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The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has stated that it will not be able to continue helping Gaza after February if the countries that have withdrawn their economic support, more than a dozen, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada or Australia.
The suspension of funds has occurred in a cascade after Israel accused several agency employees of having participated in the Hamas attacks of October 7.
The UN is investigating it.
Meanwhile, Spain has stated that it will maintain funding for the agency, while “closely monitoring” the internal investigation.
On the other hand, Iran on Monday rejected accusations of being behind the drone attack that killed three American soldiers in Jordan on Saturday night, an attack claimed by a group of armed factions supported by Tehran.
The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, has stated that the “resistance groups” do not work under the orders of Iran.
Talks held on Sunday between Qatar, the United States and Egypt on a new truce in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas were “constructive,” but “important gaps” remain, according to the Israeli government.
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The country
US Defense Minister promises to take “all necessary measures” after Sunday's attack in Jordan
The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, assured this Monday that the United States will take “all necessary measures” to defend its troops after a drone attack by Iranian-backed militiamen that killed three US soldiers and He injured dozens more.
Sunday's attack was the first fatal attack on US forces since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October, and marks a major escalation of tensions that have engulfed the Middle East.
“Let me begin with my outrage and pain [at] the death of three brave American soldiers in Jordan and for the other soldiers who were injured,” Austin said at the beginning of his meeting at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“The President [of the United States, Joe Biden] and I will not tolerate attacks on American forces and will take all necessary measures to defend the United States and our troops.”
American troops have been attacked more than 150 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, as well as warships in the Red Sea, where Houthi fighters in Yemen have been firing drones and missiles at them.
This offensive multiplies political pressure on President Joe Biden to directly attack Iran, something he has so far refused to do for fear of starting a broader war.
Biden's response options could range from attacking Iranian forces outside or even inside Iran, or opting for a more cautious retaliatory strike only against the responsible Iranian-backed militiamen, experts say.
“Iran continues to destabilize the region, among other ways, by supporting terrorists who attack our ships in the Red Sea,” Stoltenberg said.
(Reuters)
ACT.29 JAN 2024 - 17:22
The country
Hamas fires long-range rockets into central Israel without causing casualties
The Palestinian militia Hamas has fired long-range missiles at Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, after weeks of relative calm in central Israel.
The armed group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has caused no victims, according to initial information.
The Israeli army has detailed that 15 rockets had been fired, of which six have been intercepted.
Typically, the military tries to shoot down only rockets that can hit populated areas.
Air raid sirens sounded in major cities in central Israel shortly before the attack, sending residents running for cover.
Police have said they are working to clear debris that has fallen in at least one Tel Aviv suburb, likely as a result of one of the mid-air interceptions.
(Reuters)
ACT.29 JAN 2024 - 16:59
The country
Israel's Foreign Minister calls for the resignation of the head of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has canceled a planned meeting with the head of the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) and asked him to resign over allegations that 13 staff members of The agency participated in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
“I have just canceled UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini's meetings with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials,” Katz said.
“UNRWA employees participated in the massacre.
Lazzarini should draw conclusions and resign.
Supporters of terrorism are not welcome here,” Katz said.
Last week, Israel alleged that some workers at the UN agency that provides aid to Palestinian refugees had been involved in Hamas attacks on Israel.
The agency fired them and opened an investigation to clarify the facts.
(Reuters)
ACT.29 JAN 2024 - 15:47
The country
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 rises to 26,637, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health
The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, has raised the death toll in the Strip to 26,637 — most of them children and women — since the Israeli offensive began on October 7.
According to the same source, 65,387 people have been injured by Israeli attacks.
In the last 24 hours alone, 215 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Mediterranean enclave and 300 have been injured, according to the ministry statement.
This figure refers to the victims who have arrived at area hospitals in the last few hours, but authorities estimate that there are many people under the rubble.
Although the figures are from the Gaza Ministry of Health - this organization has published them in a statement collected by Reuters - the UN has validated the death toll published daily by the ministry.
The more than 26,600 deaths represent more than 1% of the enclave's population.
(Reuters)
ACT.29 JAN 2024 - 15:06
The country
Netanyahu attacks UNRWA and claims that it is “perforated by Hamas” and that it “indoctrinates” children against Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has attacked the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and has defended that some of its members participated in the October 7 attack from Gaza.
According to Netanyahu, the organization that provides humanitarian aid to the Palestinians is “perforated with Hamas.”
“We have discovered that there were 13 UNRWA workers who participated, directly or indirectly, in the massacre of October 7,” he told the British network TalkTV.
Furthermore, he has assured that in the schools where the UN welcomes Gazan refugees "the doctrines of extermination against Israel and the praise and glorification of terrorism have been taught."
Last week, Israel alleged that some UNRWA workers had been involved in Hamas attacks on Israel.
The agency fired them and opened an investigation to clarify the facts.
As a result of the accusations, more than a dozen countries have temporarily withdrawn their funding, including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Spain has stated that it “closely follows the internal investigation” opened by the UN but that it will continue to support the agency, since it is “indispensable to alleviate […] the terrible humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
(Reuters)
ACT.29 JAN 2024 - 14:51