Gaza: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced on Thursday that more than 61 million tons of debris have accumulated in the Gaza Strip as a result of over two years of conflict with Israel. The devastation has left entire neighborhoods in ruins, forcing families to search the remains for basic necessities like water and shelter.

According to Philippines News Agency, UNRWA has emphasized its commitment to continuing its humanitarian mission and providing lifesaving assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza, despite the ongoing Israeli blockade and restrictions on aid stocks. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed that the agency has enough medicine, essential supplies, and food to support the entire Gaza population for the next three months.

In a significant political development, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, voted in October 2024 to block UNRWA operations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. This decision was based on allegations of the agency’s involvement in attacks by Palestinian group Hamas on October 7, 2023. However, the International Court of Justice refuted Israel’s claims on Wednesday, stating that there was no substantial evidence proving that a significant portion of UNRWA employees are members of Hamas or were involved in the attacks.

The court’s ruling further highlighted Israel’s obligations under the Geneva Convention to facilitate relief provided by third states and impartial humanitarian organizations, including UNRWA and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to ensure adequate aid reaches the Gaza Strip.

Since October 2023, the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 68,000 deaths and more than 170,000 injuries, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. A ceasefire agreement, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump, took effect on October 10.