Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has banned the country’s mosques from broadcasting azaan.
Ben-Gvir said police needed “to address and enforce the issue of noise in mosques”.
It is pertinent to mention that about 14 per cent of Israel’s population is Muslim.
Following this development, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned this act.
UN halts aid to Gaza
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has paused the delivery of aid through the key Karem Abu Salem crossing, between Israel and Gaza because of security concerns.
“We are pausing the delivery of aid through Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid into Gaza. The road out of this crossing has not been safe for months. On 16 November, a large convoy of aid trucks was stolen by armed gangs,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said.
Louise Wateridge, the UNRWA emergency officer, told Al Jazeera that the targeting of aid convoys has been happening since May.
“That has led to desperation of people, who don’t have what they need and it has led and forced criminal activities,” she stressed.
As the cold and rainy winter sets in, the decision could make things worse for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on foreign food aid in Gaza.
According to reports, the White House is working on a ceasefire and captive release deal for Gaza but the agreement is “not there yet”.
At least 10 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops in an attack on Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. This brings the total number of deaths from attacks on Sunday to 34.
Israel has been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war as it has restricted supplies of food, medicine and other essential items into Gaza since launching the war last October.
Almost 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in nonstop Israeli bombardment since then.
