Israel continues to clash with the UN, suspends cooperation with the agency that helps Palestinian refugees

Israel's Foreign Ministry officially notified the United Nations on Monday that it will end cooperation with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known by its acronym 'UNRWA', when a new Israeli law comes into force at the beginning of the year. next.

"Although we have submitted to the UN numerous evidences proving the infiltration of Hamas in UNRWA, the United Nations has not taken any action to correct the situation," declared Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, in a statement.

Israel has long criticized the UNRWA agency and has accused some of its employees of participating in the October 7 attack on Israel.

Israel has provided little evidence to support its claims, and UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said last week that the agency has not responded to Israel's repeated requests for such information.

"Therefore, UNRWA finds itself in an unfavorable situation, not being able to respond to claims for which there is no evidence, while these claims continue to be used to undermine the agency", declared Mr. Lazzarini.

UNWRA is the largest distributor of aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel's response to the Hamas offensive has devastated much of the territory and displaced about 90 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million population.

Official Lazzarini said last week that disbanding the agency "will have a catastrophic impact on the international response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza."

Israel's letter to the UN states that the state "will continue to work with international partners, including other UN agencies, to ensure the facilitation of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a manner that will not undermine security." of Israel".

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly complained about delays in sending aid to Gaza, as well as unsafe conditions to distribute aid inside Gaza due to the fighting.

Israel announced on Sunday that it had launched a ground strike in Syria, capturing a Syrian national it said was involved in Iranian networks that support militants in the region. The Israeli attack on Syria is the first in 13 months of conflict in the Middle East. Syria has not yet confirmed the operation.

The Israeli military did not reveal details of where the operation took place or when, but identified the captured person as Ali Soleiman al-Assi, adding that he lived in the southern Syrian region of Saida. Israel said he had been under their surveillance for months and was involved in Iranian attacks on the Golan Heights, a region annexed by Israel near the border with Syria.

Footage from the operation, released by the military, showed soldiers arresting a man wearing a white sweater inside a building. The man was taken to Israel for questioning, according to the military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the border with Lebanon on Sunday, saying Hezbollah militants in Lebanon must leave across the Litan River, with or without a ceasefire deal, and that the Iran-backed militant group must be prevented from arming itself. The river is about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border.

"With or without a deal, the key to returning the people living in the north to their homes is to keep Hezbollah across the Litan River, to strike at any attempt by them to arm themselves, and to respond forcefully to any action against us", declared Prime Minister Netanyahu.

More than a year ago, Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, sparking the current war. Israel says it believes Hamas is still holding 101 hostages, including 35 people the military says are dead.

Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants. The American government and other Western countries have declared Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist organizations./ VOA