Well there is only one outcome to life, everyone dies sooner or later. That doesn't mean its pointless.

Maybe on the scale of the universe life is irrelevant, just like there doesn't seem to be any point to the universe. Yet individual lives all matter and everyone has the right to live their life the way they want as long as it doesn't infringe on other people's equal rights. Everything you do has an effect on other people's lives. And every death has an effect on other people's lives.

Hence we have the universal declaration of human rights:

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Makes you wonder why oppression and apartheid were not enough to keep the Palestine-Israel conflict in the news and international courts and it had to come to genocide to get the world to recognize Palestinian rights.

3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Hostage taking and murdering people is not a valid way to resist oppression, sadly you have to commit atrocities in this world to get your case heard...

4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Very relevant still today
50 million people worldwide in modern slavery
https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_855019/lang--en/index.htm

5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The IDF, Israeli prison system, and treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are all in violation.
https://www.omct.org/en/resources/urgent-interventions/israel-allegations-of-torture-in-israeli-prisons

6. Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

7. All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

8. Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

11.1 Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
11.2 No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Again no room for apartheid (separate 'justice' system for Israelis and Palestinians), dehumanization nor incitement to genocide.
https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/un-human-rights-office-opt-dramatic-rise-detention-palestinians-across-occupied-west-bank

Arresting children with no access to a lawyer, military courts forcing confessions, administrative detention for example read this
https://www.dci-palestine.org/israeli_military_detention_from_a_childs_perspective

12. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

13.1 Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
13.2 Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

14.1 Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
14.2 This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Israel has been violating these rights for many decades, both with the open air prison they turned Gaza into and restrictions of movement within the West Bank.

15.1 Everyone has the right to a nationality.
15.2 No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Two state solution is the only way out

16.1 Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
16.2 Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
16.2 The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

17.1 Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
17.2 No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Has been happening since 1948 to Palestinians
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/06/israel-occupation-50-years-of-dispossession/

18. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Which is why the infringement on access to Al Aqsa Mosque for years and years only leads to (deliberate) incitement

19. Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

https://www.hrw.org/report/2023/12/21/metas-broken-promises/systemic-censorship-palestine-content-instagram-and

20.1 Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
20.2 No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

21.1 Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
21.2 Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
21.3 The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

22. Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.

23.1 Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
23.2 Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
23.3 Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
23.4 Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

24. Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

25.1 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
25.2 Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

26.1 Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
26.2 Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
26.3 Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

27.1 Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
27.2 Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.

28. Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

29.1 Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
29.2 In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
29.3 These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

30. Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.


That last sentence makes it clear that invoking self-defense is no excuse to violate any of these rights.

Unbelievable, Israel just has to point the finger at a couple UNWRA workers and sanctions follow

UK and Finland join other nations in pausing funding to main UN agency in Gaza

The United Kingdom and Finland on Saturday announced they are temporarily pausing funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after allegations that 12 staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel.

The United States, Australia, Canada and Italy have already announced they are suspending funding.

In a statement shared with CNN, the UK foreign office said it was "appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned."

Hamas condemns Israeli "threats": Hamas said in an official statement released Saturday that it condemns Israel's "threats and blackmail" against the UNRWA. The group criticized the relief agency's decision to fire the accused employees in Gaza and called for an "impartial investigation" into Israel's allegations.

Hamas also slammed a claim made by Israel's UN ambassador that the World Health Organization is in “collusion” with the Hamas movement, calling that a "hollow accusation," and stressing the importance of these agencies in providing aid in the besieged enclave.

Unbelievable double standards on display

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/24466-finland-goes-ahead-with-controversial-arms-deal-despite-ongoing-killing-and-siege-of-palestinians-by-israel.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-signs-landmark-deal-to-sell-davids-sling-air-defense-system-to-finland/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-should-halt-weapons-shipments-to-israel-arms-control-advocate/
https://www.cjpme.org/pr_2023_06_12_arms_exports

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/12/letter-uk-government-calling-immediate-halt-uk-arms-transfers-government-israel

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-15/australia-defence-weapons-exports-israel-hamas-war/103072608


The Netherlands just joined as well

Netherlands suspends UNRWA assistance

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/dutch-shipments-f-35-fighter-jet-parts-israel-can-continue-court-says-2023-12-15/

Israel lauds aid suspensions, says UNRWA must be ‘replaced’

The U.S., Canada, Finland, Australia, Italy, and the UK have stopped funding @UNRWA due to staff involvement in the October 7 massacre. I call for more nations to join in. @UNRWA's ties with Hamas, providing refuge for terrorists, and perpetuating its rule are undeniable. The…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 27, 2024

UNWRA has 13,000 workers inside Gaza that are doing everything they can to limit the damage of the rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis.

