Germany said Wednesday that it plans to follow several other countries in resuming cooperation with the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians in Gaza after the publication of an independent review of its neutrality.
Here is the latest:
Quick Read
- Germany Resumes Cooperation with UN Agency: Germany announced it will resume working with the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) after an independent review concluded allegations of bias were baseless.
- Arab League Supports Findings: The head of the Arab League praised the report, denouncing Israel’s accusations against UNRWA as part of a systematic campaign.
- Israeli Allegations: Despite the review, Israel maintains that numerous UNRWA staff are linked to Palestinian militant groups and argues that the report understates the issue.
- Military Movements: The Israeli military is redeploying forces to Gaza, preparing for operations in Rafah, described as a Hamas stronghold, with a large number of refugees in the area.
- U.S. Aid Package: The U.S. Senate approved a $26 billion aid package, including significant humanitarian assistance for Gaza amidst a severe crisis, with President Biden set to sign it.
- Casualty Reports: The Gaza Health Ministry reports substantial casualties with over 34,000 Palestinians killed in the ongoing conflict, a large proportion being women and children.
- Regional Tensions: A suspected attack targeted a ship near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, reflecting broader regional impacts of the Israel-Hamas war.
- Strikes in Lebanon: Following exchanges of fire, Israel conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, escalating tensions along the border.
The Associated Press has the story:
Germany will resume working with UN relief agency for Palestinians after a review
Newslooks- (AP)
Germany said Wednesday that it plans to follow several other countries in resuming cooperation with the U.N. relief agency for Palestinians in Gaza after the publication of an independent review of its neutrality.
The head of the Arab League hailed the report, saying it showed that Israel’s allegations were baseless and part of a “systematic campaign” meant to end the mandate of the agency.
Israel says that hundreds of UNRWA workers are members of Palestinian militant groups, and claims the report understated the problem. Its allegations led to the suspension of contributions to UNRWA by the United States and more than a dozen other countries.
Also Wednesday, the Israeli military said it is redeploying two reserve brigades from Israel’s northern border to Gaza for “defensive and tactical missions,” as it prepares for an offensive in Rafah, which Israel describes as Hamas’ last stronghold in the territory.
More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah.
The U.S. Senate passed a $26 billion aid package late Tuesday that includes around $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, which experts say is on the brink of famine, as well as billions for Israel. President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately.
The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which the militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
The war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, around two-thirds of them children and women.
GAZA HEALTH OFFICIALS PROVIDE NEW DEATH TOLL IN DAILY REPORT
CAIRO — The Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday the bodies of 79 people killed in Israeli strikes have been brought to local hospitals over the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 86 wounded people, it said in its daily report.
That brings the overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war to at least 34,262, the ministry said. Another 77,229 have been injured, it said.
The Health Ministry doesn’t distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies, but has said that women and children make up around two thirds of those killed.
The Israeli military says it has killed some 12,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim.
ATTACK TARGETS SHIP NEAR BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT
JERUSALEM — A suspected attack targeted a ship off Djibouti near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait, authorities said Wednesday.
It wasn’t immediately clear who carried out the attack, though Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched dozens of assaults on shipping since November over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the attack. The private security firm Ambrey did as well.
The attack happened near the Bab el-Mandeb, which separates the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.
ISRAEL CARRIES OUT AIRSTRIKES ON BORDER AREAS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON
BEIRUT — Israel’s air force carried out a series of airstrikes on border areas in southern Lebanon Wednesday hours after Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah said it fired dozens of rockets in retaliation for strikes a day earlier that killed two civilians.
Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV reported as many as 14 airstrikes Wednesday on the outskirts of the border villages of Aita al-Shaab and Ramia.
Israel’s military spokesman said they are striking at Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon, adding that details will follow later.
Hezbollah earlier said that it fired dozens of rockets at the northern Israeli village of Shomera in retaliation for an airstrike the day before that killed a woman and a 10-year-old girl and also wounded six people.
Hezbollah also said that it fired two missiles at a building in the northern Israeli village of Avivim saying Israeli troops were taking positions inside it.
Hezbollah started attacking Israeli military posts along the border on Oct. 8, a day after the militant Palestinian group Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages triggering the ongoing war.
Since then more than 350 people have been killed in Lebanon including over 260 Hezbollah members and about 50 civilians. The exchange has killed at least 12 soldiers and nine civilians in Israel.
Currently:
— U.N. calls for investigation into mass graves uncovered at two Gaza hospitals raided by Israel
— U.S. Senate passes spending package with $26 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and military aid for Israel
— Satellite photos suggest Iran air defense radar struck during apparent Israeli attack on Isfahan
— Students across the United States are upping their Gaza war protests
— Nepal asks visiting Qatari emir to help free Nepali student held hostage by Hamas
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