Notable legal practitioner Afe Babalola has launched a defense against allegations made in Dele Farotimi's book "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System," claiming the publication has irreparably damaged his hard-earned reputation.

At a press conference held at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre in Ado-Ekiti, Babalola, through his lead counsel Owoseni Ajayi, expressed deep concern over what he describes as defamatory remarks in Farotimi's publication.

"The assertions made in this book threaten to destroy what I have spent my entire life building," Babalola stated, emphasizing that the damage goes beyond monetary compensation.

The legal luminary has taken formal action, submitting a petition to the Ekiti State Police Commissioner requesting intervention. The petition calls for:

- Farotimi to provide proof of the truthfulness of his publications

- Potential prosecution for criminal defamation

- Confiscation of allegedly defamatory publications pending investigation

- Preventing further publication of content that attacks Babalola's reputation

Drawing on a traditional Yoruba proverb, Babalola highlighted the importance of hearing both sides of a story, stating, "Anyone who judges by the report of just one party is the most wicked."

The dispute stems from Farotimi's book, which Babalola claims contains misleading and damaging statements. He argues that while free speech is fundamental, it should not come at the cost of deliberately injuring another's reputation.

Challenging the Nigerian Bar Association's (NBA) position on the matter, Babalola cited the legal precedent of Aviomoh v C.O.P. (2022), asserting that defamation can be both a civil tort and a criminal offense.

"Is it wrong for me to seek justice against these false utterances?" Babalola questioned, challenging those who might view his legal action as an attempt to silence criticism.

The press conference serves as a defense mechanism, with Babalola urging the public to verify facts and not rush to judgment based on one-sided narratives.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case raises important questions about the boundaries of free speech, professional reputation, and the legal recourse available when those boundaries are allegedly crossed.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Ghana holds a presidential and parliamentary election on Saturday (today) amid hopes for an economic revival after the worst financial crisis in a generation, which led to a major debt default in the West African nation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo is stepping down next month after serving the two terms allowed by the constitution in Ghana, the world's second-largest cocoa producer and a significant gold producer.

Twelve candidates are vying to succeed him, but the race is seen as primarily between Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, chosen successor of Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party (NPP), and former President John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Opinion polls have tipped Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2016, for a potential comeback.

Polling stations open at 0700 GMT and close at 1700 GMT. Some provisional legislative results were expected by Saturday night and Sunday, while the presidential outcome is expected by Tuesday, although trends often allow an early prediction.

Mahama, 66, has framed Bawumia as representing a continuation of policies that led to Ghana's economic woes, and has promised to renegotiate terms of a $3 billion IMF bailout secured last year to restructure the country's debts. The crisis peaked in 2022 when Ghana turned to the IMF.

"I will fight corruption to restore integrity and fairness, two critical ingredients missing from our governance," Mahama said in closing campaign remarks in Accra's Madina neighbourhood on Thursday.

Bawumia, a 61-year-old former central banker, has highlighted Ghana's gradual recovery from the crisis, with economic growth surging by 6.9% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024, the fastest rate in five years. He told supporters he will foster policies that will strengthen Ghana's recovery.

He has promised to simplify the tax system, halve the number of government ministers, and cut public spending by 3% of GDP if elected.

"The reason why we are going to win this election is because of the good work that we've done as a government," Bawumia told cheering supporters at the University of Ghana campus during a final rally on Thursday.

Ghana's cedi currency has been strengthening, however high inflation and government debt sustainability remain a concern for investors.

"This election holds significant importance not only for Ghana but also for West Africa, where democracy is under scrutiny," Oxford Economics said in a research note.

Approximately 18.7 million out of Ghana's 34 million population are registered to vote.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine shows off new 'rocket-drone' in bid to boost long-range strikes

Ukraine showed off a new locally-produced "rocket-drone" on Friday which it said could fly 700 km (430 miles) - more than twice the longest range attributed to missiles supplied by Western allies.