UNRWA employs 30,000 people.
Israeli intelligence claims 12 were involved in the 7 October attack. That's 0.04%
Biden, Trudeau, Albanese and Meloni immediately move to accelerate genocide by collective punishment, cutting desperately needed relief aid.
It is beyond belief.

— Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) January 27, 2024

PLO calls on countries pausing UNRWA funding to "retract their decision"

The Palestine Liberation Organization called on countries halting support for the main United Nations agency in Gaza to “immediately retract their decision.” The US, Canada, Australia and Italy each announced they have paused funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following allegations that some of its staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel.

“We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately retract their decision,” Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al-Sheikh said in a statement Saturday. “In light of the continuing conflict and aggression against the Palestinian people,” Al-Sheikh wrote, the decision to drop funding “entails great political and relief risks.”

“This organization must be supported and not stopped from being supported and assisted by the international community,” he said.

Ireland, Norway express continued support for UNRWA

UN official: 2.2 million people are at risk of famine in Gaza

Gaza conditions were almost unbelievable to me: Ai Weiwei (That's in 2016)

Egypt considered pulling envoy from Tel Aviv after Israel’s Rafah claims: Report

Majority report exposes some more of the lies, exaggerations and exploitation of the Oct 7 attacks by israel


What I found interesting is this well written comment below (on youtube!?!)

Israel always blames Hamas for willing to drive them out (which they changed in 2017) while the Likud's party charter has always been about full colonization 'from the river to the sea.'

Likud's bloody 100 year history ...

In 1923, 100 years ago, Ze'ev Jabotinsky wrote, The Iron Wall, and a follow up, The Ethics of The Iron Wall (sooo racist towards Africans), in which he fully acknowledged that post Balfour Zionsim was colonialism, and that, based on the entirety of history, the native Palestinian population would resist being colonized until the bitter end. He directly compared it to the colonization of North America. He promoted doing it anyway, claiming Zionist colonialism was a "just" colonialism (he also thought North American colonialists were good guys, so not a great judge of morality), not caring what that meant for the native population.

Ze'ev is important, because his Betar militant youth group helped found the Irgun terrorist group, along with other supporters of his, and the splinter Lehi terrorist group. The Irgun bombed numerous Palestinian markets and other public places, murdering many Palestinian civilians, including children, even including Palestinian Jews (who didn't support colonialist Zionsim).

The Irgun are important, because they ended up being led by future Likud PM, Menachem Begin, who bombed the King David Hotel. The King David Hotel was bombed because the British had raided the Jewish Agency and seized numerous documents that may have shown that the terrorists were working with the JA and Haganah (JA liked to pretend that they didn't support the terrorism). The British then stored those documents at their base, in the hotel. That the Irgun terrorists responded to a JA raid, itself seems to prove the connection. That the thousands of Irgun (and Lehi) terrorists were also quickly merged into the new nation's military (IDF) and intelligence (Mossad) agencies, and are still celebrated as "heroes" by Israelis, to this day, also seems to support total collaboration between the groups.

That other terrorist group mentioned, Lehi (also known as the Stern Gang), was considered even more extreme. They even tried to ally with the Nazis, against the British. Lehi ended up being led by Yitzhak Shamir, future Mossad agent, and another future Likud PM. They assassinated Lord Moyne, and others.

In 1945, there was a major land and peoples survey done in Palestine. It showed that the Zionists only owned about 5% of the total land, 20% of the arable land, and owned a majority in zero districts. The partition was not only going to be forced on the native Palestinian majority, but Jews were still going to be a minority, in the part allocated to them. The only possible way to even become a "Jewish state" was going to require getting rid of the actual majority (at least enough so that there'd be a solid Jewish majority, so they could fake being democratic).

