UNRWA: Israel forced staff to falsely admit role in October 7 attacks
The UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says some of its employees were forced by the Israeli military to falsely state that the agency supports Hamas and that its staff participated in the October 7 attacks.
A report by the agency dated February 2024 said unidentified Palestinians, including several working for UNRWA, were detained and tortured by the Israeli military to make false statements. UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma was quoted as saying it plans to hand over the 11-page report to agencies inside and outside the UN to document potential human rights abuses.
“When the war comes to an end, there needs to be a series of inquiries to look into all violations of human rights,” she said. Israel has been pushing to dismantle UNRWA based on its allegations that some employees took part in the October 7 attacks and the organisation works with Hamas.
“Agency staff members have been subject to threats and coercion by the Israeli authorities while in detention, and pressured to make false statements against the agency,” the report says.
Benjamin Netanyahu wants ‘an endless war’
Marc Lamont Hill speaks to Ami Ayalon – former head of the Israeli navy and ex-director of Israel’s security service – about Israel’s violations of international law in its war on Gaza.
Hamas armed wing claims drone attack on Israeli soldiers
Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed a rare drone attack against Israeli positions inside the Gaza Strip. It said fighters managed to drop two antipersonnel mines from a drone on an “enemy army headquarters” east of Beit Hanoon, in northern Gaza.
Hamas also said a Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier on Thursday in Beit Hanoon, and fighters ambushed six Israeli troops inside a residential apartment in Hamad City in southern Gaza, killing all of them in close-range combat.
The comments come after the Israeli military showed footage of soldiers raiding residential buildings in the Qatar-funded Hamad neighbourhood, which has also been heavily bombed since the start of the war.
Hezbollah claims five attacks on Israeli positions
The armed Lebanese group claimed a total of five attacks on Israeli positions using missiles, rockets and artillery. On the eastern side of the border fighting with Israel, Hezbollah said it targeted soldiers and vehicles with missile and artillery fire in two attacks in the area of Kfar Chouba.
On the western front, it said its three attacks used artillery shells, a missile and Katyusha rockets to hit Israeli soldiers and positions, including in Jal al-Alam. Hezbollah earlier confirmed three more of its fighters died in Israeli attacks.
Israeli forces again target aid seekers in northern Gaza
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic report several people have been killed and wounded after Israeli forces opened fire on aid seekers at the Kuwait Roundabout in Gaza City.
More than 100 people were killed last month after Israeli troops opened fire on hundreds waiting for food aid southwest of Gaza City, as the besieged enclave faces an unprecedented hunger crisis.
Gaza’s Health Ministry calls the attacks on aid seekers part of Israel’s ongoing “genocidal war”. It pressed the international community to “urgently intervene” to forge a ceasefire as “the only way to protect civilians”.
Palestinians carry aid in Gaza City this week
Three more children die of hunger at al-Shifa Hospital
Three more children died of malnutrition and dehydration at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, according to the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave. It brings the official death toll from malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza hospitals to 23.
The number only reflects the confirmed cases that have reached hospitals. The ministry previously said “dozens” more are silently dying of starvation imposed on them by the Israeli military.
