united nations

International Outcry as Israel Bans UNRWA

Israel's parliament on Monday approved a bill banning the main UN aid agency for the war-devastated Gaza Strip, sparking international outcry. Despite objections from the United States and warnings from the UN Security Council, Israeli lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the bill banning the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, ...

Mikati-Starmer: Full Implementation of 1701

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underlined the need to “fully implement UN Resolution 1701” and halt fire in Lebanon. In a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday, Starmer praised the positive connection between the Lebanese and British armies and affirmed that “Britain is ready to support Lebanon at this ...

Middle East Aid Workers Say Rules of War Being Flouted

Flagrant violations of the laws of war in the escalating conflict in the Middle East are setting a dangerous precedent, aid workers in the region warn. Since Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on Israel from Gaza last year, humanitarians say the warring parties are flouting international humanitarian law (IHL). "The rules of war are being broken in ...

UN Says Greenhouse Gases Hit New Record Highs in 2023

Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reached new record highs in 2023, the UN warned on Monday, with countries falling "miles short" of what is needed to curb devastating global warming. Levels of the three main greenhouse gases -- heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- all increased yet again last year, said the ...

Iraq Lodges UN Complaint Over Israel Using Its Airspace to Attack Iran

Iraq has condemned Israel's use of its airspace to attack neighbouring Iran in a protest letter sent to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, Baghdad said Monday. A statement from government spokesman Bassim Alawadi said the letter condemns "the Zionist entity's blatant violation of Iraq's airspace and sovereignty by ...

UN Security Council Emergency to Meet on Monday After Iran Request

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Iran's request following Israel's deadly missile strikes in retaliation for an October 1 attack by Tehran. The Swiss presidency of the UNSC said Sunday that the meeting would take place following the request by Iran, supported by Algeria, China and Russia. Earlier on ...

Blinken Vows to Work With "Urgency" on Diplomatic Solution in Lebanon

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed Friday to work with "real urgency" for a diplomatic resolution to end Israel's offensive in Lebanon but said it was first critical to reach understandings on disarmament of Hezbollah. Shortly after meeting Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati in London, Blinken also pleaded for protection of civilians ...

Hochstein: Ending the War Is Possible Under 1701

US envoy Amos Hochstein emphasized that “ending the war between Israel and Lebanon is possible, in accordance with UN Resolution 1701.” “The Lebanese Armed Forces must be permitted to deploy successfully in southern Lebanon and carry out their duties,” he stressed in a statement released on Friday. Hochstein further confirmed that Israel ...

Hennis-Plasschaert: 'Lebanon’s Deadly Cycle of Violence Is Expanding'

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned that the deadly cycle of violence in Lebanon is expanding, “leaving more devastation and suffering.” In a statement issued on Friday, she said that Lebanon is facing “a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” focusing on the increase in civilian ...

Israel Strikes Qaa Border Crossing on Lebanon-Syria Border

An Israeli raid targeting the Syrian side of the border with Lebanon on Friday morning cut off a border crossing between the two countries, caretaker Transport Minister Ali Hamiye told AFP. This was the second main crossing point to be blocked, out of a total of three. The crossing, known as Qaa on the Lebanese side, is the second such gateway ...

"Darkest Moment" of Gaza Conflict Unfolding, UN say

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Friday the "darkest moment" of the conflict in Gaza was unfolding in the north of the territory, warning that Israel's actions could amount to "atrocity crimes". Turk pointed out that already "more than 150,000 people are reportedly dead, wounded or missing in Gaza" since ...

Hundreds of Patients and Doctors Detained in North Gaza's Last Hospital

Gaza's Health ministry said Friday hundreds of patients and staff were detained in northern Gaza's last functioning hospital, after the Israeli army said it was on the ground in the area. "Israeli forces have stormed and are present inside Kamal Adwan Hospital" in the city of Jabalia, the ministry said in a statement. "They are detaining ...