The UN special representative on sexual violence in times of conflict began a visit on Monday to Israel, which Hamas accuses of abuses and violations in the October 7 attack.
Hamas has denied Israel’s accusations, including acts of genital mutilation, sexual abuse of minors and necrophilia allegedly committed during the attack in various parts of southern Israel by commandos of the Palestinian movement.
The allegations are supported by increasingly numerous testimonies, most notably collected in an in-depth investigation published by the New York Times in December.
The The UN agency fired 12 employees accused by Israel of taking part in the October 7 Hamas attacks and promised a thorough investigation.
They will suspend funding
Residents of the Gaza Strip this Monday lamented that several donor countries have suspended their funding of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), confirming that it is their only source of supply in the war-torn region.
In the city of Rafah, in southern Gaza, where 1.5 million displaced people have found refuge, several residents told AFP that the agency’s assistance was a real lifesaver for them.
Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, have announced they will suspend funding to the agency.
Israel has pledged to ban the agency from continuing to operate in Gaza after the war.
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On the ground, the suspension of funding had no immediate impact, an UNRWA source told AFP. “There are no changes in the aid distribution mechanisms,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The United States was still weighing its options on Monday. UNRWA “helped save literally thousands of lives” in Gaza, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Monday.
Hamas’ attack in southern Israel caused about 1,140 deaths, mostly civilians, and also included the kidnapping of about 250 people who were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.
In answer, Israel launched an air and ground offensive that has so far killed more than 26,637, mostly civilians.This is evident from figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas. (JO)
Source: Eluniverso
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