The unmanned craft, called "Peklo" - which means hell in Ukrainian - is the second such "rocket drone" unveiled by Kyiv as it tries to increase its ability to strike deep into Russia, which invaded 33 months ago.

The drones could reach speeds of 700 kph, a representative from Ukraine's state arms manufacturer Ukroboronprom told reporters at a ceremony where they were officially handed over to the armed forces.

No other details were provided and no evidence was given of the drone's range or speed. Ukraine has released few details of its arms industry, citing concerns about giving useful information to Moscow.

Ukraine's arms production minister told Reuters in November the "rocket-drone" could be viewed as something akin to a cruise missile, which flies low on a guided path to its target, usually below the speed of sound.

The drones were more than a metre long, with small wings on either side and two tail fins. US-supplied ATACMS missiles have a declared range of just over 300 km.

Russia has used thousands of long-range missiles and drones to hit military and infrastructure targets all over Ukraine.

Kyiv has sought the ability to strike back, but its allies until last month resisted calls to allow use of their missiles on targets deep inside Russia.

Ukraine has sought to balance the long-range strike gap throughout the war by launching explosive-laden propeller drones at targets up to 1,000 km inside Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was at Friday's ceremony, said last month that Ukraine was developing four different missiles.

However, despite successful launches already having taken place, the missile programme has been plagued by global supply chain issues, Ukraine's arms minister previously told Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops liberate six communities in Donbass area, Zaporozhye Region over week

Russian troops liberated six communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Zaporozhye Region over the week of November 30 - December 6 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Battlegroup South units liberated the settlements of Ilyinka and Romanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active operations… Battlegroup Center units kept moving deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Petrovka and Pustynka in the Donetsk People’s Republic… Battlegroup East units liberated the settlements of Novodarovka in the Zaporozhye Region and Sukhiye Yaly in the Donetsk People’s Republic as a result of active operations," the ministry said in a statement.

It follows from the ministry’s latest report that Russian troops liberated the settlements of Sukhiye Yaly and Pustynka in the Donbass region over the past 24 hours.

Russia strikes Ukrainian military-industrial sites, army deployment areas over week

Russian troops delivered six strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises, army deployment areas and weapons arsenals over the week, the ministry reported.

"In the week of November 30 - December 6, the Russian Armed Forces delivered six combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles at power facilities of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, infrastructure of military airfields, assembly and storage facilities of unmanned aerial vehicles, an electronic intelligence center, weapons arsenals, ammunition depots and deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations, special operations forces, foreign instructors and mercenaries. All the goals of the high-precision strikes were achieved," the ministry said.

Kiev loses over 13,000 troops in all frontline areas over week

The Ukrainian army lost more than 13,000 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past week, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army suffered roughly 2,210 casualties from Russia’s Battlegroup North, over 3,565 casualties from the Battlegroup West, more than 2,400 casualties from the Battlegroup South, more than 3,600 casualties from the Battlegroup Center, 950 casualties from the Battlegroup East and 435 casualties from the Battlegroup Dnepr.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts 2,210 casualties on Ukrainian army over week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 2,210 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its areas of responsibility in the Kursk area and the Kharkov Region over the week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, Battlegroup North units continued destroying Ukrainian armed formations on the territory of the Kursk Region. Combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery struck manpower and equipment of two armored, five mechanized and two air assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and four territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted damage on formations of two air assault brigades of the Ukrainian army, a territorial defense brigade, a National Guard brigade and two border guard detachments of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in those frontline areas over the past week amounted to 2,210 personnel, nine tanks, including a German-made Leopard tank, 42 armored combat vehicles, among them three US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 52 motor vehicles and 16 field artillery guns, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 3,565 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled 64 Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted more than 3,565 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units improved their frontline positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of an armored brigade, seven mechanized brigades, an airborne brigade and a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, four territorial defense brigades and two National Guard brigades. They repelled 64 counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week totaled more than 3,565 personnel, a German-made Leopard tank, nine armored combat vehicles, among them two US-made M113 armored personnel carriers, 36 motor vehicles and 15 field artillery guns, including seven NATO-produced 155mm howitzers, it specified.

