Clashes broke out on Wednesday at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles, as dozens of universities around the United States struggle to contain similar protests.

Protesters and counter-protesters were seen clashing with sticks, and tearing down metal barricades, TV footage showed.

Others were seen launching fireworks or hurling objects at each other in the dark -- lit up with laser pointers and bright flashlights. Tear smoke was also fired at rival protesters, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.

Hundreds of university students in Lebanon protested on Tuesday against Israel's bombardment of Gaza, inspired by recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have rocked US and European campuses, AFP correspondents said.

Dozens of students gathered at the prestigious American University of Beirut (AUB), some wearing the traditional Arab keffiyeh scarf that has long been a symbol of the Palestinian cause, an AFP photographer said.

"We are Palestine's neighbours. If we do not stand with them today, who will?" asked AUB student Zeina, 23, declining to provide her surname.

McDonald's reported a modest increase in quarterly profits Tuesday despite a boycott stemming from the Middle East conflict expected to drag on sales for the foreseeable future.

While the boycott is not "getting worse," Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski does not have a timeframe for a return to normal conditions.

"We're not expecting to see any meaningful improvement in the impact... until the war is over," he told analysts on a conference call.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Tuesday that $267 million in its funding was still suspended over allegations some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The accusations in January led to many donors freezing some $450 million in funding at a time when Gaza's 2.3 million people are in dire need of food, water, shelter and medicine.

Many countries have since resumed their donations, while others have not -- including the United States, which passed a law blocking funding until at least March 2025.

An Abu Dhabi-backed group planning to take over Britain's Telegraph Media Group (TMG) said Tuesday it will withdraw and sell on the business after the UK government moved to block the deal.

RedBird IMI, a joint venture between US firm RedBird Capital and Abu Dhabi's International Media Investments, struck a £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) deal with TMG's previous owners, the Barclay family, in November.

Top US diplomat Antony Blinken on Tuesday urged Hamas to accept a truce in Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to launch a military offensive on Rafah "with or without" a deal.

The hawkish premier issued the warning despite strong concerns raised by top ally Washington and hours before Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Israel on his latest Middle East crisis tour.

Netanyahu, who has vowed to destroy Hamas over its October 7 attack, said stopping the war "before achieving all of its goals is out of the question".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday saw off a first convoy of Jordanian aid trucks to famished Gaza through a crossing newly opened by Israel, as he pointed to progress but called for more.

Blinken toured a loading zone for the relief goods on the dusty outskirts of Amman before flying to Israel, where he said he would insist on further humanitarian access in talks on Wednesday.

Hamas was studying Tuesday Israel's offer of a 40-day truce in the war in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of scores of hostages held since the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attacks.

Returning to Qatar after the latest talks in Cairo, the Hamas delegation said it would "discuss the ideas and the proposal... we are keen to respond as quickly as possible," a Hamas source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Egyptian sources told Al-Qahera News, a site linked to Egyptian intelligence services, that the Hamas delegation would "return with a written response".

When Saif Ali fled Iraq last year to escape threats and abuse over his sexual orientation, he always dreamed of someday returning.

But a homecoming has become impossible after Iraq's parliament passed an anti-LGBTQ bill on Saturday that criminalises same-sex relations, carrying sentences of 10 to 15 years in prison.

"After the law, it has become impossible for me to even visit (Iraq). This is what breaks my heart," said 26-year-old Ali.

The United States said Monday it opposed the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into Israel's conduct in Gaza, amid reports that Israeli officials fear the Hague-based tribunal could soon issue arrest warrants.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised the issue with US President Joe Biden in a call at the weekend.

"We've been really clear about the ICC investigation, that we don't support it, we don't believe that they have the jurisdiction," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing.