Abbas, Putin meet in Moscow

Palestine’s President Mahmoud has met Putin in Moscow where he reiterated his rejection of all attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land, according to the Wafa news agency. The report, quoting the Kremlin, said that “the Palestinian people are holding onto their land, and we categorically oppose attempts by the Americans and Israelis to expatriate Palestinians beyond Palestinian territory. The Palestinian people are resolved that they will not abandon their land, whatever the cost”. It added that Putin “affirmed Moscow’s principled and consistent approach” to the Palestinian question.

How Israel moved to shut down UNRWA in occupied East Jerusalem

Israel has steadily moved to dismantle the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in occupied East Jerusalem with Israeli forces now using bulldozers inside its headquarters compound.

According to UNRWA, here’s a timeline of key developments:

• May 9, 2024: An arson attack targets UNRWA’s headquarters in East Jerusalem with Israelis setting fire to the perimeter, forcing a temporary closure.
• October 28, 2024: Israel’s parliament passes legislation banning UNRWA operations inside what it defines as sovereign Israeli territory, a designation Israeli authorities apply to East Jerusalem.
• January 30, 2025: Anti-UNRWA laws enter into force, prompting UNRWA to vacate its East Jerusalem compound over staff safety concerns.
• April 8: Israeli authorities issue closure orders for six UNRWA schools in East Jerusalem.
• May 8: Israeli forces and officials enforce the closures, ending in-person education for about 800 Palestinian children.
• December 8: Israeli police forcibly enter UNRWA’s headquarters compound in East Jerusalem, remove the UN flag and seize property.
• December 29: Israel’s parliament passes amendments allowing authorities to cut water, electricity, fuel and communications to UNRWA facilities and seize land where two UNRWA compounds are located, including its headquarters.
• January 12: Israeli police forcibly enter UNRWA’s Jerusalem Health Centre, ordering its closure for 30 days and notifying staff of upcoming utility cuts.
• January 20: Israeli forces accompanied by bulldozers begin demolishing structures inside UNRWA’s headquarters compound in East Jerusalem.

Gaza death toll rises

The Palestinian Health Ministry says 11 bodies and seven wounded people were brought to hospitals across the enclave in the past 48 hours. It added that “a number of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defence teams have been unable to reach them at this time”. According to the ministry, since the October 10 ceasefire, 477 Palestinians have been killed and 1,301 injured, while 713 bodies have been recovered. Cumulative figures since October 7, 2023, stand at 71,562 killed and 171,379 wounded, the ministry said.

UN says 230,000 women, girls face health service crisis

More than 230,000 girls and women, including nearly 15,000 pregnant women, in Gaza are facing limited access to reproductive health services because of Israeli military operations despite a ceasefire deal, the UN has said. The spokesperson for the UN chief cited the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which warned that “there is an increased risk of gender-based violence, child marriage, and exploitation of women and girls”. Stephane Dujarric added that damage to health facilities, safe spaces and clinics, combined with displacement and flooding, has “sharply limited access to psychosocial support and medical care”.