UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over Israel’s passage of a law targeting UNRWA, the UN agency that provides assistance to Palestinian refugees. Guterres warned that the implementation of these laws could severely hinder the agency’s work, which is crucial to supporting refugees in the occupied territories. He stressed that there is no alternative to UNRWA and that the consequences for Palestinians would be unacceptable. The secretary-general urged Israel to respect its international obligations and said that such laws could undermine the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister, commented on the Israeli Parliament’s decision to ban UNRWA, underlining the risk of weakening the role of the United Nations. He acknowledged the motivations behind the Israeli reaction, citing the presence of Hamas militants among the agency’s representatives. However, he highlighted Italy’s support for humanitarian initiatives in Palestinian territory through other agencies.

Meanwhile, Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister, called for immediate intervention by the UN Security Council to stop Israel’s violence in Gaza and Lebanon. He insisted on the need for sanctions against the Jewish state and reiterated that Palestinian lands must belong to the Palestinians themselves.

The Israeli army reported the death of four soldiers during clashes in the Gaza Strip, without providing details of the circumstances. Tensions have further increased following the Israeli attack on Beit Lahia, in which 93 people were killed according to local sources.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories, also accused Israel of attempting to “uproot” Palestinians through violent practices. Turkey condemned Israel’s decision regarding UNRWA, and the Iranian government announced a significant increase in its military budget.

In a broader context, more than half a million people have left Lebanon for Syria due to the escalating Israeli military offensive. Hezbollah has appointed Naim Qassem as its new leader and promises to continue its resistance against Israel. Israeli airstrikes have hit Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, and a drone from Yemen was intercepted in southern Israel without causing any injuries.