what to remember from Wednesday January 31

The Israeli army launched new strikes on the Gaza Strip and engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas, particularly in the town of Khan Younes.

Fighting continues in the Gaza Strip. Nearly four months after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, half of the structures in the Palestinian enclave are damaged or destroyed, warns a report from United Nations Conference on Trade and Development published Wednesday January 31. Franceinfo summarizes what to remember from the day.

New strikes on the Gaza Strip

The Israeli army launched new deadly strikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday and engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas. On the front, ground fighting and Israeli aerial bombardments left 150 dead in 24 hours, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. The fighting is concentrated in Khan Younes, a town in the south of the Gaza Strip, largely destroyed and now the epicenter of the battle.

According to witnesses, artillery fire targeted the Nasser hospital, where thousands of civilians are taking refuge. Staff at al-Amal Hospital also reported fighting nearby. The situation “worse in these two hospitals” of Khan Younes, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health, saying they fear “the death of several injured”.

The Gaza Strip has become “uninhabitable”, according to the UN

“New data indicates that 50% of structures in Gaza are [endommagées ou] destroyed.” This is the observation made by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. According to a report released Wednesday by the organization, it will take tens of billions of dollars to make the Gaza Strip livable again.

The Palestinian enclave iscurrently “uninhabitable”insists Rami Alazzeh, co-author of the report. The population in Gaza “starving” And “is pushed to the brink”for his part alerted a World Health Organization official on Wednesday.

The United Nations is alarmed by the suspension of UNRWA funding

“Withdrawal of funds from UNRWA is perilous and would lead to the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza, which would have far-reaching consequences”warned several heads of several United Nations agencies. Twelve countries have suspended funding to the Palestinian refugee agency after Israel accused some of its employees of being involved in the deadly October 7 attacks.

Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, reaffirmed his accusations against the agency. UNRWA “is totally infiltrated by Hamas”And “we need other UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations” in his place, said the Israeli Prime Minister.