The number of victims of the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 43,972 dead and 104,008 wounded.
The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, stressed, during his speech before the G20 summit, that “what is happening in Palestine is an unacceptable and condemnable situation that cannot be allowed to continue.”
UNRWA Commissioner: The agency has no alternative in Gaza but Israel bearing responsibility
The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, affirmed, “The only alternative to the agency’s work in the Gaza Strip is to allow Israel to manage services there.”
Lazzarini arrived in Geneva to attend a meeting with donors after Israel banned the agency’s work there last month in what he described as one of the darkest moments in the agency’s 75-year history.
Lazzarini called for “trying to stop the Israeli draft law, which is scheduled to enter into force in late January,” and added: “We will work until the day we cannot continue working, and at the same time, we will exhaust all possible diplomatic means.”
UNRWA provides aid and shelter to many Gazans who have become displaced due to the war that has been ongoing for 13 months, and Congress has banned US funding for UNRWA until March 2025.
Washington warns Ankara against continuing to work with Hamas
The US State Department confirmed that “the United States believes that no country should receive Hamas officials.”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said: “In recent days, we have received this information that they have moved to Türkiye. We would like to say clearly to the Turkish government, as we did with all countries of the world, that it is no longer possible to act with Hamas as if nothing had happened.”
Qatari Foreign Ministry: The leaders of the “Hamas” team are not currently in Doha and are moving between different capitals
A spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, “The leaders of the Hamas negotiating team are not currently in the capital, Doha, and are moving between different capitals.”
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari said, “If the closure of the Hamas political office occurs, it will be announced by the Qatari Foreign Ministry and not through other means.”
The spokesman stressed that “the suspension of Qatari mediation efforts was due to the parties’ lack of seriousness, stressing that Doha will not accept being exploited for political purposes.”
Al-Ansari stressed that “the Qatari position is firm and clear, which is a ceasefire and the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, stressing that Doha is ready to resume negotiations if there is seriousness on the part of the parties.”
“Peace Now Organization”: Bidding to build a new settlement in Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem
In the West Bank, Israeli army forces stormed the city of Jenin, and bulldozers belonging to the Israeli forces continued to work to destroy the infrastructure in the city of Jenin and its camp.
In this context, the Israeli “Peace Now” organization to monitor settlement activities said, “The relevant authorities published a bid to build a new settlement in Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem.”
The organization stated in a report on its website that “the Israeli Land Authority recently published a bid (No. 367/2024) to establish a new settlement within the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Safafa in East Jerusalem,” indicating that “the bid requires developers to submit proposals to purchase land rights with an area of approximately 11 dunums in Beit Safafa, south of the Talpiot Industrial Zone, with the aim of planning and building a residential neighborhood that includes about 200 housing units.”
According to what was stated in the publication, “The bidding relates to purchasing the rights to the ‘relative share of the state/development authority’ in plot 181 of block 30285. This means that there may be private owners in addition to the state for this plot.”
The organization explained that “the bidding limits the development authority as the owner of the land or part of it.” The Development Authority is a body created under the Absentee Property Law, which transfers all absentee property to the Authority, which in turn sells these properties to potential buyers.”
A new Israeli arrest campaign in the West Bank
“Since yesterday evening until Tuesday morning, Israeli forces arrested at least 12 Palestinians in the West Bank, including children and former prisoners, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club.”
According to a statement by the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, “arrest operations were distributed across the governorates of Hebron, Qalqilya, Jenin, Ramallah, Tubas, and Tulkarm,” accompanied by attacks and threats against citizens and their families, in addition to widespread sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes.
The statement indicated that “Israeli forces continue to storm Jenin Governorate and its camp, accompanied by widespread violence and destruction of citizens’ homes and infrastructure.”
According to the statement, “Yesterday, Monday, Israeli forces carried out field investigation operations against dozens of citizens in the Dheisheh camp in the Bethlehem Governorate, the majority of whom were later released, accompanied by attacks and threats, in addition to widespread sabotage and destruction of citizens’ homes.”
