New York: Two Israeli arson assaults and increasing protests forced the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, to temporarily close its office in occupied East Jerusalem this week, but its vital work will continue as war rages in the Gaza Strip and settlers’ violence increases in the Occupied West Bank, Senior Communications Manager Jonathan Fowler said in a statement.
For roughly sixty days, protestors have been held in front of the East Jerusalem compound, which is in an area where Israeli settlements are located. Both UN Chief Antonio Guterres and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini denounced the strike, which followed a protest just days before that turned violent.
UNRWA Staff Continues to Serve Gazans Despite Forced closure of HQ
Meanwhile, France has said that it condemned the Israeli offensive on Rafah launched on Tuesday and also termed the military operation as threatening to “cause a catastrophic situation for the civilians of Gaza”.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry stated that it has called on Israel to immediately end Rafah and also reopened Rafah crossing.
The Gaza Health Ministry said that more than 34,943 Palestinians have been killed mostly women and children in the Gaza Strip since October 7. It further stated that more than 78,572 people wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza.
