Israel and U.S. are set to discuss the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire plan on 29 December according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
Reportedly, the talks will focus on the implementation of future steps and the international stabilisation force outlined in the truce.
Speaking on the upcoming meeting, Shosh Bedrosian, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said, “We cannot forget how we got here," adding, "the third phase of this plan will be focused on the de-radicalisation of the Gaza Strip.”
The announcement comes as humanitarian efforts in Gaza continue.
Tensions escalated further on Monday when Israeli authorities entered the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency’s (UNRWA) East Jerusalem offices.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the raid.
“This compound remains United Nations premises and is inviolable and immune from any other form of interference,” he said.
“I urge Israel to immediately take all necessary steps to restore, preserve and uphold the inviolability of UNRWA premises and to refrain from taking any further action with regard to UNRWA premises,” Guterres added.
In response, the Jerusalem municipality said tax collectors had entered the UNRWA compound over unpaid property taxes of 11 million shekels ($3.4 million). It was noted that multiple warnings were issued to the UNWRA office and all necessary procedures were followed before the raid.
UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler said the East Jerusalem compound remained U.N. premises (despite the Israeli ban on its operations) and that the agency had no debts to the municipality.
According to Fowler, the UN had reached out to Israeli authorities repeatedly as a reminder of their obligations under a UN convention to which Israel is a signatory.
Spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian did not answer any questions regarding the raid, instead reiterating Israel’s criticism of the organisation.
"There is a direct connection between UNRWA and Hamas inside of the Gaza Strip, with nearly every terrorist that crossed into Israeli territory to commit genocidal acts against our people on October 7, in fact, an UNRWA school graduate," he concluded.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said, via a post on the X platform, that the move by Israel could create "a dangerous precedent anywhere else the UN is present across the world."
He added that during the raid police motorcycles, trucks, and forklifts were brought in and communications were cut. IT equipment, furniture and other property had been seized.
According to the organisation, UNRWA has not used the building since earlier this year after Israel ordered it to vacate all premises and cease its operations.
Italy's aid
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry of Italy reported that it has evacuated 17 Palestinians, including several children, for medical treatment in Italian hospitals.
The first of three Air Force aircraft were due to land Monday evening, transferring patients to facilities in Rome, Turin, and Pisa.
According to the ministry, this marks Italy’s 17th evacuation mission since the start of the Gaza emergency, demonstrating “continuity, commitment and responsibility.”
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A senior official at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said on Wednesday that roughly 6% of U.S. air travellers are not presenting identification that meets stricter federal standards, as the agency prepares to start charging passengers without enhanced ID a $45 fee from 1 February.
The United States is placing renewed emphasis on regional partnerships that offer predictability, security cooperation and economic continuity as instability deepens across the Middle East and parts of Eurasia
A fire alarm prompted the partial evacuation of the Davos Congress Centre on Wednesday evening while Donald Trump was inside the building attending the World Economic Forum, Swiss authorities said.
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