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Over 376,000 Palestinians returned to north Gaza wasteland since Israel-Hamas truce agreement.
Crowds of displaced Palestinians made the arduous journey back to heavily destroyed northern Gaza for a third day Wednesday, under a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire is aimed at ending the war and seeing the release of dozens of Israeli and hundreds of Palestinian captives.
More than 376,000 Palestinians displaced by the war between Israel and Hamas have returned to northern Gaza, the UN’s humanitarian body OCHA said Tuesday.
Palestinians in Gaza report they were happy to return, even though their homes are likely damaged or destroyed, while many have lost numerous loved ones in Israeli bombing
Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain have told the UN Security Council they “deeply deplore” Israel’s decision to shut down UNRWA’s operations in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In a joint statement, they condemned Israel’s withdrawal from its 1967 agreement with UNRWA and any efforts to obstruct its UN-mandated work.
The group also called for the suspension of Israeli laws banning the agency, arguing they violate international law and the UN Charter.
Reaffirming their humanitarian commitment, the countries stressed their support for UNRWA and the protection of international law.
Germany is preparing to deploy border management experts to Gaza’s southern Rafah Crossing with Egypt, according to a report by the DPA news agency.
To facilitate the move, the German government plans to amend a 2005 cabinet decision that previously restricted deployments to unarmed personnel.
The amendment would allow the deployment of Germany’s armed forces, citing heightened security risks in Gaza.
The mission could be part of the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah), which is set to resume operations after years of suspension.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Italy, Spain, and France are the first EU nations sending personnel to assist with managing the Rafah Crossing, which is expected to reopen soon.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Egypt’s foreign minister on Tuesday it was important to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza again, the State Department said, with their call coming after President Donald Trump suggested Egypt and Jordan should take more Palestinians.
“He (Rubio) also reinforced the importance of holding Hamas accountable,” the State Department said after Tuesday’s call.
“The Secretary reiterated the importance of close cooperation to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again.”
Rubio held a call a day earlier with Jordan’s King Abdullah and the US statement after that call, too, did not mention Trump’s remarks on Palestinian displacement.
Trump on Saturday floated a plan to “clean out” Gaza, where Israel’s war has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, in comments that echoed long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes.
![The new Secretary of State Marco Rubio scrapped most foreign aid [Getty]](https://www.newarab.com/sites/default/files/2194552394.jpeg)
The latest casualty was reported in Irtah, south of Tulkarem, where 23-year-old Ayman Naji was killed yesterday during an Israeli raid, according to Al Jazeera English.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces demolished the home of a Palestinian suspect killed in an attack that left an Israeli dead in November 2023.
Another home, belonging to a Palestinian declared wanted by Israel, was also blown up in the Tulkarem refugee camp.
For the second consecutive week, Israeli forces have been carrying out a large-scale operation in Jenin, which expanded to Tulkarem three days ago.
Raids continue to force more families from their homes, with local officials estimating that over 1,000 Palestinians have been displaced.
Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank has left 884 Palestinians dead, 7,370 wounded, and at least 14,400 detained, according to the latest reports.
New Arab