"At the EU summit we will also talk about the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza: we cannot collectively punish the Palestinians, the work of UNRWA cannot be interrupted, there is no other alternative if we want to keep the inhabitants of Gaza alive".
High Representative Josep Borrell said this when he arrived at the summit.
"The investigations must obviously continue but the funding to UNRWA must not be interrupted, the EU and the Commission have decided not to interrupt it", he specified.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the army to study a plan to directly distribute humanitarian aid to Gaza instead of UNRWA.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made this known according to which the IDF would distribute aid and food to residents in Gaza without going through UNRWA.
According to the media, it would also prevent Hamas from taking possession of aid entering the Strip.
An explosion was reported today near a ship off the coast of Yemen, the British Maritime Agency announced.
The British Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) said the ship and its crew were safe.
“The commander reports an explosion some distance off the starboard side of the vessel,” west of the port city of Hodeida, Ukmto reported, adding that “the vessel and crew are safe and heading towards next port of call."
Protests against aid to Gaza, pickets at the port of Ashdod
More demonstrations in Israel against the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Dozens of demonstrators - according to whom that aid must be conditional on the immediate release of over 130 hostages held captive in Gaza since October - gathered today at one of the exits of the port of Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv.
According to public radio Kan, they check every truck and prevent the transit of those headed for the Kerem Shalom crossing, where one enters Gaza.
In recent days, similar demonstrations have occurred at the Kerem Shalom and Nitzana crossings, which in the meantime have been proclaimed a 'closed military zone' by the army to keep demonstrators away and allow the regular transit of aid destined for Gaza.
According to a spokeswoman for the Ashdod demonstrators, ''no other people in the world feed their enemies''.
That aid, she added, is needed by Hamas to continue fighting ''and 'therefore prolongs the war''.
However, normal activities at the port of Ashdod were not disturbed by this protest.
Ministry of Health Gaza, over 27 thousand Palestinians killed
At least 27,019 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks since October 7, while another 66,139 have been injured.
This was reported by Al Jazeera online, citing the Ministry of Health of the besieged enclave, controlled by Hamas.
Israel, IDF continues operations in Gaza, especially Khan Yunis
The Israeli army is continuing operations in Gaza, especially in Khan Yunis in the south of the Palestinian enclave.
The military spokesperson announced this according to which "a long-range rocket launch station" was destroyed in the area.
"The Parachute Brigade - added the source - killed numerous armed men during close combat and targeted raids were carried out on other Hamas operatives" in the area.
The IDF also operated in the north and center of the Strip against militiamen of the Islamic faction, raiding "sites of the terrorist group".
Media, Hamas still in Cairo, evaluating draft agreement
A Hamas delegation has been in Cairo since yesterday to discuss a possible agreement on the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza.
This was reported by Israeli TV Channel 12, according to which the Islamic faction's response to the draft agreement could be given over the weekend after Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar gave it his approval.
It is not clear whether the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is in the delegation in Cairo, although he had announced his presence.
Houthis claim attack on cargo ship, 'it's American'
The spokesman for the Houthi army, Yahya Sarie, yesterday evening claimed responsibility for the attack against a merchant ship off the coast of Yemen, claiming that it was a US cargo ship.
The international media reported it.
"We carried out a military operation using several naval missiles against the American merchant ship 'KOI' which was on its way to Israel. The ship was hit," Sarie said.
"We continue to help the Palestinian people by preventing ships from reaching Israel until humanitarian aid enters the Gaza Strip," he added.
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