In addition, Russia’s Battlegroup West units destroyed eight electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and 17 field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army over the past week, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 2,400 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 2,400 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.

Over the week, Battlegroup South units "inflicted casualties on seven mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two airmobile brigades and an air assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade. They repulsed six counterattacks by Ukrainian army units," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to more than 2,400 personnel, eight armored combat vehicles, 25 motor vehicles and six field artillery guns, including four Western-made weapons, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three electronic warfare stations and six field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army over the past week, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 3,600 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Center repelled 72 Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted more than 3,600 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.

Over the past week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a heavy mechanized brigade, five mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an infantry brigade and a jaeger brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades, a special operations brigade, five territorial defense brigades and two National Guard brigades. They repelled 72 enemy counterattacks," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to more than 3,600 personnel, 31 armored combat vehicles, including a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, six M113 armored personnel carriers and an M1117 armored security vehicle of US manufacture, 16 armored vehicles, among them two Turkish-made Kirpi vehicles, a US-made MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a British-made Mastiff armored vehicle, 12 Kozak armored fighting vehicles, 21 motor vehicles and 31 field artillery guns, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 950 casualties on Ukrainian army over week

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 950 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy tanks in its area of responsibility over the past week, the ministry reported.

Over the past week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and seven territorial defense brigades. They repelled 15 counterattacks by enemy assault groups," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past week amounted to 950 personnel, five tanks, including three German-made Leopard tanks, 15 armored combat vehicles, among them four US-made MaxxPro armored fighting vehicles and four US-manufactured HMMWV armored vehicles, 29 motor vehicles and 14 field artillery guns, of which five Western-made 155mm self-propelled artillery systems, it specified.

Reuters/Tass

The following are said with the utmost respect to all parties involved…

In my humble opinion, Baba made a mistake. When you are fighting injustice, there are at least three courts to consider:

1. Court of Law: what the law of the land says

2. Court of Public Opinion: the optics of the matter

3. Court of Conscience: what is known between you and your Maker

Yes, Baba can invoke the legal mechanisms of the land of which he is an undeniable master. The law at first glance seems to be on his side.

Now, somebody has accused you of having the judiciary in your pocket. The way to clear yourself cannot possibly be, in the most ferocious way, through the same judiciary that is alleged to be in your pocket even up to the revered Supreme Court! Even if Baba wins, the optics of the matter is that the victory is in fact proof of the allegation! It _is_ a pyrrhic victory at best!

Two, somebody has accused you of having law enforcement at your fingertips. You made sure to have him locked up for at least a week (or more, who knows?). _A kii pe'ni l'ole, k'a maa gbé ọmọ ẹran ṣ'eré!

Third, libel can be civil or criminal. You that is already on the watchlist of abusers of influence chose the criminal route. You must finish your enemy completely especially since this is not the first libel case between you two.

Fourth, you extradited your accuser from Lagos State where libel is civil, where he is based and must have published the book, to Ekiti State -- fifth -- your power base, where you are the highest taxpayer, and where libel just happens to have a criminal option! _Kàkà ko san l'ara iya àjẹ́, o fi gbogbo ọmọ b'obirin!

Sixth. This book is self published, independently published, and self promoted. I once published a book both in the UK/US for international distribution and locally for national distribution. I know the implication of what Dele Farotimi did: it appears that he feared his opponent so much that he chose to publish by himself. And, to be fair, Baba has ubiquitous influence!

Seventh… if I say this one I will be extradited to Ekiti State straight!

The masses don't fight for justice, they fight injustice. Where there are two injustices, they invariably support the weaker victim!

