The recent vote by the Israeli parliament to ban UNRWA is raising serious concerns. The implications of this decision could seriously undermine the operations of the agency, which plays a vital role in Gaza and other parts of the region such as the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, providing essential services to millions of people. A spokeswoman for the European Commission urged Israel to reconsider the decision, stressing that it is inconsistent with international law.
Meanwhile, conflicts continue to claim lives. Medical sources reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza has risen to 93. Ismail Al-Thawabta, a spokesman for the Hamas government, described the incident as a “horrific massacre” against innocent civilians, including women and children. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, accused Israel of trying to “eradicate” Palestinians through what she called genocide.
Turkey also condemned Israel’s decision regarding UNRWA, saying the agency was unfairly accused of collaborating with Hamas. In a broader context, the Iranian government proposed a significant increase in its military budget for next year, while Houthi rebels from Yemen claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an Israeli industrial zone.
The recent Israeli military offensives have also caused massive population displacements: over half a million people have fled Lebanon to Syria in search of safety. The Lebanese Ministry of Displacement has confirmed that among them there are approximately 160,000 Lebanese and 400,000 Syrians.
On the military front, Hezbollah announced the election of Naim Qassem as the movement’s new leader, vowing to continue the resistance against Israel. Qassem, former deputy secretary general of the Lebanese Shiite party, said he intended to keep the fight alive for Hezbollah’s goals.
Finally, Israeli airstrikes hit residential buildings and military targets in southern Lebanon and Gaza. The Gaza Civil Defense reported that more than 55 people were killed in a raid on the Abu Nasr family home in Beit Lahia. The Israeli military also reported hitting several Hezbollah-related targets in southern Lebanon.
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