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The United Nations General Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) has adopted a draft resolution titled 'Permanent sovereignty of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources,' with 152 votes in favor, 8 against, and 12 abstentions.The draft resolution reaffirms a set of principles and foundations related to Palestinian natural resources, including the applicability of the Geneva Convention related to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War to the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.The resolution also refers to the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19, 2024, concerning the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and the illegality of Israel's continued presence in the occupied territory. It further recalls the ICJ's advisory opinion on the segregation and expansion wall.The draft resolution expresses deep concern over Israel's exploitation of Palestinian natural resources and the destruction it causes to Palestinian land and agriculture, as well as the widespread devastation of agricultural structures and infrastructure, particularly those related to water and electricity supply, especially in the Gaza Strip. It further highlights the harmful effects of illegal settlements on all aspects of Palestinian life.The draft resolution reaffirms the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their natural resources and calls on the Israeli occupation to cease its exploitation of those resources. It also affirms the right of the Palestinian people to claim compensation for Israel's exploitation of their resources. Moreover, it stresses that the construction of settlements, the separation wall, and other related activities by the occupying power are detrimental to the Palestinian environment.

Her Excellency Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad held a virtual meeting Wednesday with members of the Palestinian government operations room, chaired by Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of Relief Affairs of the State of Palestine.The talks reviewed bilateral cooperation between Qatar and Palestine and addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.Discussions focused on easing the humanitarian suffering of civilians in Gaza, enhancing partnerships in development and knowledge exchange, and coordinating the entry and distribution of aid, particularly ahead of the winter season.The meeting was part of Qatar's ongoing efforts to ensure the effective and sustainable delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Representatives from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and around 48 humanitarian organizations and officials took part in the discussions.Meanwhile, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said that Palestinians in Gaza continue to face tremendous hardship, including dire living conditions and insufficient aid one month after the fragile ceasefire went into effect, pointing out that Palestinians are still being killed and injured by Israeli forces almost every day in the areas close to the yellow line, behind which Israel maintains control.In a statement issued in Geneva, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza Caroline Seguin said, " Palestinians often risk their lives by going back to look for their houses, as this line is still not always clearly marked. To make matters worse, some main hospitals are in areas controlled by Israeli forces, which means safe access to health care is reduced. The Israeli authorities continue to impose significant restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza. MSF and other organizations are struggling to bring vital aid into Gaza, especially medical equipment, shelters, hygiene items, and spare parts for vital infrastructure," she added.Seguin also noted that thousands of displaced people are living in tents lacking water and electricity, surrounded by accumulated waste and outbreaks of skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal diseases, as winter approaches.The organization called for the immediate and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

An organisation representing international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories Monday condemned attacks by Israeli settlers on journalists in the occupied West Bank, urging Israeli authorities to halt the "violence immediately".The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents hundreds of foreign journalists, said it was "appalled" by the recent attacks, especially during this year's olive harvest."Journalists, both local and foreign, have proven to be a clear target as they document an unprecedented level of unchecked violence against Palestinians during this year's olive harvest," the association said, citing two incidents involving journalists from international media outlets.The FPA said that on Saturday two employees of Reuters wearing clearly marked press vests and helmets were assaulted by masked Israeli civilians armed with clubs and rocks near the Palestinian village of Beita."A mob of dozens of settlers beat one of the employees, a female reporter, while she was already on the ground, resulting in severe injuries," the FPA said."They also attacked those who tried to help her. A Reuters security person was hit, and two Palestinian freelance journalists were injured while being chased." On October 10, settlers beat a veteran AFP photographer with sticks when filming the olive harvest in the same area.His car, along with a handful of others parked at a safe distance from the field, was stoned and then set on fire by the assailants."The photographer, who testified it was one of the worst attacks in his 30-year career, reported that Israeli forces at the scene refused to intervene, instead firing rubber bullets and tear gas at olive pickers and activists accompanying them," the FPA said.Several such incidents have occurred in the last few weeks, the FPA added."Israeli forces routinely harass and intimidate journalists, in some cases detaining them and threatening them with deportation," the FPA said."This is all part of a deepening climate of hostility toward the media by Israeli authorities," it added, urging the authorities to investigate the incidents and hold the perpetrators accountable."In particular, we urge central command head Major General Avi Bluth and police commander Moshe Pinchi to uphold their duties to ensure that journalists can work freely and safely," the association said."There cannot be press freedom in an environment in which journalists are threatened and harmed with complete impunity." When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military did not give an immediate response.An AFP journalist serves on the FPA's board of directors.Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and Israeli settlements there are expanding. Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the Palestinian territory and some of them have also attacked farmers trying to access their olive trees almost every day this year since the season began in mid-October, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority.Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities. Violence in the West Bank has soared since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023.