Libel was the first injustice.

The extradition and continued detention is a second injustice -- according to popular opinion. It is therefore easy to know why the public is buying the book and hailing the publisher.

If Baba had taken the civil route, maybe even in Lagos State, he would have taken the fight to his traducer, and the story would have been very different. The Civil Liberties_ angle would not have come in, I expect.

When fighting a smaller opponent, one must take pains to not go from victim to villain. We all remember _

David vs Goliath_, _David vs Saul_, and _Nabal vs David_. I call it _The Wisdom of Abigail_!

But what is done is done.

Perhaps in his unquestionable quest for justice Baba can support the clamour for bail lest he continues to appear, as it must seem to some, to be a power-drunk nonagenarian!

I have chosen to answer the question, _Do elders make mistakes?_, with an Affirmative YES!. Those who believe in the infallibility of parents do well to ignore my comments.

As for the third court, the court of conscience, A-L-L things shall be made bare before the One whom God Almighty had appointed as the Judge of the whole world, even the living (the quick) and the dead. -- Acts 10⁴²; 17³¹

1 Corinthians 4: 5

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord Jesus Christ comes. *_He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

However quick or influential we are on earth, the Day of Reckoning beckons. Let he who has power wield it in the full cognisance of its transience! Only Jehovah has infinite power.

Death Clock is an innovative app that uses artificial intelligence to accurately predict a person’s life expectancy based on a number of factors like diet, exercise level and sleeping habits.

We’re all going to die someday, but wouldn’t it be nice to have an idea of when that will be? Many people would probably answer ‘no,’ but for those curious when their demise will occur, there’s Death Clock. Launched in July, this AI-powered app uses a dataset of over 1,200 life expectancy studies and 53 million participants to provide personalized death predictions to its users. It’s a dark premise, to be sure, but financial planners have been paying a lot of attention to Death Clock because of its potential to motivate people to more carefully plan their finances for retirement.

“A huge concern for elderly people, our retirees, is outliving their money,” financial planner Ryan Zabrowski told Forbes, adding that AI-powered tools like Death Clock can help people make informed decisions about their finances to better handle the twilight of their existence.

Death Clock users are required to answer a questionnaire that includes basic demographic information such as age, gender, and ethnicity, as well as detailed questions about family history, mental health, and chronic diseases. Diet, exercise habits, stress levels, and sleep patterns are also factored in by advanced algorithms in order to provide the most accurate death prediction possible.

Judging by anecdotal examples, it seems that Death Clock yields relatively optimistic results. For example, TechCrunch reporter Anthony Ha recently used it and learned that he would die at the ripe old age of 90, with a chance to extend his life to 103, if he makes some lifestyle changes. Then again, the Social Security Administration’s mortality rates table estimates that an 85-year-old man in the US has about 5.6 years to live.

With over 125,000 downloads since its launch in July, Death Clock has definitely become one of the most-talked-about AI-powered apps available.

Oddity Central

Dele Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ has become a bestseller on Amazon Books as the human rights advocate faces legal action over the publication.

The book is ranked 555 out of all books on the e-commerce website and is number one in elections.

The book also topped Amazon’s charts in general elections, political process, and political commentary and opinion.

Customer reviews rated the book 4.9 out of five stars.

Published on July 2, Farotimi examined how affluent Nigerians allegedly manipulated the country’s judicial system for their interests.

However, his description of the country’s legal landscape has become a subject matter in a law court.

On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned in a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti state, for allegedly “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), named in the book.

The activist pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Samson Osun, the police prosecutor, asked the court to remand Farotimi pending further investigation.

Dayo Akeredolu, counsel to Farotimi, opposed the remand request and prayed the court to admit the activist on bail under liberal terms and self-recognition.

Akeredolu’s bail application was rejected.

Abayomi Adeosun, the magistrate, ruled that Farotimi be remanded in prison custody till December 10.

