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Gaza death toll 22 ahead of demonstrations
Gaza City, April 6 (IANS) The death toll in a week of Palestinian protests along the dividing fence between Israel and Gaza climbed to 22 on Friday as a man died from his injuries and authorities prepared for more casualties in demonstrations dubbed the “Friday of Tires”.
Thaer Rabaa, 30, was injured a week earlier when Israeli forces used live ammunition and drones carrying teargas to hold back a crowd that had massed on the border for a six-week protest campaign “March of Return” to mark Land Day, an annual commemoration of a 1976 protest against Israeli confiscation of Arab-owned land, the New York Times reported.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said that 20 Palestinians were killed so far in the protests. It did not count the bodies of two men killed near the fence that Israel said it was holding in its toll.
The Israeli military said it had shot three people in the legs as protesters burned car tyres and threw stones on Friday. The protesters were demanding that refugees be allowed to return to ancestral lands that were now in Israel.
But Israel said the militant group Hamas, which dominates Gaza, was using the cover of the protests to try to cross illegally into its territory.
Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that anyone getting close to the border fence in Gaza was endangering their life, the BBC reported.
“If there are provocations, there will be a reaction of the harshest kind like last week,” he said.
The UN and EU called for an independent investigation into last week’s deaths and appealed for calm on Friday. “Israeli forces should exercise maximum restraint and Palestinians should avoid friction at the Gaza fence,” UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov said.
“Demonstrations and protests must be allowed to proceed in a peaceful manner,” he added.
But US presidential envoy Jason Greenblatt said it was the responsibility of Palestinian leaders to “communicate loudly and clearly that protesters should march peacefully”, remain outside the 500-metre “buffer zone” designated by Israel and “not approach the border fence in any way or any location”.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.