Israel-Hamas war, Gaza genocide

[SvennoJ]

801 trucks deliver critical humanitarian aid to Gaza: UN

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced aid is being ramped up to Gaza with at least 801 trucks entering on Wednesday.

“The UN and its partners seize every opportunity afforded by the ceasefire to scale up the provision of water, food, shelter, health, sanitation, hygiene, clothing, education and other assistance to the people of Gaza,” OCHA said in a statement.

More than 800 aid trucks entered the Palestinian enclave “through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal”.

Noting the UN agency for Palestine refugees “reached 1.2 million people with food” in the first two weeks of the ceasefire, OCHA said: “The agency opened 37 new shelters for people returning to the north, providing tents, blankets, plastic sheeting and warm winter clothing.

“As of last week, UNRWA was hosting about 120,000 people in 120 shelters including more than three dozen that opened since the ceasefire.”



‘Positive signals’ Israeli captives will be released: Hamas

Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi says there are “positive signals” that the captives held in Gaza will be released as planned on Saturday.

He told The Associated Press that mediators are working to finalise the settlement, but “we have yet to receive Israel’s commitment to implement the full terms of the deal, especially the humanitarian protocol”.

The fragile ceasefire is facing a significant test after Hamas said it would delay the next release of captives scheduled for Saturday, alleging Israel has violated the truce by firing on people in Gaza and not allowing the agreed-upon number of tents, shelters and other vital aid to enter the territory.


Two-state solution key to regional stability: Jordan’s king

Jordan’s King Abdullah II says recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the implementation of a two-state solution are key to achieving regional stability.

According to a royal court statement, Abdullah reaffirmed “regional stability cannot be achieved without fulfilling the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967, border with East Jerusalem as its capital”.

The king called for “maintaining the Gaza ceasefire and stepping up international efforts to boost humanitarian response” for the war-battered enclave.

He warned of grave consequences for the Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, settlement activity, and “violations” of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the statement said.

Jordan and Egypt are facing mounting US pressure to take in Palestinians after President Donald Trump called for seizing control of Gaza and relocating Palestinians, an idea vehemently rejected by Palestinians and Arab leaders.