Hours after the legal proceedings, Roving Heights, a bookstore, announced that its website crashed.

The bookstore said the technical glitch was caused by “unusual traffic and a spike in demand for some titles”.

The Cable

Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bills, saying the proposed laws are a wake-up call to northern Nigerian leaders to develop their region.

Gumi said the tax reform bills would create more opportunities in the economy than the existing tax system, which promotes multiple taxation.

The cleric stated this on two different occasions on Tuesday and Wednesday in Kaduna. The videos of the conversation were posted on his Facebook page.

The bills are the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024 -SB.583; the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, 2024- SB.584; and the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, 2024- SB. 585; and the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 – SB.586.

Some experts said most critics of the bills had not read their provisions and were only amplifying falsehoods circulated by uninformed interest groups.

Gumi lamented that the debate on the bills is political. He said northern leaders should instead debate their region’s backwardness and why they allow industries and banks to go bankrupt.

However, he identified grey areas in the bills. He said the VAT sharing formula that ignited the debate should be given a second look.

“I heard people debating that Lagos will benefit more from the new sharing formula in the proposed tax reform bills; this should not be the issue to debate on; our leaders should not say so. You said the corporate headquarters were relocated to Lagos, where are your banks’ headquarters in Kaduna or Kano?

“You people were sleeping; you deliberately allowed the population to wallow in poverty. You are shouting over the tax reform bills; where are our industries? Who among you invested in the industries in Kakuri to sustain them? Only the breweries are still functional in the area. We are always applying politics on issues where there is no need for it.

“Nigeria needs the new tax system to move away from the obsolete system that promotes multiple taxation. You cannot throw away the tax reform bills, adopt them, and address their grey areas.

“If we want development, let’s build industries, cultivate more land, and have banks,” Gumi said to the northern leaders.

“Nigeria is blessed with wealth across all regions, so our leaders are treated with dignity globally. France is treating Nigeria with caution; the way they warmly received President Bola Tinubu means a lot.”

Gumi said the debate on the tax reform bills should be conducted by people who are knowledgeable in the field.

“The tax reform bills exempting low-income earners from paying taxes is a welcome development. This should apply to all low-cadre workers, including security agents; doing so will greatly help Nigerians.

“The attempt of the president to reform the collection system is commendable, continuing in the old system will not be good for the country because of the multiple taxation,” the cleric said.

PT

More than 3 million people have now transitioned from using physical immigration documents to eVisas, as part of the UK government’s effort to modernize its border and immigration system.

The shift, reported on December 4th, 2024, is aimed at creating a more secure and efficient process for managing immigration status.

The data, released by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and the Home Office, shows that over 3.1 million individuals have registered for eVisas.

The UK government’s initiative to move from physical immigration documents to digital status proofs is a step toward a more secure and efficient immigration system.

This digital document is designed to simplify border processes, making immigration status easier to verify and more secure. With biometric residence permits (BRPs) and biometric residence cards (BRCs) set to expire on December 31st, 2024, the shift is part of the larger push for digital transformation.

Temporary flexibility for travel documents 

To help the transition, airlines and other carriers will accept expired BRPs and BRCs as evidence of permission to travel to the UK until March 31st, 2025. This decision will be reviewed as necessary. However, passengers will still need to pass standard immigration checks.

Those whose immigration status has expired will not be allowed entry. This measure is aimed at reducing disruption during the ongoing changeover to eVisas.

Government focus on smooth transition 

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP, expressed support for the digital shift, saying,

“It is encouraging to see that over 3.1 million people have now taken action to access their eVisa and are making use of the convenience and security that this brings.”  

• She also mentioned that the government is responding to feedback from visa holders and stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition. “We are continually streamlining and adapting to ensure this is a smooth transition,” Malhotra added.
• She assured that the government is committed to making the switch to eVisas as easy as possible. The Home Office has made changes to address concerns raised by users, including improving the process for those with legacy paper documents and expanding support services.

