Italy suspends financing of UNRWA
Italy has followed the US, Australia and Canada in suspending financing of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), reports Reuters.
Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister said on Saturday, via a post on X: “The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on 7 October.”
Il Governo italiano ha sospeso finanziamenti @UNRWA dopo l’atroce attacco di Hamas contro Israele del 7 ottobre. Paesi Alleati hanno recentemente preso stessa decisione. Siamo impegnati nell’assistenza umanitaria alla popolazione palestinese, tutelando la sicurezza di Israele.
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) January 27, 2024
Tajani added that some of Italy’s allies had already taken the same decision. It follows allegations that some of UNRWA’s staff were involved in the 7 October attack in Israel carried out by Hamas, though Tajani made no direct reference to those suspicions.
Key events
UK suspends UNRWA support after Israeli allegations
The UK has temporarily paused future funding of UNRWA, saying it is “appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel”.
A statement sent to the Guardian by the UK’s foreign, commonwealth and development office said:
The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.
The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.
We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it.”
Displaced Palestinian man killed in al-Amal hospital courtyard, says the PRCS
A 28-year-old internally displaced man was killed in the courtyard of al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis after Israeli forces opened fire on him, says the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
In an update on its X account, the PRCS announced the news that a 28-year-old internally displaced person had been killed in the shooting and then shared a video of medical teams attempting to resuscitate the man.
The PRCS said Israeli forces fired at him while he was at the hospital’s reception and emergency enterance.
Gunmen in south-eastern Iran near the Pakistan border killed nine foreign nationals Saturday, Agence France-Press reports – citing Iranian media, more than a week after the neighbours exchanged deadly cross-border fire.
So far, no group or individuals had claimed responsibility, it says, citing the Mehr news agency.
The deadly attack follows rare military action in the porous border region of Balochistan – split between the two nations – that had stoked regional tensions already inflamed by the Israel-Hamas war. Sistan-Balochistan is one of the few mainly Sunni Muslim provinces in Shia-dominated Iran.
Fire onboard Red Sea tanker extinguished
Crews have extinguished a fire on board the tanker Marlin Luanda, after the vessel was struck by a Houthi anti-ship missile in the Gulf of Aden on Friday, the commodities trader Trafigura says. It adds that the firefighting effort was supported by Indian, US and French navy vessels.
All crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished. The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbour.
According to Reuters, the US military said earlier that a US Navy ship and other vessels were providing assistance after the Marlin Luanda was hit by the Houthi missile.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels since 19 November, in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
The Marshall Islands-flagged Marlin Luanda issued a distress call on Friday and reported damage, US Central Command has said. The USS Carney and other coalition ships were providing assistance to the tanker, it said.
Palestine Red Crescent Society condemn targeting of al-Amal hospital by Israeli forces
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Saturday condemned the siege and targeting of al-Amal hospital and its branch headquarters in Khan Younis for the sixth consecutive day.
In a statement posted to X, the PRCS said “the occupation continues to bombard the vicinity of the hospital and open fire, jeopardising the safety of medical staff, the wounded, patients, and approximately 7,000 displaced individuals who sought refuge there to escape Israeli bombardment”.
The PRCS called on “the international community to provide protection for its headquarters and medical and EMS teams in Khan Younis”.
The PRCS condemns the siege and targeting by the Israeli occupation of PRCS Al-Amal Hospital, and its branch headquarters in #KhanYunis for the sixth consecutive day. The Israeli occupation continues to bombard the vicinity of the hospital and open fire, jeopardizing the safety… pic.twitter.com/JGhZYGYZQF
— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) January 27, 2024
Since the beginning of the “continuous targeting” of al-Amal hospital and the PRCS’ headquarters for about four weeks, dozens of people had been killed and injured inside the facilities and surrounding areas, it added. “This is in addition to the state of terror and panic experienced by the medical staff and displaced in the corridors and various sections of the building” that had been severely damaged due to the continuous bombardment, the PRCS said.
The PRCS also added that a curfew and blockade in the hospital’s vicinity were hindering the movement of ambulances and of its emergency medical team in the city to reach the injured, provide first aid and transport them to hospital.
The “siege and its consequences”, said the PRCS, are a “blatant violation of international agreements, especially the provisions of international humanitarian law that require the Israeli occupation to respect the Red Crescent emblem”.
‘UNWRA will not be a part of the day after’ the war in Gaza, says Israel’s foreign minister
Israel Katz, Israel’s foreign minister on said Saturday that his country would seek to stop UNRWA from operating in Gaza after the war.
