Israel is considering imposing restrictions on UN agencies operating on its territory and in Palestine after the Israel Defence Forces were listed last week in the world body’s report as harming children in conflict zones, Financial Times reports.
Among the possible actions of the Israeli leadership are denial of visa extensions for UN staff, boycott of high-ranking officials and suspension of all missions in the country, including the UN Truce Supervision Organization, which was established back in 1948. In addition, the discussed restrictions may affect the activities of the special coordinator of the world organisation for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland.
FT stresses that retaliatory measures against the UN were raised at a meeting of the Israeli government on June 9. However, the discussion spilled over to Israel’s National Security Council the following day, and no final decision has yet been made.
A “wide path” to agreement
Meanwhile, Hamas said Wednesday that its “positive” response to the US ceasefire plan in the 8-month war in the Gaza Strip opens a “wide path” to an agreement, while Israel called the response tantamount to a rejection.
The prospects for a ceasefire agreement remain uncertain, as neither the Palestinian group nor Israel has publicly committed to a deal. On Tuesday, Hamas submitted its official response to US President Joe Biden’s proposal outlined on May 31.
Hezbollah commander’s death
On Wednesday, Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of four of its fighters, including a revered commander, following an Israeli airstrike on a civilian home in the southern Lebanese town of Jouya.
Commander Taleb Sami Abdullah “Haj Abu Taleb”, Mohammad Hussein Sabra “Baqer”, Ali Salim Soufan “Kumail”, and Hussein Mohammad Hameed “Sajed”.
Lebanese sources identified “Abu Taleb”, head of the so-called “Al-Nasr (Victory) Unit” within Hezbollah. Abu Taleb is believed to be the highest-ranking Hezbollah official killed since the beginning of the Israeli offensive on Gaza and southern Lebanon.
The target of the Israeli airstrike on Jouya was a meeting of several senior Hezbollah commanders. Due to the heightened security situation, Lebanese media reported that exams in Jouya schools were postponed until Thursday.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying its fighter jets attacked a Hezbollah military building, a rocket launching site and infrastructure in Aytroun and Meiss el-Jabal. In addition, an Israeli drone destroyed a cell preparing to launch rockets in Deir Aames.
Hezbollah has been engaged in intense, almost daily border fighting with Israel since October 7. During that period, Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have killed some 320 Hezbollah members.
The group mourns its members killed by Israel under the slogan: “On the Road to Jerusalem,” in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, 37,702 of whom have been killed in the Israeli aggression launched there.
Israel, however, maintains strict secrecy about its losses, but reports indicate that northern settlements have been emptied of residents who have either fled or are seeking refuge in shelters.
