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Israel’s brutal war and invasion in Gaza — now in its 116th day — has killed at least 26,637 Palestinians and wounded 65,387, as extremist Israeli ministers call for reoccupation of Gaza.
Israel has struck a family home in the Sabra neighbourhood of besieged Gaza, killing over a dozen Palestinians and wounding others.
Israeli shelling targeted a house in the Sabra neighbourhood, killing at least 20 civilians and wounding several others, it said.
“Israeli warplanes also launched a strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
Citing sources, an international news agency said the Israeli artillery targeted the vicinity of a residential building in Khan Younis, in the south.
UN chief to meet donor nations after refugee agency accusations
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres will meet with key donors to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees after 12 of its staff were accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 surprise Hamas blitz, his spokesperson said.
“The secretary general is personally horrified by the accusations against employees of UNRWA,” Guterres’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“But his message to donors — especially those who have suspended their contributions — is to at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations, as we have tens of thousands of dedicated staff working throughout the region.”
Guterres already met with Washington’s representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on Monday, and “he will be hosting a meeting here in New York with the major donors for UNRWA [Tuesday] afternoon here,” Dujarric said.
“The secretary general has also been engaging with the UNRWA leadership and donors to UNRWA, as well as regional leaders, such as King Abdullah of Jordan, whom he spoke to a short while ago, and President [Abdel Fattah] el-Sisi of Egypt.”
Israel’s ally US slams ‘incendiary’ comments from top Israeli ministers
The US has sharply denounced comments from a number of extremist Israeli ministers who called for the reoccupation of the besieged Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as the war continues to ravage the blockaded enclave.
“You got a couple of ministers in the cabinet using this reckless behaviour, or conducting this reckless behaviour, and making these incendiary comments,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House.
“These are individual cabinet members. They can speak for themselves and what they said and what they did. It doesn’t comport with our view, and we find it reckless,” he added.
US holds Iran responsible for attack on its forces in Jordan
Iran is responsible for a recent drone attack killing three US soldiers in Jordan near the Syrian border, a Pentagon spokesperson said.
“We hold Iran responsible, as they are supporting these groups. These groups that continue to inflict casualties on our forces, whether it be in Jordan, Iraq or Syria,” said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh at a news briefing.
“We absolutely hold Iran responsible because we know that they fund and train and support and equip these militias that operate in Iraq and Syria,” Singh added.
New Zealand suspends funding to embattled UN agency
New Zealand has joined the list of countries that have suspended funding to the embattled UN Palestinian refugee agency following Israeli allegations that some staff participated in the October 7 Hamas surprise blitz.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said New Zealand had paused funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees [UNRWA] until the allegations are investigated.
The agency has fired several staff members over Israel’s accusations and promised a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.
“The allegations are incredibly serious. It’s important they are properly understood and investigated,” Luxon told reporters.
New Zealand will not “be making any further contributions” to UNRWA until Foreign Minister Winston Peters “says it’s good to do so”, Luxon added.
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