News in Brief 1 February 2024 |

This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

In Gaza lifesaving aid operations are “in peril” amid ongoing Israeli bombardment because of the funding crisis impacting UNWRA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said on Thursday.

Citing “colossal” needs now facing over two million people in the enclave, UNRWA warned that the dire humanitarian situation could get worse, after 16 donor countries cut funding.

The development follows allegations that some UNRWA staff colluded with Hamas during its terror attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, where 1,200 people were butchered and more than 250 taken hostage.

The UN’s highest investigative body is already conducting a probe into the allegations against UNRWA, which plays a key role in Gaza as the largest humanitarian organization there. 

Meanwhile, humanitarians have warned that the exodus of people south has continued unabated in Gaza as they flee Israeli bombardments. They’ve joined the more than 1.4 million people already crammed in the southern governorate of Rafah. 

“Most are living in makeshift structures, tents, or out in the open and now also fear they might no longer receive any food or other humanitarian assistance from UNRWA,” the UN agency said in a statement.

122 journalists killed while reporting on Gaza crisis

Staying with the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 122 journalists have now been killed there and many more injured since the war began last October, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Thursday.

In a call to all parties to do more to protect media professionals, the top rights experts expressed alarm “at the extraordinarily high numbers of journalists and media workers who have been killed, attacked, injured and detained… particularly in Gaza”, in blatant disregard for international law.

The rights experts noted that four Israeli journalists were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, while also highlighting the case of Al-Jazeera journalist, Wael al-Dahdouh, who lost his wife, two children and a grandson during Israeli bombing last October. 

In December, Mr al-Dahdouh also faced a drone attack that killed his cameraman; he then lost another son – also an Al-Jazeera journalist – along with another colleague, when they were killed by an Israeli drone strike last month.

The experts called for full and independent investigations into all killings of journalists, noting that three journalists in Lebanon were also killed during Israeli shelling near the border of Lebanon.

“Targeted attacks and killings of journalists are war crimes,” the experts said.

Volker Türk condemns alleged summary executions in Mali

UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed his shock on Thursday at credible reports alleging that Malian armed forces and foreign military personnel executed at least 25 people last week. 

The alleged massacre happened in Welingara village in the Nara region of central Mali, on 26 January. Some 30 civilians were also reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen in Bandiagara region at the weekend.

In his call for impartial investigations into the allegations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized the need for justice in accordance with international standards. 

Mr. Türk also urged the Malian authorities to ensure that their troops – “as well as their agents or allies” – adhered to human rights law and international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians.

The UN human rights office, OHCHR, has previously verified two other incidents involving the alleged killings of at least 31 civilians by Malian armed forces and “allied foreign military personnel” in the Segou and Gao regions last September and October. 

No official investigations into these incidents have been reported, OHCHR noted.