The statement pointed out that “the number of arrests since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 has reached more than 11,000 and 750 citizens from the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
The statement stressed, “The Israeli forces continue to carry out arrest campaigns in the West Bank, accompanied by systematic abuse and torture against detainees and their families, in an unprecedented manner, and the sick, wounded, and elderly were not excluded during the arrest campaigns.”
The statement pointed out that the Israeli forces “continue to arrest civilians from Gaza, specifically from the north, and carry out the crime of enforced disappearance against them, and refuse to fully disclose their identities and places of detention.”
He stressed that “the competent institutions, since the beginning of the war on Gaza, have not been able to count the number of arrests in the Strip, which are estimated in the thousands.”
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What are the humanitarian implications of the ongoing conflict in Gaza?
Interview: The Situation in Gaza and Beyond
Time.news Editor: Welcome to this edition of our Time.news interview series. Today, we’re discussing the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the larger implications it has for the region, with our expert guest, Dr. Sarah Al-Hassan, a political analyst specializing in Middle Eastern conflicts. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Al-Hassan.
Dr. Sarah Al-Hassan: Thank you for having me. This is a crucial topic that merits immediate attention.
Editor: The recent figures coming from Gaza are staggering—43,972 dead and over 104,000 wounded since October 7. What does this say about the humanitarian situation on the ground?
Dr. Al-Hassan: It’s devastating. These numbers reflect not just the immediate impact of the bombings but also the long-term consequences that will follow. With so many casualties, the fabric of society in Gaza is under unprecedented stress. Communities are shattered, and essential services are overwhelmed. The work of agencies like UNRWA has never been more critical.
Editor: Speaking of UNRWA, Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini has highlighted that Israel bears responsibility for the situation. How do you interpret that statement?
Dr. Al-Hassan: It raises a significant point about accountability. Mr. Lazzarini’s claim suggests that with the cessation of UNRWA’s work, which is now in jeopardy, the responsibility for managing humanitarian services falls squarely on Israel. This points to a dire need for a larger dialog about who holds responsibility during such crises and how international laws are enforced.
Editor: There’s also the broader geopolitical context. At the G20 summit, Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the situation in Gaza. Why do you think international leaders are reacting the way they are?
Dr. Al-Hassan: The reactions from leaders like Aboul Gheit signal a growing frustration among Arab states and the international community about the ongoing violence. The humanitarian crisis is drawing attention not only for its immediate emotional impact but also for the potential destabilization it may cause in the region. If not addressed, these conflicts could spill over and affect neighboring countries, not just politically but economically and socially as well.
Editor: In the midst of these crises, we’ve seen a shift in diplomatic relations, particularly with the U.S. warning Turkey against hosting Hamas officials. What implications could this have for regional politics?
Dr. Al-Hassan: The U.S. warning emphasizes its stance on terrorism and the need for countries to distance themselves from organizations it designates as threats. This could complicate Turkey’s regional role, particularly as it balances relationships with various actors. If Turkey minimizes its interactions with Hamas, it may also affect peace negotiations and power dynamics in the region. A shift like this could isolate Hamas further, but it could also drive them to rely more on alternative alliances.
Editor: Now, regarding Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem, organizations like ”Peace Now” are alarmed by the recent bids to build new settlements. What are the implications of this for peace efforts?
Dr. Al-Hassan: Expanding settlements in contested areas like East Jerusalem is a serious obstacle to peace. It undermines the prospects for a two-state solution by altering the demographics and geography of the region. Settlements create precedents that make it challenging to return to the negotiating table, as they solidify Israeli claims to land that Palestinians view as theirs. This cycle of building and conflict escalates tensions rather than alleviating them.
Editor: Lastly, there have been more arrests and violence reported in the West Bank. How does this contribute to the escalating cycle of conflict?
Dr. Al-Hassan: Each arrest and act of violence deepens the mistrust and animosity between Israelis and Palestinians. Such actions are perceived as collective punishment by many Palestinians, which can rally communities around the resistance narrative rather than peace. It keeps populations in a constant state of trauma and fear, complicating any peacebuilding efforts. Without addressing these root issues, the cycle of violence is likely to continue.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Al-Hassan, for your insightful analysis. The situation is clearly complex and requires thoughtful engagement from all involved parties. We appreciate your time today.
Dr. Al-Hassan: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to keep these discussions ongoing.