Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States used its veto power several times
world3 days ago
Israel's parliament passed a law on Monday to ban the UN relief agency UNRWA from operating inside the country, alarming some of Israel's Western allies who fear it will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Israeli officials cited the involvement of a handful of the agency's thousands of staffers in the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and a few staffers' membership in Hamas and other armed groups.
"UNRWA workers involved in terrorist activities against Israel must be held accountable," Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Hamas' 2023 attack killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages being taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said the vote opposes the UN charter and violates international law. "This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine Refugees," he wrote on X.
The vote came on the same day Israeli tanks thrust deeper into northern Gaza, trapping 100,000 civilians, the Palestinian emergency service said, in what Israel's military said were operations to eliminate regrouping Hamas militants.
The Israeli military said soldiers captured around 100 suspected militants in a raid on a hospital in the Jabalia camp. Hamas and medics have denied any militant presence at the hospital.
The Gaza Strip's health ministry said at least 19 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and bombardment on Monday.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said around 100,000 people were marooned in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun without medical or food supplies.
The emergency service said its operations had come to a halt because of the three-week Israeli assault into northern Gaza, where Israel had said it wiped out Hamas combat forces earlier in the year-long war.
The death toll from Israel's retaliatory air and ground onslaught in Gaza has reached 43,020, the Gaza health ministry said on Monday.
Israel has repeatedly said the war will go on until Hamas is eradicated while the movement has ruled out any end to fighting until Israeli forces leave Gaza.
Gaza's war has kindled wider conflict in the Middle East, raising concern about global oil supplies, with Israel bombing Lebanon and sending forces into its south to disable Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Hamas ally.
ALSO READ:
Since the beginning of the conflict, the Security Council has struggled to speak with one voice, as the United States used its veto power several times
world3 days ago
Super Heavy unexpectedly splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico instead of returning to land
world4 days ago
The 19-year-old dreamt of competing abroad, and said she wanted to be like Ronaldo and Messi
world4 days ago
Hochstein's mission marks a last-ditch attempt by the outgoing US administration to clinch a ceasefire as diplomacy to end the Gaza war appears totally adrift
world4 days ago
This will be his first visit since the beginning of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia around three years ago
world4 days ago
The changes state that any conventional attack on Russia, aided by a nuclear power, could be considered to be a joint attack
world5 days ago
The country launched a probe in March 2021 into WhatsApp's privacy policy, which allowed data sharing with Facebook and its units, sparking global backlash
world5 days ago
This time around, Trump wants the Senate to give up that gatekeeping role and allow him to make 'recess appointments'
world5 days ago