Israeli Forces Detain 12 Palestinians, Including Child, During Raid South of Bethlehem

Beit fajjar: Israeli occupation forces detained 12 Palestinian citizens, including a 12-year-old child, on Sunday during a raid on the town of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem. Local sources told WAFA that the forces stormed the town, deployed across several neighborhoods, and raided a number of homes before carrying out the detentions. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the detainees included former prisoners and a 12-year-old child, identified as Saif al-Din Khaled Ibrahim Dirieh. The raid was part of continued Israeli military incursions into towns and villages across the occupied West Coast. UNRWA Calls for Expanded Humanitarian Aid in Gaza Amid New Israeli Restrictions Gaza: Director of Communications at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Jonathan Fowler, has raised concerns about the impact of new restrictions imposed by Israel on international organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. Fowler highlighted the urgent need for expanded h umanitarian assistance in Gaza, rather than the imposition of additional restrictions. He noted that despite the ceasefire agreement, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with ongoing casualties, insufficient aid, and escalating suffering. Fowler pointed out that the worsening humanitarian conditions are particularly concerning as residents face winter storms and an increase in respiratory illnesses due to cold weather. He emphasized that children are the most vulnerable, with the Gaza Strip experiencing the highest rates of limb loss among children globally. Despite UNRWA's continued efforts to provide educational and psychosocial support since October 2023, Fowler acknowledged that these measures are inadequate to address the long-term damage. He criticized the restrictions on the registration of organizations, arguing that they complicate humanitarian operations and contravene international law, which obliges Israel to facilitate such efforts. Fowler concluded by emphasizing the urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which was anticipated with the start of the ceasefire. #CT#Politics/CT#