On the ground, strikes continued this Tuesday, January 30, in Khan Younès, where the situation remains critical in local hospitals. According to the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, there remains a “real hope” of a soon release of the hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. He clarified that a framework for a truce must be transmitted to the Palestinian Islamist movement.
Information to remember
⇒ 12 countries have suspended their funding to UNRWA
⇒ Three dead in a hospital in the West Bank
⇒ The United States announces reprisals
Three dead in West Bank hospital
Members of the Israeli forces killed three people on Tuesday morning inside the Avicenna hospital in Jenin, in the northern West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced, with the Israeli army indicating for its part that it had “neutralized “three “terrorists” in this hospital.
“Three martyrs (were) shot dead by the occupying forces inside the Avicenna hospital,” the ministry wrote. In a joint statement, the army, internal security and the Israeli police claim to have “neutralized” during a joint operation a “Hamas terrorist” who “was hiding” in this hospital, as well as “two other terrorists” .
New Zealand in turn suspends its funding to UNRWA
After the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany, New Zealand in turn announced on Tuesday that it would suspend its funding to the UN agency for aid to Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). , after accusations that some of its employees were involved in the Hamas attack on October 7.
The Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, clarified that this pause would last while the investigation took place. New Zealand’s aid to UNRWA amounted to around 1 million New Zealand dollars (around 563,000 euros) per year, according to the head of government.
Following accusations made by Israel last week, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which provides vital aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, fired twelve of its employees and promised a full investigation .
Before New Zealand, eleven countries had already suspended funding to the agency, despite a call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for aid to continue. The latter is due to receive the agency’s “main donors” this Tuesday in New York to take stock of this issue.
The European Union, for its part, asked UNRWA on Monday to agree to an audit being carried out by independent experts chosen by the European Commission.
New strikes in Khan Younes
During the night from Monday to Tuesday, witnesses reported Israeli strikes in several areas of the south and center of the Gaza Strip and artillery fire around the al-Amal hospital in Khan Younes.
The Hamas Ministry of Health counted at least 128 deaths from Monday evening to Tuesday morning, including “dozens” in Khan Younes, where the situation remains critical in the main local hospitals.
The United States announces “consequential” retaliation
The United States announced this Monday “consequential” retaliation after a drone strike in Jordan attributed to pro-Iran groups which cost the lives of three American soldiers. These are the first deaths of American soldiers in an attack since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
“Washington is not seeking war with Iran,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. Nevertheless, “this attack represents an escalation, let me be clear, and it calls for a response.”
Tehran assured that it had no link with the attack and denied American accusations of its support for the groups which targeted, on Sunday January 28, Tower 22, a remote base located in the north-east of Jordan, near the borders with Iraq and Syria.
“Real hope” for the release of Israeli hostages, according to Antony Blinken
The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke this Monday of a “real hope” of a possible soon release of the hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“Hamas will have to make its own decisions. I can just tell you that there is a good and strong alignment between the countries involved that this is a good and strong proposal,” added Antony Blinken , questioned during a press conference on the holding, this weekend in Paris, of discussions between American, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials.
He said a framework for a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages must be conveyed to the Palestinian Islamist movement.
The Israeli army continues its action in the north of the country
Troops of the Israeli army will “go into action very soon” in the north of the country, on the border with Lebanon, where there are daily exchanges of fire with Hezbollah, the Israeli Minister of Defense said on Monday, Yoav Gallant.
These units are currently in Gaza. “We are increasing the forces in the North, and we will also release the reservists gradually according to the units, to allow them to prepare and be ready for the next tactics,” continues the minister.
Eight dead in Israeli strike in Syria
Eight people, including pro-Iranian fighters, were killed this Monday in an Israeli strike south of Damascus, targeting a “base of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards,” according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).