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Israel cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday after accusing it of providing cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.The agency, UNRWA, is banned from operating on Israeli soil, and contact between it and Israeli officials will also be forbidden.UNRWA has provided support for Palestinian refugees around the Middle East for more than 70 years, but has long clashed with Israeli officials, who have repeatedly accused it of undermining the country’s security.The hostility intensified following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, with accusations that UNRWA employees took part in the assault.After the law came into effect, the Norwegian government said Thursday it would contribute $24 million to the UN agency.”Gaza is in ruins, and UNRWA’s help is more necessary than ever,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.Turkey condemned the Israeli move as “a blatant violation of international law” and said the step “marks a new phase in Israel’s policies of occupation and annexation aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians from their own land”.- ‘Infested’ -Israel defended the decision.”Humanitarian aid doesn’t equal UNRWA, and UNRWA doesn’t equal humanitarian aid. UNRWA equals an organisation infested with Hamas terror activity,” foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X ahead of the ban.”This is why, beginning on January 30 and in accordance with Israeli law, Israel will have no contact with UNRWA.”The agency’s offices and staff in Israel play a major role in the provision of healthcare and education to Palestinians, including those living in Gaza, which has been devastated by the war between Israel and Hamas.Government spokesman David Mencer said on Wednesday that “UNRWA is riddled with Hamas operatives”, adding that “if a state funds UNRWA, that state is funding terrorists”.”UNRWA employs over 1,200 Hamas members, including terrorists who carried out the October 7 massacre,” Mencer said. “This isn’t aid, it’s direct financial support for terror.”Later on Wednesday, Israel’s supreme court rejected a petition by Palestinian human rights group Adalah contesting the UNRWA ban.The court said the legislation “prohibits UNRWA activity only on the sovereign territory of the State of Israel”, but “does not prohibit such activity in the areas of Judea-Samaria and the Gaza Strip”, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name.The ban does apply, however, to Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, where UNRWA has a field headquarters for its operations in the West Bank.- ‘Catastrophic’ -In response, Adalah said the law would come into effect “disregarding the catastrophic humanitarian consequences”.The move, which has been backed by Israel’s close ally the United States, has drawn condemnation from aid groups and US allies.The agency says it has brought in 60 percent of the food aid that has reached Gaza since the war started with Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel.Israeli envoy to the United Nations Danny Danon told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that UNRWA must cease its operations and evacuate all premises it operates in annexed east Jerusalem on Thursday.In response, UN chief Antonio Guterres demanded that Israel rescind its order.”I regret this decision and request that the government of Israel retract it,” he said, stressing UNRWA was “irreplaceable”.The agency’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said UNRWA’s capacity to distribute aid “far exceeds that of any other entity”.He called Israel’s actions against UNRWA a “relentless assault… harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory”.Israel alleges a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the 2023 attack, and insists other agencies can step in to provide essential services, aid and reconstruction — something the UN and many donor governments dispute.A series of investigations, including one led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality-related issues” at UNRWA, but stressed Israel had not provided evidence for its headline allegation.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said discussions with a Qatari delegation in Damascus Thursday included reconstruction in the war-torn country, during the first visit by a head of state since Bashar al-Assad’s ouster.The trip by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, less than two months after Islamist-led rebels ousted Assad, comes a day after Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was appointed interim president for an unspecified transitional period. It also follows a visit by Qatar’s prime minister earlier this month.”We discussed a comprehensive framework for bilateral cooperation concerning reconstruction” in the country devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war, Shaibani said during a press conference with Qatari Minister of State at the foreign ministry, Mohammed al-Khulaifi.He said their talks covered “vital sectors including infrastructure… investment and banking services, paving the way for economic recovery, health and education”.Khulaifi welcomed Wednesday’s announcement by Syria’s authorities “on the end of the revolutionary phase and the transition to the phase of establishing the state”.Doha will continue “to provide the required support on all humanitarian and service levels, and also regarding infrastructure and electricity”, he told the press conference.Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar did not restore diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad and was one of the first to back the armed rebellion that erupted after his government crushed a peaceful uprising in 2011.Syria’s new authorities on Wednesday said Sharaa had been tasked with forming a transitional legislature, and they also announced the dissolution of all armed groups involved in Assad’s overthrow, as well as the former government’s army.Sharaa’s Islamist group led the offensive that ousted Assad on December 8.- ‘Historic visit’ -Qatar’s emir arrived Thursday on “an official visit to Damascus” where he was welcomed by Sharaa, a statement from the Qatari court said.The Syrian embassy in Doha had told AFP that Sheikh Tamim would meet Sharaa “in a historic visit” that would address “cooperation and aid in several sectors”.Qatar was the second country, after Turkey, to reopen its embassy in the Syrian capital following Assad’s overthrow, and has urged the lifting of sanctions.During a visit earlier this month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also pledged to support the rehabilitation of Syria’s infrastructure.He said the agreement included providing Syria with 200 megawatts of power and gradually increasing production.A diplomatic source has also said Qatar was weighing plans to assist Syria with public sector salaries.Also this month, ministers from Syria’s transitional government including Shaibani met the Qatari premier on their first visit to the Gulf country since taking power.On December 23, Khulaifi led the first high-level Qatari delegation to Damascus after a 13-year diplomatic rift.Qatar’s ruler is the most senior of a string of foreign officials to visit Damascus since December.A delegation from Russia, a close ally of ousted leader Assad, visited this week, while foreign ministers or senior officials from countries including France, Germany and Turkey have also been to Damascus.Syria’s defence ministry said Thursday that a high-level Turkish military delegation had also visited the country.burs-lg/it

