UN Agencies ‘Alarmed’ at Scale of Jenin Raid, Concerned About Access 

An Israeli armored vehicle fires tear gas during an ongoing military operation in Jenin city in the occupied West Bank on July 4, 2023. (AFP)
An Israeli armored vehicle fires tear gas during an ongoing military operation in Jenin city in the occupied West Bank on July 4, 2023. (AFP)
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UN Agencies ‘Alarmed’ at Scale of Jenin Raid, Concerned About Access 

An Israeli armored vehicle fires tear gas during an ongoing military operation in Jenin city in the occupied West Bank on July 4, 2023. (AFP)
An Israeli armored vehicle fires tear gas during an ongoing military operation in Jenin city in the occupied West Bank on July 4, 2023. (AFP)

UN aid agencies on Tuesday voiced alarm at the scale of the ongoing operation in the West Bank town of Jenin, where ten Palestinians have been killed, and said there were restrictions on medical access.

"We are alarmed at the scale of air and ground operations that are taking place in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, and airstrikes hitting a densely populated refugee camp," Vanessa Huguenin, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, told a briefing.

She said three children were among those killed, without providing details.

"First responders have been prevented from entering the (Jenin) refugee camp, including to reach persons who have been critically injured," said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier, referring to restrictions put in place by Israeli forces.



International Call Made for Sudanese Army, RSF to Hold Indirect Negotiations

Sudanese people fled Sennar towards the city of Gadarif (AFP)
Sudanese people fled Sennar towards the city of Gadarif (AFP)
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International Call Made for Sudanese Army, RSF to Hold Indirect Negotiations

Sudanese people fled Sennar towards the city of Gadarif (AFP)
Sudanese people fled Sennar towards the city of Gadarif (AFP)

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced its initial consent to an invitation by the United Nations to hold indirect talks with the Sudanese army over the humanitarian situation in the country.

The negotiations are expected to take place next week in Geneva, but the army made no statement on the matter.

A member of the RSF negotiating team told Asharq Al-Awsat that the forces welcomed the invitation of UN Special Envoy Ramtane Lamamra to hold a series of indirect discussions over the humanitarian conditions in the country.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that the RSF “accepted, in principle, any call that aims to alleviate the sufferings of the Sudanese people,” without taking into account statements made by Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan about his rejection to talks that would lead to ending the war.

Speaking on Tuesday in a military air base, Al-Burhan said that his army would not succumb to any blackmail through negotiations that put its authority and will at stake and do not meet the people’s aspirations.

Last week, the UN called on the Sudanese army and the RSF to hold indirect talks, to review the means to facilitate the access of aid to the war-stricken population and protect civilians.

Lamamra addressed a letter to Burhan, on June 26, in which he proposed sending a high-raking delegation to Geneva on July 10 to start discussions with the RSF, under UN auspices.

His step comes in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2736, which “calls on the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.”