Qatar Charity has announced the arrival of a new batch of Qatari relief aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, in support of the brotherly Palestinian people.In a statement, Qatar Charity said the shipment includes 2,790 shelter tents in addition to essential humanitarian supplies, provided by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Qatar Charity, and the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).**media[379092]**The organisation explained that this batch comes as part of the ongoing aid efforts previously dispatched under the maritime bridge established by Qatar. It reflects Qatar's swift response to urgent humanitarian needs and its continued commitment to alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza.

Two Palestinian workers were wounded on Wednesday after being brutally assaulted by Israeli occupation forces in the town of Al Ram, north of occupied Jerusalem. Security sources told WAFA that the workers, both from the Qalqilya governorate, were attacked during an Israeli military incursion on Al-Ram and their pursuit of workers near the apartheid wall. The two workers were later transferred to the Palestine Medical Complex for medical treatment. In recent months, hundreds of Palestinian workers have been killed, arrested, and abused by the Israeli army and police under the pretext of lacking permits.

Qatar wants the Palestinian Authority (PA) to be the single agency for the Palestinians to take care of Gaza and the West Bank, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani has said. In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, he said there were ongoing talks between all the Palestinian factions, including the Fatah and the PA, in order to make sure that this is a technocratic committee, it’s apolitical.“It will take care of Gaza in this transition period, and it will be linked somehow to the Palestinian Authority, and once the reforms are in place, the Palestinian Authority should take over the governance in Gaza and the West Bank together.”Regarding the role that the international forces in Gaza should play, HE Sheikh Mohammed observed that “there should be a defined mandate”, and Qatar is working together with the US in order to define that mandate. The role of the international forces should be “securing the Palestinians and the Israelis don’t pose a threat to each other”. At the outset, HE the Prime Minister stated that the “Gaza ceasefire is a very complex deal”. And despite the ceasefire - we had even in the previous ceasefire, which was in January - we had a lot of violations and a lot of Palestinians being killed during that ceasefire.Observing that the violations are happening everyday, he said that Qatar, together with Egypt and the US, are working together very closely in order to make sure that the ceasefire stays intact. Regarding Qatar’s history of successfully mediating international conflicts, HE Sheikh Mohammed was of the view that each country needs to contribute something to the international community. “We found that we are able to convene between conflicted parties and understand the grievances between them, and try to address them step by step. And we’ve built a track record of credibility, honesty and transparency with those parties.That’s what makes Qatar a destination for mediation.” Asked about relations with Iran, HE the Prime Minister pointed out that Qatar shares the largest gas field in the world with Iran. “We would like to see Iran flourishing, developing and prospering and, of course, we don’t want to see an arms race in our region. We don’t want to see a nuclear race in our region. That’s why we’ve been supporting diplomacy all the time, and hoped that Iran reached a deal with the US and the Europeans in order to get its nuclear programme under supervision and to make sure that it’s a peaceful programme.”Describing the US as Qatar’s ally, HE Sheikh Mohammed said the relationship has been developing in a lot of areas, not only in security and defence, but also in energy, economy and education, in many aspects. “When you look at the security guarantees that we got from US, this is a guarantee for the US interest as well, which are in the region, which are in Qatar, either it’s about the air base... where we are hosting more than 10,000 US soldiers.” Also referring to the presence of American universities and energy companies in Qatar, he asserted that the security guarantee is just a demonstration of the strategic relationship with the US.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced early Monday the martyrdom of a Palestinian who succumbed to critical wounds he sustained from Israeli gunfire Sunday night in Beit Furik town, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that a 19-year-old youth was shot in the chest with live ammunition during an Israeli raid on Beit Furik, noting that its team performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation while transporting him to the hospital, describing his condition as critical.Cities, towns, and refugee camps across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem continue to witness daily raids and incursions by the Israeli occupation forces, often accompanied by confrontations, arrests, and the firing of live and rubber bullets, as well as toxic tear gas canisters targeting Palestinian civilians. The frequency and intensity of these operations have escalated since the onset of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.