Legacy paper documents refer to older, physical immigration documents that were issued before the transition to digital records. These can include traditional residence permits, visas, or other immigration papers that were printed and stamped in passports or issued separately.

Also, the automatic verification of travel permissions by carriers like airlines aims to simplify the process for travelers.

Encouraging more people to switch before 2024 deadline 

UKVI is urging individuals who have not yet switched to an eVisa to do so before the end of the year. The switch, as stated, offers several benefits, including improved security and convenience.

Home office also disclosed that this shift is also important for parents or guardians of children who still use BRPs, as they must switch their child’s documents to an eVisa before the deadline.

For individuals with indefinite leave to remain, who still rely on an ink stamp or vignette in their passport, the government recommends applying for a No Time Limit (NTL) application to access an eVisa. This process remains free and simple to complete, providing more secure and accessible proof of immigration status.

Nairametrics

Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says

Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted.

The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians.

The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics.

Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine.

The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there’s a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January.

Wednesday’s strike in Muwasi — a desolate area with few public services that holds hundreds of thousands of displaced people — wounded at least 28 people, according to Atif al-Hout, the director of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis.

An Associated Press journalist at the hospital counted at least 15 bodies, but said reaching a precise number was difficult because many of the dead were dismembered, some without heads or badly burned. In the morgue, an infant’s blackened hand and face peeked out from beneath a heavy blanket used to transport bodies to the hospital.

“It was like doomsday,” said a wounded woman, Iman Jumaa, who held back tears as she described how the strike killed her father, her brothers and her brothers’ children.

Videos and photos of the strike shared widely on social media showed flames and a column of black smoke rising into the night sky, as well as twisted metal tent frames and shredded fabric. Palestinian men searched through the still-burning wreckage, shouting, “Over here guys!” Further away, civilians stood at a distance, observing the destruction.

The military said the strikes had set off secondary blasts, indicating explosives present in the area had detonated. It was not possible to independently confirm the Israeli claims, and the strikes could also have ignited fuel, cooking gas canisters or other materials in the camp.

Shortly after the strike, Al-Awda Hospital said two people had been killed and 38 wounded in an attack on a residential block in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The military had no immediate comment on the strike, but said earlier strikes in central Gaza had hit “terrorist targets.”

Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths, saying the militants often operate in residential areas and are known to position tunnels, rocket launchers and other infrastructure near homes, schools and mosques.

Previous Israeli strikes on tent camps in Gaza have drawn widespread international outrage, such as when a wounded student’s last moments were caught on video as he burned to death in a tent outside a hospital.

In northern Gaza, dozens of Palestinian families said Israel’s expanding offensive had forcibly displaced them from schools-turned-shelters. Associated Press footage showed people on the road Wednesday leaving Beit Lahia, many crowded onto donkey carts with their belongings in their arms. Others walked on foot.

“This morning a quadcopter (drone) detonated four bombs at the school. There were people injured, human remains — we left with nothing,” said Sadeia al-Rahel.

The 57-year-old said her family has been eating grass, leaves, and animal feed for two months due to the lack of food aid in the north.

The amount of aid entering Gaza plunged in October, and hunger is widespread across the territory, even in central Gaza where aid groups have more access. Humanitarian organizations say Israeli restrictions, ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order make it difficult to deliver assistance. Israel has said it is working to increase the flow of aid.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and around 250 people were abducted. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

On Wednesday, Israel said its forces recovered the body of a hostage who was captured alive during the Oct. 7 attack. Israel believes Itay Svirsky was killed by his captors.

The families of hostages held in Gaza have grown increasingly concerned that their loved ones are at risk so long as the war continues. Israel’s military released on Wednesday the findings of a probe into the circumstances behind the deaths of six hostages whose bodies were recovered in August, determining they were probably shot by their captors after a nearby Israeli strike in February.

AP