Israel's large-scale military operation Wednesday in the occupied West Bank "risks seriously deepening the already catastrophic situation" in the Palestinian territory, the United Nations said.
"Israel, as the occupying power, must abide by its obligations under international law," UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
At least nine Palestinians were killed on Wednesday, Palestinian authorities said, as Israeli forces raided the flashpoint cities of Jenin and Tulkarm as well as other areas in the occupied West Bank in a major operation involving helicopters and drones. The assault, one of the largest seen in the West Bank for months, followed a series of smaller raids in the area over recent weeks as Israeli forces sought to crush groups of fighters from Palestinian militant groups.
The United Nations said Wednesday that a UN humanitarian vehicle was struck by Israeli military gunfire on Tuesday evening as it took part in a convoy in Gaza that was coordinated with the IDF.
"A clearly marked UN humanitarian vehicle, part of a convoy that had been fully coordinated with the IDF was struck 10 times by IDF gunfire, including with bullets targeting front windows," UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, adding that the two occupants were unharmed.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) temporarily suspended movements across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after it said one of its clearly marked vehicles was struck by at least 10 bullets while approaching an Israeli military checkpoint.
WFP said in a statement that the convoy of two armored vehicles had received "multiple clearances by Israeli authorities to approach" the checkpoint at the Wadi Gaza bridge on Tuesday evening. No one in the vehicle struck was hurt.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has agreed to a temporary truce to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach the damaged Greek-flagged crude oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea, Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said on Wednesday.
"Several countries have reached out to ask Ansarullah (the Houthis), requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area," Iran's UN mission said. "In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansarullah has consented to this request."
