(October 15, 2024)
One rogue nation cannot declare war on the UN itself and continue to get away with it
Daily Archives: 25. Januar 2025
As Israel’s UNRWA Ban Kicks In, the UN Boss Must Be Ready for Day After
This contradictory approach has led to what one senior UN official described as “a train crash waiting to happen.” The suffering of the Palestinian population, particularly in Gaza, will increase dramatically as UNRWA, the backbone of the humanitarian operation, crumbles without an alternative structure in place. The educational and health sector in the West Bank will also fall into dire straits, with no viable alternatives available.
As part of Israel’s expulsion of UNRWA from its East Jerusalem headquarters on Jan. 30, the government will most likely confiscate the agency’s buildings and transform the site into a Jewish settlement, blatantly violating international law.
Live: Hamas frees four female Israeli soldiers from Gaza in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners
Four female Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attacks crossed into Israeli territory from Gaza on Saturday, the military said, in the second such handover since a ceasefire began in the Palestinian enclave last weekend. Israel later freed 200 Palestinian prisoners as thousands gathered in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to celebrate the arrival of buses carrying the detainees.
Israel orders Unrwa out of Jerusalem as crackdown on agency continues
Israel has ordered the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) to shut down its operations in Jerusalem and vacate all premises by 30 January, according to a letter sent by Israel’s envoy to UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on Friday.
Israel will Palästinenserhilfswerk UNRWA aus Jerusalem vertreiben
Israel hat das UN-Palästinenserhilfswerk UNRWA aufgefordert, seine Arbeit in Jerusalem bis zum 30. Januar einzustellen und die Stadt zu verlassen. UNRWA sei „verpflichtet, seine Tätigkeit in Jerusalem einzustellen und alle Räumlichkeiten, in denen es in der Stadt tätig ist, bis spätestens 30. Januar 2025 zu räumen“, forderte der israelische UN-Botschafter Danny Danon in einem Brief an UN-Generalsekretär António Guterres. Das Schreiben lag der Deutschen Presse-Agentur vor.
Israel to Extend Military Presence in Lebanon With Trump Administration’s Blessing
The Israeli security cabinet authorized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) late Thursday to remain in some areas of southern Lebanon past the 60-day withdrawal deadline set to expire on Sunday. Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire agreement approved last November, both sides must fully remove all of their troops from the region by Jan. 26 to reinstate the borders laid out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
White House Calls for Israel to Stay in Lebanon Past Truce Deadline
The White House is calling for Israeli troops to be allowed to remain in Lebanon past the expiration date of a cease-fire next week, giving Israel more time to complete its mission but heightening the risks that the truce will unravel altogether.
Israel blocks planned exit of US doctors and nurses from Gaza, group says
Doctors Against Genocide said Israel denied exit to 11 American doctors and nurses from Gaza and called on the US government, the international community and humanitarian organisations to secure their safe evacuation in a statement.
The doctors‘ mission was authorised by Israeli authorities on 9 January 2024, with plans for their safe departure on 22 January 2025, the group said. However, Israeli authorities have since denied their requests to move south, preventing them from leaving northern Gaza.
Lebanese army stresses adherence to directives, vows readiness for full deployment in border zones
The army is also implementing an operational plan to enhance its deployment south of the Litani River, as mandated by the cabinet, starting from the first day the ceasefire agreement took effect.
This is being executed in successive and specific phases in coordination with the five-nation committee overseeing the agreement‘s implementation and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
„Delays in some phases have occurred due to Israeli procrastination in withdrawing, complicating the army‘s deployment mission. Nonetheless, the army remains ready to complete its deployment as soon as the Israeli army withdraws,“ the statement said.
Israel procrastinating in northern border withdrawal, Lebanese army claims
Lebanon‘s army accused Israel of procrastinating in withdrawing troops from south Lebanon as required under a ceasefire that ended the war with Hezbollah, a day after Israel said its forces would remain beyond a Sunday deadline for their departure.
Staying beyond deadline: Israel insists on delaying withdrawal from Lebanon, citing Hezbollah threats
Israel submitted a list of strategic areas it intends to retain control over, particularly those overlooking northern Israeli towns, without specifying a timeline for the extended presence.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials are debating the creation of a buffer zone along the border, with no clear timeframe for its establishment.
Israel says it won’t withdraw from Lebanon by Sunday deadline
“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) withdrawal is conditional upon the Lebanese army deploying in southern Lebanon,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement. “Since the ceasefire agreement has not yet been fully enforced by Lebanon, the gradual withdrawal process will continue, in full coordination with the United States.”
Putin says he’s ready to meet Trump to ‘talk calmly’
“It would be better for us to meet, based on the realities of today, to talk calmly on all those areas that are of interest to both the United States and Russia,” Putin said during an interview on domestic TV channel Russia 24.
In an interview, Putin echoes Trump’s claim that conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided had he been in office
In an interview with Russian state television, Putin praised Trump as a “clever and pragmatic man” who is focused on U.S. interests.
“We always had a business-like, pragmatic but also trusting relationship with the current U.S. president,” Putin said. “I couldn’t disagree with him that if he had been president, if they hadn’t stolen victory from him in 2020, the crisis that emerged in Ukraine in 2022 could have been avoided.”