This is also shown by the 1948, post Nakba, population of Israel. If there was 716,700 Jews, 156,000+ non-Jews, and approximately 700k non-Jews ethnically cleansed, that means the Jewish population, in the Zionist portion of partition, was originally over 100,000 less than the non-Jewish population. To believe that there was never any intent, by Zionists, to ethnically cleanse away the Palestinian majority would require believing that they never intended to create a "Jewish state". It's a nonsensical notion.

Begin, and those terrorist groups, also opposed partition, but for the opposite reason Palestinians did. Palestinians didn't want to be colonized, at all. The terrorists wanted to colonize it all. "Moderate" Zionists were okay with colonizing half ... for now (what would happen in the future, after partition, was up to them, said Ben-Gurion). The Zionist terrorists were also involved in massacres, and assassinations, during the partition violence (colonialist war against the natives).

Another notable future Likud PM, also started in the military, during the partition fighting. That was Ariel Sharon, war criminal, "Butcher of Beirut".

Menachem Begin, and these other Zionist terrorists, are important because they became involved in Israeli politics, first forming Herut. That was the party that Albert Einstein, and other prominent American Jews, opposed, having a letter printed in the NYT, in December of 1948, when Begin came to visit the US. The letter opened ...

"Among the most disturbing political phenomena of our times is the emergence in the newly created state of Israel of the "Freedom Party" (Tnuat Haherut), a political party closely akin in its organization, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties. It was formed out of the membership and following of the former Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist, right-wing, chauvinist organization in Palestine."

Herut merged with other extremist parties, over the years, and eventually became Likud, in the 70s. Now, people get upset over the slogan "From the river to the sea!", but it's the second part that's most important, "Palestine will be free!". Because "Palestine" isn't defined as an ethno-state, a free Palestine can be a single state, free for all to live in, and return to, free of continuing colonization, free of occupation, free of oppression, etc. Just like a Germany free of Nazism, an Italy free of fascism, a South Africa free of apartheid, or an America free of slavery from sea to shiny sea. It doesn't necessitate purging all the Jews. It just necessitates them giving up on the idea of an ethno-state.

On the other hand, because "Israel" has been defined as an ethno-state, Likud's, "between the sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty", has no possible good interpretation. It is a declaration of intent to completely colonize, and ethnically cleanse, all Palestine territories. Not only that, but it also claims that they have a "right" to all of the "Land of Israel" (biblical borders that don't mesh with archaeological reality), which is an open declaration of future wars, against Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and possibly even Iraq.

Likud platform ...

1977: "The Right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel)

a. The right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is eternal and indisputable and is linked with the right to security and peace; therefore, Judea and Samaria will not be handed to any foreign administration; between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty.

b. A plan which relinquishes parts of western Eretz Israel, undermines our right to the country, unavoidably leads to the establishment of a "Palestinian State," jeopardizes the security of the Jewish population, endangers the existence of the State of Israel. and frustrates any prospect of peace."

"Settlement

Settlement. both urban and rural. in all parts of the Land of Israel is the focal point of the Zionist effort to redeem the country, to maintain vital security areas and serves as a reservoir of strength and inspiration for the renewal of the pioneering spirit. The Likud government will call on the younger generation in Israel and the dispersions to settle and help every group and individual in the task of inhabiting and cultivating the wasteland, while taking care not to dispossess anyone."

1999: "The Government of Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state. Thus, for example, in matters of foreign affairs, security, immigration, and ecology, their activity shall be limited in accordance with imperatives of Israel's existence, security and national needs."

"The Jewish communities in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza are the realization of Zionist values. Settlement of the land is a clear expression of the unassailable right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel and constitutes an important asset in the defense of the vital interests of the State of Israel. The Likud will continue to strengthen and develop these communities and will prevent their uprooting."

