The top UN official for the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, said he was "deeply alarmed and saddened" by the continuing violence against Palestinian citizens in several occupied territories such as the West Bank. One of the many striking examples is the death of nine Palestinians, including militants and an elderly woman, during an Israeli arrest operation in the city of Jenin. According to reports, 20 other Palestinians were seriously injured.
The Israeli authorities have justified their military operations as planned anti-terrorist interventions against an Islamic Jihad cell. On the contrary, the Palestinian National Authority described this operation as a real massacre against young Palestinians who had committed themselves to defending their own city. For its part, Wennesland called on both sides to avoid further clashes of violence in order to reduce and/or avoid further casualties and, thus, restore calm and stability in the territory.
The UN Aid Coordination Office OCHA and other humanitarian organisations have decided to launch the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan. With the aim of providing both mental and physical well-being to Palestinians, this international humanitarian response provides funding for more than 200 healthcare, education and access to essential goods projects.
To read more, please visit:
- https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1132882
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/26/palestinians-say-nine-killed-in-israeli-raid-on-jenin-refugee-camp
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64410607
- https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-response-plan-2023
- https://www.map.org.uk/news/archive/post/1426-map-launches-west-bank-emergency-response-as-nine-killed-in-jenin-amid-escalating-military-violence-against-palestinians
- https://www.difesapopolo.it/Fatti/Palestina-Jenin-nove-palestinesi-morti-in-un-raid-israeliano.-Odeh-amb.-Palestina-in-Italia-appello-alla-comunita-internazionale
By Alessia Bertola