A Palestinian citizen succumbed Saturday to injuries sustained from Israeli sniper fire in Gaza City. Local sources reported that Israeli snipers opened fire on the man on Friday in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, wounding him. His death was confirmed today.This incident occurred as Israeli warplanes launched multiple airstrikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, demolishing homes in eastern Gaza City and Al Bureij refugee camp, in continued violations of the ceasefire agreement.Israel has repeatedly breached the ceasefire, which came into effect on Oct. 10. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli forces carried out intense bombardments targeting homes and tents across the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians, including more than 46 children and 20 women.

A Palestinian man was injured early this morning during an Israeli raid on several neighborhoods in the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. Palestinian news agency (WAFA), citing security sources, reported that Israeli forces stormed the western and eastern parts of the city. Clashes erupted in the western area near An-Najah National University, during which a young man was shot in the foot with live ammunition. Israeli forces raided a house in the Khallat al-Amoud area in the east, searched it, ransacked its contents, and arrested another person, the sources added. Cities, towns, and refugee camps in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem witness daily raids and incursions by Israeli forces. These raids are accompanied by clashes, arrests, and the firing of live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and tear gas at Palestinian. The frequency of these raids has increased in conjunction with the unprecedented and ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023.

Palestinian medical sources announced Wednesday that the total number of dead in the Gaza Strip has risen to 68,643, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli occupation offensive on Oct. 7, 2023. The medical sources added that the number of injured has increased to 170,655 since the beginning of the assault. Many victims remain under the rubble, and ambulance and rescue teams are unable to reach them. They indicated that 104 dead (including 46 children and 40 women) and 253 injured (including 78 children and 84 women) arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals. Meanwhile, the total number of dead and injured since the cease-fire agreement on October 11 has reached 211 dead and 597 injured, and 482 bodies have been recovered.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that more than 25,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have joined the temporary learning spaces established by the agency.UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that with the ceasefire in place, the agency is stepping up its “Back to Learning” program in Gaza, both in person and online. He emphasized that UNRWA will continue to expand the number of these learning locations.Lazzarini added that the agency is also providing online classes aimed at reaching approximately 300,000 children in the Gaza Strip.“Literacy and education are an antidote to despair and trauma,” Lazzarini posted on his official X account, noting that none of this would be possible without the dedication of thousands of UNRWA teachers.

Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinian young men at dawn on Tuesday and seized their bodies in the village of Kafr Qud, west of Jenin.Local sources told the Palestinian news agency (WAFA) that Israeli occupation forces stormed the town with military reinforcements, surrounded an area of agricultural land, and opened live fire at the three young men—whose identities have yet to be determined—killing them and seizing their bodies.Cities, towns, and refugee camps across the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem witness daily raids and incursions by occupation forces and settlers, often accompanied by clashes, arrests, live and rubber bullet fire, as well as the use of tear gas and other toxic gas grenades against Palestinians.