Skip to main content

Featured

Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...

article

Potential Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza as UNRWA Faces Ban

 

Israel’s recent decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating within its borders has sparked significant concern among international organizations. The ban, if fully implemented, could lead to severe humanitarian consequences in Gaza, particularly for children.

UNICEF’s Warning: UNICEF spokesperson James Elder emphasized that the inability of UNRWA to operate could lead to the collapse of Gaza’s humanitarian system. Elder, who has extensive experience in Gaza, warned that this decision could result in more child deaths, describing it as a new way to harm children.

Collective Punishment: Jens Laerke from the UN humanitarian office suggested that the ban could be seen as a form of collective punishment against Gazans, adding to the existing hardships imposed on the region.

No Alternatives: Other UN agencies, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), have stated that they cannot replace UNRWA’s role in Gaza. While IOM is willing to increase its relief efforts, it acknowledges that UNRWA’s services are indispensable and irreplaceable at this point.

Comments