UN Appeals to Israel on UNRWA

Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Human Rights and Counterterrorism, appealed to Israel to repeal two laws preventing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees from “fulfilling its international mandate to provide humanitarian relief and essential services.”

Saul joined 25 independent UN experts in their initiative, “Peace Starts Here,” stating in a report that “certain provisions in these laws” – which came into effect at the end of last month – may violate international law.

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Hamas: ‘Release Prisoners and We Will Talk’

Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters on Sunday that negotiation talks with Israel through mediators on further steps in a ceasefire agreement are conditional on Palestinian detainees being released as agreed.

Israel claimed its delay of the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees as planned because Hamas didn’t meet the conditions.

Netanyahu’s office added that Israel won’t deliver the 620 Palestinian detainees until the release of the next captives has been assured, and without any handover ceremonies.

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