Hamas strike on Israel

That it is being perpetrated by a State that claims itself as a beacon of Democracy in the Middle East is astonishing - and not in a good way.

And you're dead right - that this is happening today means there has been no learning from the last 80 years of man's inhumanity to man.

"Never again" has never sounded so hollow.

The BBC currently have a live news feed on events in Gaza today.

Earlier reports of 14,000 Gazan babies dying in the next 48 hours are explained in more detail below.

This who know about malnutrition in children and its long term effects will be drawn to the statistic mentioned:

"the IPC estimated that nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be "acutely malnourished" over the next 11 months"

UN gives more detail on statement that 14,000 babies could die in Gaza within 48 hours

Let's return to some news we heard this morning, when the UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher spoke to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

During the interview, Fletcher said 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hoursif more aid doesn't reach them. Pressed on that figure by the BBC's Anna Foster, Fletcher said it was "utterly chilling".

We've since asked the UN for details on that 14,000 number - to which Jens Laerke, their human rights commission spokesman, provided the following statement:

"We are pointing to the imperative of getting supplies in to save an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza, as the IPC partnership [Integrated Food Security Phase Classification] has warned about.

"We need to get the supplies in as soon as possible, ideally within the next 48 hours."

In some analysis released earlier this month, external, the IPC estimated that nearly 71,000 children under the age of five are expected to be "acutely malnourished" over the next 11 months - of which "14,100 cases are expected to be severe".

Nice to see a post from you instead of just a Thanks in support of some pro-genocide comment.

So two rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza and that's carte blanche for the murder of hundreds of innocent citizens who had absolutely nothing to do with it. Unless of course that you are in agreement with most of the Israeli defenders here and believe that there are no innocents in Gaza.

I think the reason for the sudden reversal is that many humanitarian agencies have said that over 14,000 malnurished children, mostly newborns, would die in the next 5/7 days. Many countries who reluctantly backed Israel, mainly to keep onside with the US, are now afraid to be associated with this Genocidal State hence the many statements of action against it now.

Israerl is really going to suffer and be treated like the Pariah State that it is. This is only the beginning.

Let them off the hook and give them a chance to re-arm … and they'd do another 7 October attack. Again, and again, and again.

Remember all the posts here dissing Irish Politicians and Michael D Higgins for being so mean to Israel?

I do.

Ireland and Spain asked for this 16 months ago.

"The Dutch proposal mirrors an Irish-Spanish request in February last year that ultimately led to a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council."

I'll have a dig around for any info on why the 9 opposed the Dutch motion. I'm surprised at Germany - they've recently expressed their outrage at Israel.

Hungary is no surprise at all.

The others may have valid reasons - perhaps they trade heavily with Israel. But I'd imagine it may equally be optics - they will have known a simple majority was enough for the motion to pass. Perhaps they think Israel might give them some sort of pass for their opposition.

Regardless, given Europe's history of conflict and Genocide, any opposition to querying Israel on its human rights record over the last 18 months is despicable.

Re the EU vote to discuss the trade treaty with Israel - Austria did not take the floor to voice opposition and Latvia remained "neutral". I'm guessing both States therefore effectively abstained. Though I don't know if that is a choice in EU votes…

So 15 member states voted in favour - a simple majority.

No current reports on why 10 states opposed.

Interesting that the Dutch, historically strong supporters of Israel, tabled the voted. Seems the demonstrations in The Hague had a part to play. Everyone wore red to signify a "red line".

Perhaps Tony Connolly of RTE will do a follow up report. He's a very good journalist and well worth reading.