Israel announced on Monday that it has ended the agreement enabling the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees to operate.
This move to end the role of the primary aid organization in Gaza appears to align with recent legislation aimed at cutting ties with the agency and barring its operations within Israel.
Israel has alleged that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides support to Palestinian refugees, has been infiltrated by Hamas. UNRWA has denied these claims, asserting that it takes stringent measures to maintain its neutrality.
What Is the Latest News From Syria and Lebanon?
In a separate development, Israel reported on Sunday that its forces conducted a ground operation in Syria, capturing a Syrian national accused of collaborating with Iran. This marks the first confirmed instance of Israeli troops operating within Syrian territory in the current conflict.
Amid mounting calls from the United States and the international community for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, Israel has escalated its strikes against Hezbollah, expanding operations beyond Lebanon's border areas.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its prolonged and intense campaign against Hamas in northern Gaza, with no clear end in sight to the ongoing hostilities.
West Bank Raids
Palestinian officials reported that Israeli settlers were responsible for an overnight attack in which several cars were set ablaze just a few miles from the Palestinian Authority's headquarters in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
No injuries were reported in the overnight attack on Monday in Al-Bireh, a city neighboring Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is based. Witnesses observed 18 cars that had been burned out in the incident.
Attacks by settlers on Palestinians and their property have increased sharply since the start of the Gaza conflict. However, such incidents are uncommon in the Ramallah area, home to senior Palestinian officials and numerous international missions.
What is the Palestinian Authority Doing to Help?
The Palestinian Authority, which governs population centers within the territory, condemned the attack. Israeli police, responsible for law enforcement involving settlers in the West Bank, stated that they have opened an investigation into the incident.
Since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah erupted last year, Lebanon's Health Ministry reports at least 2,900 fatalities and 13,150 injuries, excluding Friday's figures. Health officials note that women and children account for a quarter of the lives lost.
In Gaza, over a year of Israeli military action against Hamas has resulted in more than 43,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health authorities. While health officials in Gaza do not separate civilian and combatant deaths, they report that over half the casualties were women and children.
The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a deadly assault into Israel, killing around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 250 hostages.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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