its contacts there.

Israel’s chief military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the Israeli military would help evacuate babies from the hospital, at the request of the staff at Al Shifa.

Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the hospital’s director, told Al Jazeera TV, that protecting patients was the priority.

“We contacted the Red Cross and informed them we ran out of water, oxygen, fuel, and everything,” Abu Salmiya said.

“The premature babies, patients of the intensive care, and even wounded people couldn’t survive with the lack of electricity… If the occupation forces want to evacuate the wounded people to any place in the world that is safer than the Gaza Strip, we are not against that.”

Israel has said doctors, patients and thousands of evacuees who have taken refuge at hospitals in northern Gaza must leave so it can tackle Hamas gunmen who it says have placed command centres under and around them.

Hamas denies using hospitals this way. Medical staff say patients could die if they are moved and Palestinian officials say Israeli fire makes it dangerous for others to leave.

Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter called the evacuations “Gaza’s Nakba” — a reference to mass dispossessions of Palestinians after Israel was founded in 1948.

“Operationally there’s no way to conduct a war the way the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) wants to conduct it inside Gaza territories,” Mr. Dichter said. “I don’t know how it will end.”

‘TOTALLY A WAR ZONE’
Ahmed al-Mokhallalati, a senior plastic surgeon at Al Shifa, told Reuters there had been continuous bombardment for more than 24 hours. He said most hospital staff and people sheltering there had left, but 500 patients remained.

“It’s totally a war zone. It’s a totally scary atmosphere here in the hospital,” he said.

The military wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades, said it was “engaged in violent clashes in the vicinity of Al Shifa Medical Complex, Al Nasr neighborhood, and Al Shati camp in Gaza.”

Al Nasr is home to several major hospitals.

Israel said earlier it had killed what it called a Hamas “terrorist” who it said had prevented the evacuation of another hospital in the north, which Palestinian officials have said is out of service and surrounded by tanks.

It said Ahmed Siam was killed along with other militants while hiding in the Al Buraq school. Palestinian officials told Reuters on Friday at least 25 Palestinians had been killed in an Israeli strike at the school, which was packed with evacuees.

In London, at least 300,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched and police arrested over 120 people as they sought to stop far-right counter-protesters ambushing the rally. Over 20,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian rally in Brussels.

Meeting in Saudi Arabia, Muslim and Arab countries called for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza, rejecting Israel’s justification of self-defence. A communique issued at the summit urged the International Criminal Court to investigate “war crimes and crimes against humanity that Israel is committing.” — Reuters