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed what he described as “shocking scenes” during the handover on Thursday of seven hostages including two Israelis.”I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” Netanyahu said in a statement, after television images showed gunmen struggling to control hundreds of Gazans gathered to witness the handover.”I demand that the mediators ensure such horrific scenes do not recur and guarantee the safety of our hostages,” Netanyahu added.”Whoever dares to harm our hostages will pay the price.”Chaos erupted in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis when the seven hostages were brought for the handover as hundreds of people crowded to witness the event.The handover took place near the now destroyed childhood home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.Onlookers scrambling to take pictures surrounded the Red Cross vehicles that had come to collect the hostages, an AFP correspondent reported.The seven hostages were two Israelis, Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehud, and five Thais.The television images showed crowds of Gazans taking pictures of Yehud, a woman civilian, as she was brought forward by masked gunmen for the handover.A visibly upset Yehud was later seen in a Red Cross vehicle along with Moses.

Palestinian militants on Thursday freed three Israeli hostages and five foreigners captured in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel as the third hostage-prisoner exchange of the Gaza ceasefire got under way.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced what he called “shocking scenes” during the hostage releases which came under a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip.First to be freed was Israeli woman soldier Agam Berger, 20, handed over to International Committee of the Red Cross officials in Jabalia in the north of the Palestinian territory.Before she was freed, footage of a sombre Berger showed her on a stage with masked Hamas members in distinctive green headbands, being prompted to wave to onlookers.Israel’s military said Berger was being taken to hospital for medical treatment.It said another two Israelis and five foreigners were later handed over to the Red Cross and en route for Israel.It said they were “on their way toward IDF (army) and ISA (security agency) forces in the Gaza Strip”.The two other Israeli hostages due to be freed were Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehud. Five Thais were also to be released.In devastated Khan Yunis, dense crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Yehud and Moses ahead of their release near the childhood home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October. Ahead of the release, Islamic Jihad aired video footage of Moses and Yehud hugging each other and smiling.On Wednesday, the Moses family said it had “received with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadi’s return”.Netanyahu in a statement slammed “the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages”.Television images had shown gunmen struggling to control hundreds of Gazans gathered to witness the handover.”This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” Netanyahu said.A fourth exchange is scheduled for the weekend, but Hamas accused Israel on Wednesday of jeopardising the deal by holding up aid deliveries, an allegation Israel dismissed as “fake news”.The ceasefire that began on January 19 hinges on the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in exchange for 1,900 people — mostly Palestinians — in Israeli custody.Before Thursday, Hamas had released seven hostages, with 290 prisoners freed in exchange. Israel is to release 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, in exchange for the three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said.The next swap on Saturday will see three Israeli men released, according to Netanyahu’s office.- Aid trucks row -The truce deal has allowed truckloads of aid into the devastated Gaza Strip, where the war has created a long-running humanitarian crisis.However, senior Hamas officials accused Israel of slowing aid deliveries, with one citing key items such as fuel, tents, heavy machinery and other equipment.COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, called this “totally fake news”.As the text of the agreement — mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States — has not been made public, AFP was not able to verify its terms on aid.- Displacement ‘injustice’ -The ceasefire deal is currently in its first, 42-day phase, which should see 33 hostages freed. The Thai hostages are not included in that number.Next, the parties are due to start discussing a long-term end to the war. The third and final phase should see the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of any remaining dead hostages.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for sealing the agreement despite it taking effect before his inauguration, and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks, met Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday.Trump has invited Netanyahu to the White House on February 4, according to the premier’s office.After the truce began, Trump touted a plan to “clean out” Gaza, calling for Palestinians to relocate to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan.However, both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II rejected this.More than 376,000 displaced Palestinians have gone back to northern Gaza since Israel reopened access earlier this week, according to the UN humanitarian office OCHA, with many returning to little more than rubble.”My house is destroyed,” 33-year-old Mohammed Al-Faleh told AFP.”The biggest problem is that there is no water — all the water wells are destroyed,” he added.”Food aid is reaching Gaza… but there is no gas or electricity. We bake bread on a fire fuelled by wood and nylon.”Israel was to cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from Thursday following accusations it provided cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper delivery of its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.UNRWA, which has long been the lead agency in coordinating aid to Gaza, will be banned from operating on Israeli soil, and contact between it and Israeli officials will also be forbidden.

Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of a Palestinian militant group jailed for attacks that killed several Israelis, is to be released Thursday as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.Zubeidi, 49, is one of the most high-profile of 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, to be freed in exchange for three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said.Zubeidi rose to prominence during the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, becoming one of the best-known militant leaders in Jenin and its refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.It was during the uprising that Zubeidi’s mother was shot and killed when the Israeli army raided the camp.He is known by Israeli security services as the man behind several deadly, high-profile attacks against Israelis.- Long years of militancy -Zubeidi became active with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’ Fatah party after a stint in prison in 1989 at age 14. Re-arrested in 1990 for throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli forces, he rose through the ranks and eventually became leader for Fatah’s armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, in Jenin.Released again in 1994 under the Oslo Accords, he joined the newly created Palestinian Authority’s security forces in the West Bank city of Jericho along with other former inmates.In 2001, Zubeidi was injured in an accidental explosion during a “military mission” that caused severe burns on his face and eyes still visible today.-‘The Black Rat’-Forced into hiding due to his continued militancy, Zubeidi remained a fugitive until 2007, when he agreed to hand over his weapons to the Palestinian Authority.The deal, which was extended to all fugitives who chose to comply, saw Zubeidi’s name removed from Israel’s list of wanted individuals.But in 2011, Israel revoked Zubeidi’s amnesty for undisclosed reasons. He was arrested in 2019 on suspicion of involvement in multiple shooting attacks near the Israeli settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah.The militant has claimed to have survived several assassination attempts by Israel which has reportedly nicknamed him “The Black Rat” for his ability to evade the targeting.Among Palestinians, Zubeidi is known as a power broker in Jenin, as well as one of the few inmates to have escaped Israel’s high-security Gilboa Prison in 2021.With five other prisoners, he escaped through a tunnel dug under the prison walls but was recaptured five days later.- Theatre -Zubeidi also became involved in theatre in Jenin, a densely populated refugee camp created in the early 1950s to host Palestinians who fled their homes at Israel’s creation.As a child, he joined activities in Arna’s House, a community space and theatre founded by Israeli activist Arna Mer-Khamis for the camp’s youth, located in the same building that his family lived.In a 2002 raid, the Israeli army destroyed the community playhouse, which was later rebuilt and renamed the Freedom Theatre.After the 2007 amnesty, Zubeidi returned to Jenin and was involved again with the camp’s theatre. In the same period he also became openly critical of the Palestinian Authority.During his years in jail, three of Zubeidi’s brothers, as well as his son Muhammad, were killed by the Israeli military.Sources close to Zubeidi said that his first plans upon release were to visit the grave of his son, whose funeral he missed while in jail.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza near the family home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Thursday in anticipation of two Israeli hostages being released.Onlookers clambered over smashed concrete on the upper floors of buildings, devastated in more than 15 months of war with Israel in Gaza, hoping to catch a glimpse of Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old Israeli-German, and Arbel Yehud, a 29-year-old Israeli woman.On the ground, along what was left of a narrow, dusty road, crowds scores deep gathered for the exchange near the home of Sinwar, who was killed on October 16 last year. “We came to witness these historic moments of handing over the prisoners. We feel proud of the resistance — they preserved the lives of the prisoners throughout the days of the occupation’s war of extermination,” Mohammed Al-Astal, 32, told AFP from Khan Yunis.”The resistance’s choice of the home of the martyred leader Yahya Sinwar for the handover encouraged thousands of citizens to participate and celebrate the ceremony. Everyone is eager for moments of joy,” he added.Hamas and Islamic Jihad sources said that more than 100 Islamic Jihad fighters were to be stationed in Khan Yunis for the exchange.Earlier, Israeli woman soldier hostage Agam Berger was freed amid the twisted metal and gutted buildings of Jabalia in northern Gaza.Wearing green, military-style fatigues, Berger was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross after being led briefly on to a makeshift stage flanked by Hamas fighters, only their eyes visible through masks.The 20-year-old Israeli, who was handed a gift bag and a golden-framed certificate to mark the end of her ordeal, kept a steady gaze on the platform which broke only when she was urged by a Hamas cameraman to wave to the crowd.She complied without enthusiasm.In Tel Aviv, crowds shouted with joy as Berger’s release was broadcast.At Bellinson hospital in central Israel, former hostages Liri Albag, Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa and Karina Ariev who were released last week celebrated their friend’s release.Dozens of fighters from Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades brandishing assault rifles and conspicuous in their bright-green headbands climbed into pickups as they escorted the Red Cross vehicles out of Jabalia refugee camp in convoy.Hamas on Thursday put on a display of strength in the north of the Palestinian territory, which bore the brunt of Israel’s assault towards the end of last year and where thousands of Gazans, displaced by the war, have returned under a ceasefire deal which began on January 19.Fighters stood guard on mounds of sand, piled high by Israeli bulldozers, and surrounded by gutted buildings.On the concrete skeleton of one building, its top floors pancaked by strikes, a huge Palestinian flag had been draped down five floors.Festive bunting in the colours of the Palestinian flag was also strung between dilapidated buildings in the area for the handover.