All Palestine territories are officially considered occupied, by the International Court of Justice, the UN GA, the UN SC, and even in official documents of Israel's own allies. Likud is still using the blueprint for colonizing North America, in the West Bank. Move settlements out into native territory, piss off the natives, the natives retaliate, cry about poor "innocent" colonizing settlers being the "victims" of violent "Savages!", call in the cavalry to put down the native uprising, and eventually expand the borders to include those settlements. Rinse and repeat. In Gaza, Israel is operating an open air WWII style fascist ghetto. Them claiming a "right to defend themselves" would be like the Nazis claiming a "right to defend themselves " from the Warsaw ghetto uprising. There's no "war". That they're the occupiers means the "war" part is long over. Those people are actually supposed to be under the occupier's protection.

That partition was forced upon the Palestinian majority, against their will ... that the Zionist portion still had to be forcefully ethnically cleansed of its non-Jewish majority, against their will ... that the millions of occupied Palestinians don't have a say in the government that truly rules over them, Israel's ... means Israel is about as democratic as Nazi Germany after Hitler purged his political opponents and then held elections.

UNRWA coms director calls funding pulls ‘collective punishment’

Great interview, explains a lot of the struggles and corruption inside the UN and how it basically can't solve this conflict.

Gaza: ICJ ruling, UN failures, and US complicity | The Chris Hedges Report w/Craig Mokhiber

Former director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Craig Mokhiber, who resigned from his position last fall in protest of what he called the UN's "failure" to protect Palestinians, joins The Chris Hedges Report for a discussion on the weaknesses of the UN in the face of US and Israeli impunity.

In conclusion, it's up to the people to keep pressing for a solution and recognition of Palestinians as people.



Meanwhile more of those complicit in the ongoing genocide show their true colors

Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany pause UNRWA funding

Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany are pausing funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after UNRWA employees were accused of being involved in the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks. They join other nations such as the US, Canada, UK, Italy, Finland and Australia in pausing funding.

The Swiss Foreign Minister told CNN in a statement that Switzerland was "extremely concerned" about allegations put forth by Israel and will make a decision on future funding once more information has been provided after the investigation into the allegations. Switzerland has zero tolerance for any support for terrorism and any incitement to hatred or violence," the ministry wrote, adding that the country "expects the same" from its partners."

Swiss arm exports to Israel
https://tradingeconomics.com/switzerland/exports/israel/arms-ammunition-parts-accessories

The Netherlands announced it was "freezing future contributions to UNRWA." A statement on the Dutch government's website on Saturday said Foreign Trade and Development Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen made the decision after UNRWA announced it was terminating the contracts of the employees allegedly involved and launching an investigation into the matter. The statement said the minister is awaiting the results of the investigation and that in the meantime, additional funds to UNRWA will be suspended.

These accusations are too serious. We first need to know exactly what the investigation will reveal and what steps the United Nations is taking. The Netherlands will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza through other means," the minister said.

And the accusations of genocide are not?
https://stopwapenhandel.org/israeli-arms-exports-imports-and-military-cooperation-with-the-netherlands/
https://www.courthousenews.com/no-halt-to-dutch-export-of-f-35-parts-to-israel-court-says/

UNWRA already took steps and the UN has already launched an investigation.

The head of the UN agency announced Friday that employees accused by Israel of being involved in the attacks had been fired, adding that the highest investigative authority of the UN has already taken action and an independent review by external experts is forthcoming.

Meanwhile Settler violence continues in Israel with full support from the government and shielded by the military, while Israel still denies access to any external experts to investigate October 7th, Gaza, West bank, Prisons etc.

Germany's Foreign Ministry on Saturday announced it would be suspending new funds to UNRWA until investigations into the agency's employees' alleged involvement had been completed.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/german-military-exports-israel-up-nearly-10-fold-berlin-fast-tracks-permits-2023-11-08
https://braveneweurope.com/german-foreign-policy-germany-weapons-for-israel

Norway and Ireland seem the most reasonable in Europe atm

Norway says it will continue support for UNRWA while investigation underway

Norway said Saturday it would continue its financial support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) while awaiting the results of an investigation into allegations that UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel.

