Hamas only wants to release hostages if the Israeli military withdraws from Gaza. Germany stops aid to the UN Palestinian Relief Agency. All information in the news blog.
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Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel on October 7 and carried out massacres. Since then, Israel has been attacking targets in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. This news blog informs you about the current developments:
Germany stops aid to UN relief agency
9:45 p.m.: Because of the suspicion that employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) may have been involved in the major attack by the radical Islamic Hamas against Israel on October 7th, the federal government is not providing any new aid to the relief organization for the time being. “Until the clarification is complete, Germany, in coordination with other donor countries, will temporarily not approve any new funds for UNRWA in Gaza,” the Foreign Office and the Federal Development Ministry jointly declared in Berlin on Saturday evening.
In their joint communication, the two ministries emphasized that there were currently no new commitments pending. They also emphasized that UNRWA’s role is “vital to the basic services of the Palestinian population.” It is therefore “absolutely right” that the UN relief agency responded immediately to the allegations against twelve of its employees and that UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini “took immediate action”.
According to the statement, in the period following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Foreign Office and BMZ “provided basic supplies such as water, food, emergency shelter, hygiene and sanitation facilities as well as medical supplies for the people in the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid provided through UNRWA and development cooperation funds and in particular for the families who have fled to the south. The German-Israeli Society (DIG) demanded that the federal government stop its payments until the allegations were verified. UNRWA behaved “like an accomplice” of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, explained DIG President Volker Beck.
Foreign Office “concerned” about possible involvement of UN employees in Hamas terror
11.49 a.m.: In view of the possible involvement of some employees of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA in the Hamas massacre in Israel, the Foreign Office says it is “deeply concerned”. The ministry welcomes the fact that UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has released those affected and announced an investigation into the “serious allegations”, the ministry announced on the X platform (formerly Twitter). “We expect it to be thorough and complete.”
Lazzarini must make it clear to the UN aid agency’s staff “that all forms of hatred and violence are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” UNRWA’s task is to provide essential and life-saving assistance to the Palestinians, the post from Friday evening continues. Lazzarini had previously announced that Israel had provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several employees in Hamas terrorism.
Houthis: US and UK attack port in Yemen
11.40 a.m.: According to the Houthis in Yemen, the USA and Great Britain have carried out two air strikes on the port of Ras Issa on the Red Sea. The Houthi TV station Al-Masira did not initially report any further details on Saturday. There was initially no comment from the USA or Great Britain. Rockets had previously been fired at several ships from Yemen. The Houthis claimed the hit on an oil tanker as their own. Here you can read more about it.
PLO: Immediately lift the freeze on UNRWA funding
11:31 a.m.: After Israel provided the UN Relief and Works Organization for the Palestinians (UNRWA) with information proving that UN agency employees were involved in the terrorist organization Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, the USA temporarily stopped funding UNRWA a. This poses great political and humanitarian risks, explains the Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Hussein al-Sheikh, now on close.”
US: Forces destroy Houthi missile
5:55 a.m.: US forces say they have destroyed an anti-ship missile belonging to the militant Islamist Houthis in Yemen. The United States Central Command announced on the online portal X (formerly Twitter) that the missile was aimed at the Red Sea and was ready to launch. The US armed forces classified the missile, which was located in the area controlled by the militia, as a danger to US warships and merchant ships on the shipping route that is important for world trade, according to the justification for the attack.