Palestinian militant group Hamas handed over Israeli woman soldier Agam Berger on Thursday as the third hostage-prisoner exchange of the Gaza ceasefire got under way.Three Israelis are slated for release Thursday under a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza war and five Thai captives are also expected to be freed.Berger, dressed in military fatigues, was paraded by Hamas militants on a stage in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip before being handed over to International Committee of the Red Cross officials.The 20-year-old was handed a gift bag and certificate to mark the end of her ordeal.Footage of a sombre Berger before the handover showed her on a stage with masked Hamas members in distinctive green headbands, being prompted to wave to onlookers.Israel’s military said Berger was now back in Israel and would undergo “an initial medical assessment”.In devastated Khan Yunis, dense crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses ahead of their release near the childhood home of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed in October. Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that five Thais held in Gaza would also be freed.Ahead of the release, Islamic Jihad aired video footage of Moses and Yehud hugging each other and smiling.On Wednesday, the Moses family said it had “received with great excitement the wonderful news of our beloved Gadi’s return”.A fourth exchange is scheduled for the weekend, but Hamas accused Israel on Wednesday of jeopardising the deal by holding up aid deliveries, an allegation Israel dismissed as “fake news”.The ceasefire that began on January 19 hinges on the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in exchange for 1,900 people — mostly Palestinians — in Israeli custody.Before Berger was handed over Thursday, Hamas had released seven hostages, with 290 prisoners freed in exchange. Israel is to release 110 prisoners, including 30 minors, in exchange for the three Israelis, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club advocacy group said.The next swap on Saturday will see three Israeli men released, according to Netanyahu’s office.- Aid trucks row -The truce deal has allowed truckloads of aid into the devastated Gaza Strip, where the war has created a long-running humanitarian crisis.However, senior Hamas officials accused Israel of slowing aid deliveries, with one citing key items such as fuel, tents, heavy machinery and other equipment.COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, called this “totally fake news”.As the text of the agreement — mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States — has not been made public, AFP was not able to verify its terms on aid.- Displacement ‘injustice’ -The ceasefire deal is currently in its first, 42-day phase, which should see 33 hostages freed. The Thai hostages are not included in that number.Next, the parties are due to start discussing a long-term end to the war. The third and final phase of the deal should see the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of any remaining dead hostages.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for sealing the agreement despite it taking effect before his inauguration, and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks, met Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday.Trump has invited Netanyahu to the White House on February 4, according to the premier’s office.After the truce took effect, Trump touted a plan to “clean out” Gaza, calling for Palestinians to relocate to neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Jordan.However, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Wednesday the forced displacement of Palestinians was an “injustice that we cannot take part in”.Jordan’s King Abdullah II stressed “the need to keep the Palestinians on their land”.More than 376,000 displaced Palestinians have gone back to northern Gaza since Israel reopened access earlier this week, according to the UN humanitarian office OCHA, with many returning to little more than rubble.”My house is destroyed,” 33-year-old Mohammed Al-Faleh told AFP. “This morning, we built a small room with two walls made from the remains of our home. There is no cement, so I used mud.”The biggest problem is that there is no water — all the water wells are destroyed,” he added.”Food aid is reaching Gaza… but there is no gas or electricity. We bake bread on a fire fuelled by wood and nylon.”Israel was to cut ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) from Thursday following accusations it provided cover for Hamas militants, a move likely to hamper delivery of its vital services after 15 months of war in Gaza.UNRWA, which has long been the lead agency in coordinating aid to Gaza, will be banned from operating on Israeli soil, and contact between it and Israeli officials will also be forbidden.

European stock markets rose and the euro dipped Thursday, with the European Central Bank expected to cut interest rates as inflation eases and the eurozone economy stalls.The ECB announcement will follow the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep US borrowing costs on hold Wednesday as inflation, despite coming down, remains elevated in the United States.Asian stock …

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