Live Updates: UNRWA warns against its dismantling as sought by Israel

Thursday, April 18, 2024

05:23 GMT — UNRWA warns against its dismantling as sought by Israel

Dismantling the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, as sought by Israel, would accelerate besieged Gaza's slide into starvation and doom generations of children to despair, the organisation's head warned.

Director Philippe Lazzarini told the UN Security Council that the agency is the backbone of UN humanitarian operations in Gaza.

Referring to Israel, he said there is an "insidious campaign" under way to dismantle UNRWA and that this would have lasting consequences.

04:40 GMT — Israel kills seven civilians in Rafah strikes

Seven civilians, including a woman and three children, have been killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza, Palestine's official news agency reported.

WAFA citing its correspondent said Israeli warplanes targeted a site and a residential structure sheltering displaced persons in the city of Rafah, killing seven civilians, including a woman and three children.

04:21 GMT — Uncertainty surrounds UN Palestinian membership vote

The Security Council vote on the Palestinians' bid to become a full member state of the United Nations is expected to occur Thursday or Friday, diplomats said, as discussions continued.

Several diplomatic sources had told the AFP news agency earlier that the vote would take place on Thursday, but the situation has since changed with some member states asking for a Friday vote.

No firm decision had been taken, according to several diplomatic sources.

03:26 GMT — Algeria gives UNRWA $15 mln as exceptional fund, state TV says

Algeria has given the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) a $15 million exceptional fund, Algerian state TV said early.

UNRWA provides aid and essential services to Palestinian refugees in besieged Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and across the wider region.

02:30 GMT — Türkiye expresses 'solid, unwavering' support for UNRWA

Türkiye expressed its solid and unwavering support for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

Speaking at a UN Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Yildiz conveyed his appreciation to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini for "his efforts to fulfil UNRWA's mandate under extremely challenging circumstances."

Noting that "the suffering in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is at unprecedented levels," Yildiz stressed that the occupied West Bank "is under immense tension with settler violence and growing Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people."

With illegal settlements, the demolition of houses, expulsions and land confiscations continuing daily, he reminded that at least 7,000 people had been arrested since October 7 "for no reason."

"Gaza faces the most formidable man-made disaster in modern ages. Unseen destruction and massacres take place before our eyes. It is tormenting, heart-breaking," he stressed.

Expressing Türkiye's "solid, unwavering" support for UNRWA, he further called on member states to "ensure that UNRWA continues its critical work."

For our live updates from Wednesday, April 17, click here.