Israel was aiming to ensure “UNRWA will not be a part of the day after”, Katz said, adding that he would try to gather support from the US, EU and other major donors to the agency, reports Reuters.
Commending the US government for its decision to cease funding to @UNRWA after it was revealed that some of its employees were involved in the heinous massacre on #October7.
We have been warning for years: @UNRWA perpetuates the refugee issue, obstructs peace, and serves as a…
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 27, 2024
Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli “threats” against UNRWA, urging the UN and other international organisations not to “cave in to the threats and blackmail”.
UNRWA said on Friday it had severed ties with several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas’s 7 October attack, prompting the US, Australia, Canada and Italy to suspend critical funding.
Israel pressed ahead on Saturday with its campaign against Hamas in Gaza’s Khan Younis, as bad weather hit displaced Palestinians seeking refuge further north in the battered enclave, reports Reuters.
Witnesses reported heavy aerial and tank fire across Khan Younis, an area of southern Gaza that has become the focus of Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas, and around two main hospitals there.
Hamas said its fighters fired an anti-tank missile against an Israeli tank in south-west Khan Younis.
The Israeli military said it killed at least 11 gunmen who were trying to plant explosives near troops and others firing rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at soldiers in Khan Younis. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, allied with Hamas, said its fighters were engaging Israeli forces in the area and had fired rockets into Israel.
Israeli strikes hit in the vicinity of al-Amal hospital and the largest functioning medical facility in the south, Nasser hospital, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said, according to Reuters. Ashraf al-Qidra, a spokesperson for the health ministry, said Israeli bombardment was compromising healthcare and endangering the lives of doctors, patients and displaced people.
However, Israeli military says it is in contact with hospital directors and medical staff by phone and on the ground to make sure that they are running and accessible. Israel say Hamas operates in and around medical facilities, an allegation the group denies.
Witnesses and Hamas militants reported fighting on Saturday in the central and northern parts of the enclave, where heavy rain flooded tents of those displaced, forcing some to seek alternative shelter in the middle of the night.
In Rafah, where over half of Gaza’s people are now taking cover in shelters and tents, the Gaza health ministry said an Israeli airstrike killed three people in a house there. It was not immediately clear who the casualties were and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, reports Reuters.
In the occupied West Bank, one man was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli forces near Jenin, witnesses said.
Suspending support for UNRWA involves ‘great political and humanitarian relief risks’, says senior Palestinian offical
The decision by some countries to cease support for the UN relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) entails great political and relief risks, Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said on Saturday, reports Reuters.
In a post on X, al-Sheikh wrote:
We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for #UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision, which entails great political and humanitarian relief risks, as at this particular time and in light of the continuing aggression against the Palestinian people, we need the maximum support for this international organization and not stopping support and assistance to it.”
We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for #UNRWA to immediately reverse their decision, which entails great political and humanitarian relief risks, as at this particular time and in light of the continuing aggression against the Palestinian… https://t.co/mxIam0zmZs
— حسين الشيخ Hussein AlSheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) January 27, 2024
Al Jazeera has been told by Hezbollah sources that four of its members were killed in a separate shelling attack in Bayt Lif in southern Lebanon. The news organisation said the Israeli army confirmed that they did use their air force to hit targets in southern Lebanon.
According to Al Jazeera, Hezbollah has responded with rockets within the last two hours, hitting the central Galilee. Hezbollah said there will be no negotiations with Israel until there is a complete end to the war in Gaza.
The Guardian has been unable to independently verify the facts.
174 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, says health ministry
The latest figures from the Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas, said 174 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes and 310 were injured in the past 24 hours.
According to the statement, at least 26,257 Palestinians have been killed and 64,797 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October.
The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and non-combatants.
Italy suspends financing of UNRWA
Italy has followed the US, Australia and Canada in suspending financing of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), reports Reuters.
Antonio Tajani, Italy’s foreign minister said on Saturday, via a post on X: “The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on 7 October.”
Il Governo italiano ha sospeso finanziamenti @UNRWA dopo l’atroce attacco di Hamas contro Israele del 7 ottobre. Paesi Alleati hanno recentemente preso stessa decisione. Siamo impegnati nell’assistenza umanitaria alla popolazione palestinese, tutelando la sicurezza di Israele.
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) January 27, 2024
Tajani added that some of Italy’s allies had already taken the same decision. It follows allegations that some of UNRWA’s staff were involved in the 7 October attack in Israel carried out by Hamas, though Tajani made no direct reference to those suspicions.
