Fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli occupation air strike in Gaza City on October 8, 2023 (AFP)

Cuba expressed its deep concern about the escalation of violence in occupied Palestine, stressing in a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry that this escalation comes as a result of 75 years of permanent violation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and of "Israel's" aggressive and expansionist policy.

The statement called for "a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the establishment of two states," allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination and establish an "independent, sovereign state within the pre-1967 borders, with the Eastern part of al-Quds as its capital."

The Cuban Foreign Ministry underlined that the United Nations Security Council must fulfill its obligations and put an end to the impunity of "Israel", the occupier, through the historical complicity of the United States that repeatedly obstructs the work of the UNSC, undermining peace, security, and stability in the Middle East region.

Elsewhere, Cuba also stressed the need to "achieve peace" and search for a solution through negotiations that prevent further escalation of the conflict, which has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people so far.

Al-Aqsa Flood

The Israeli occupation woke up at dawn Saturday to a sudden and widespread attack launched by the Palestinian Resistance into Gaza Envelope settlements, successfully taking Israeli occupation forces and illegal settlers captive while causing hundreds of fatalities among them, under an Operation dubbed Al-Aqsa Flood, in a huge intelligence flop.

Hours after the start of the operation, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a recorded statement that "Israel" is "at war", adding that Hamas initiated "a surprise attack."

Israeli media suggested that more than 300 Israelis had been killed and at least 1,100 wounded so far, while Channel 13 indicated that the number of Israeli deaths is "only the tip of the iceberg compared to the real number."

On its part, the Israeli occupation launched a new aggression against the Gaza Strip, conducting extensive air raids against residential buildings in the Strip that claimed the lives of 256 Palestinians so far, including 20 children.

Footage shows the Israeli occupation demolishing the 11-story Aklouk Tower in al-Nasr neighborhood in #Gaza.#Palestine #طوفان_الأقصى #OperationAlAqsaFlood pic.twitter.com/HtNOCxYtzx
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 8, 2023