The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and UNRWA is the most important humanitarian organization there. Norway continues our support for the Palestinian people through UNRWA. International support for Palestine is needed now more than ever," Norway's representative to the Palestinian Authority posted in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. In its statement Saturday, Norway stressed the importance of UNRWA's work in Gaza, saying:

"We need to distinguish between what individuals may have done, and what UNRWA stands for. The organisation's tens of thousands of employees in Gaza, the West Bank and the region are playing a crucial role in distributing aid, saving lives and safeguarding basic needs and rights."

Sounds familiar, collective punishment of Palestinians

Last October, Norway increased its funding for the UN agency up to 360 million Norwegian Kroner (around $34 million) for the year, referring to the agency's "important and lifesaving work in Gaza," according to a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Palestinians ‘cannot be collectively punished’, Scotland’s first minister says

EDIIT: wrong thread

France joining the axis of shame

France becomes latest nation to suspend funding for UN agency in Gaza over allegations against staff

France has “no plans to make a further payment in the first half of 2024” to the United Nations relief agency in Gaza, its foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday. The ministry pointed to the accusations by Israel that some UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff members were involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7 of last year, calling the allegations "exceptionally serious." 

France had contributed nearly 60 million euros (around $65 million) to UNRWA in 2023.

https://tradingeconomics.com/france/exports/israel/arms-ammunition-parts-accessories

France joins these other donor nations in pausing financial support for UNWRA in light of the allegations:

UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. 13,000 workers in Gaza, 30,000 workers total.
https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa%E2%80%99s-lifesaving-aid-may-end-due-funding-suspension

UN Secretary-General says 9 UNRWA staff members fired over allegations

Of the 12 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) allegedly involved in the deadly October 7 Hamas attack in Israel, nine have been fired, one killed and the identities of two others are "being clarified," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

"The United Nations is taking swift action following the extremely serious allegations against several UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members," Guterres said Sunday, adding the UN's oversight body has already launched an investigation and an independent review is forthcoming. "Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," the secretary-general said.

He urged countries, however, to continue financial assistance to the UNRWA that supports 2 million Gazans who depend on the "critical aid" for "daily survival," warning the agency's current funding "will not allow it to meet all requirements to support them in February."

In the wake of the allegations against the UNRWA, nine countries have so far paused funding for the main UN agency in Gaza.
"While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations," Guterres said."

"The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences. But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met," he said.

UN special rapporteur slams Israel’s attempts to defund UNRWA

The decision to suspend aid to the UN Palestinian refugee agency by many Western countries is “collective punishment”, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) says. The comments by Philippe Lazzarini were echoed by UN chief Antonio Guterres who joined him in urging donor nations to maintain much-needed Gaza aid.

Israeli protesters again block aid trucks from entering Gaza at border crossing

_{People protest the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza on January 28, in Kerem Shalom, Israel. Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters}

Hundreds of Israeli protesters on Sunday blocked aid trucks from driving into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, demanding that hostages held in Gaza are freed before any more aid is delivered into the Strip, CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson reports from the scene.

The protests have been ongoing for days and were organized by families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. On Sunday, the protesters again blocked the convoys, despite an expectation that Israeli police would clear the protests to allow the crossing to operate, Robertson reports. The aid trucks, however, remain parked a few hundred meters from the protesters.

On Wednesday, only nine trucks crossed into Gaza via Kerem Shalom due to the protests, while the crossing remained closed Thursday and Friday due to protesters blocking access, according to Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). The border was closed Saturday for Shabbat.

United Nations officials have warned of the repercussions of declining humanitarian access in parts of Gaza and the blocking of aid at the crossing, saying famine is looming in the enclave and hospitals are in dire shape.

Starving the hostages doesn't seem like a good plan to get them back

US says its Israel policy unchanged after report on leveraging weapon sales

This libel and smear campaign by the Israeli propaganda machine and its supporters is an opportunity to reiterate: Israel is not defending itself, it is defending its illegal colonial occupation and apartheid. Israel is engaged in a decades-long act of repression of the occupied,… pic.twitter.com/xP1sxr3Xpk

— Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot) January 28, 2024

Most Hamas tunnels under Gaza remain intact: Report

Israeli soldiers continue to film themselves destroying Gaza

Beni Suhila, Khan Younis |

Neighborhoods blown up by Israeli soldiers pic.twitter.com/ya3GbG1z38

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) January 28, 2024