Currently Online 
Tony Blair dropped from Gaza ‘peace board’ shortlist: Report
UK newspaper The Financial Times reports that former UK Labour prime minister was dropped from the yet-to-be-established Gaza oversight board in Trump’s ceasefire plan over objections from Arab and Muslim nations.
Blair, noted for his role as one of the key architects of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, is viewed with scepticism and distrust in the Arab region. It was previously reported that he had been campaigning behind the scenes to play a central part in the interim administration of the Gaza Strip.
An anonymous source quoted by the newspaper said it is “likely” Blair will still play a role in Gaza because he is well-liked by the US and Israel. His office declined comment, but FT quotes someone close to him saying that he would not be sitting on the board.
UN chief condemns Israeli raid of UNRWA compound
Antonio Guterres has weighed in on an Israeli raid of the UNRWA compound in occupied East Jerusalem yesterday.
“I strongly condemn the unauthorized entry into the UN Sheikh Jarrah compound held by UNRWA in occupied East Jerusalem by Israeli authorities,” Guterres said in a post on X.
“This compound is inviolable & immune from any other form of interference,” he said. “I urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve & uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises & to refrain from taking any further action with regard to these premises.”
Israeli forces took items from the compound and replaced the UN flag with an Israeli flag during the raid. UNRWA has not used the compound since the beginning of the year, when Israeli authorities ordered it to cease all operations in Israeli-occupied territory.
UNRWA’s chief says raid on UN compound sets ‘dangerous precedent’
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says the Israeli military raid on the UN refugee agency’s compound in occupied East Jerusalem “should be a wake-up call.”
“Yesterday’s storming of UNRWA’s East Jerusalem compound by Israeli police [and] taking control – including by replacing the UN flag with the Israeli one – creates a dangerous precedent,” Lazzarini wrote on X.
“What happens today to UNRWA can happen tomorrow to any other international organization or diplomatic mission, around the world,” he added.
“International law has come under increasing attack for too long. This must end.”
