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Israel's strike on Iran: limited hit, major message

Israel's apparent strike on Iran was deliberately limited in scope but sent a clear warning to the country's leadership about Israeli abilities to strike at sensitive targets.

Tehran refuses to recognise Israel, and for decades the two countries have waged a shadow war marked by covert Israeli operations inside Iran, and Iranian backing for anti-Israel militant groups including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iranians lift up a flag and the mock up of a missile during a celebration following Iran's missiles and drones attack on Israel, on April 15 2024, at Palestine square in central Tehran

'Neutrality' issues found at UN agency for Palestinians, but no terrorism proof

An independent review group on the UN agency for Palestinians found some "neutrality-related issues," its much-anticipated report said Monday, but noted Israel had yet to provide evidence for incendiary allegations that staff were members of terrorist organizations.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) remains "irreplaceable and indispensable to Palestinians' human and economic development" added the 54-page report, which was led by French diplomat Catherine Colonna.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) remains 'irreplaceable and indispensable to Palestinians' human and economic development' said the 54-page report, which was led by French diplomat Catherine Colonna

Review identifies 'neutrality-related issues' in UN agency for Palestinians

An independent review group on the UN agency for Palestinians found "neutrality-related issues" but noted Israel had yet to provide evidence for allegations that a significant number of its staff were members of terrorist organizations.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) remains "irreplaceable and indispensable to Palestinians' human and economic development," added the report, which was headed by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna.

Ismail Wahba, director of the UNRWA Taif School in Rafah, teaches an English class in the library of a school housing displaced Palestinians in Rafah

Gaza health system 'completely obliterated': UN expert

Israel's war in Gaza has from the start been a "war on the right to health" and has "obliterated" the Palestinian territory's health system, a UN expert said on Monday.

Tlaleng Mofokeng, the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to health, accused Israel of treating human rights as an "a la carte menu".

Just days into the war that has been raging in Gaza since Hamas's unprecedented attacks inside Israel on October 7, "the medical infrastructure was irreparably damaged", she told reporters in Geneva.

Israel's siege reduced Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, to rubble and ashes

Nobel laureate urges Iranians to protest 'war against women'

Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi urged Iranians to protest a "full-scale war against women" after authorities intensified a crackdown obliging women to obey the country's Islamic dress code.

Mohammadi, who is held in Tehran's Evin prison, urged Iranian women to share their stories of arrest and sexual assault at the hands of the authorities via her Instagram page.

Mohammadi urged Iranians to report abuses

Israeli military intelligence chief resigns over Hamas attack

Israel's military intelligence chief has resigned after taking responsibility for failures leading to the October Hamas militant attack that triggered months of war, the military said on Monday.

Major General Aharon Haliva said he is still living with that "black day".

For Palestinians in Gaza, Monday was a day of fresh horror. The territory's Civil Defence agency said health workers had uncovered around 200 bodies over the past three days of people killed and buried by Israeli forces at a hospital in Khan Yunis city.

Palestinians walk on a road lined with destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, where intense fighting raged in February 2024

Iran's president in Pakistan to mend ties after January strikes

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi held talks with Pakistani leader Shebaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday, in what experts said was a "significant" visit aimed at mending ties after the neighbours traded deadly cross-border strikes earlier this year.

Prime Minister Sharif's office said the pair had a "vibrant discussion" on advancing bilateral relations -- specifically in trade and communication -- and also "agreed on the necessity for joint efforts by both countries to combat terrorism".

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (C) arrives in Islamabad for talks with Pakistani leaders on Monday

Empty chairs for hostages as Israel at war marks Passover

Jewish people marked Monday the start of Passover, a celebration of freedom, and around many holiday tables in Israel chairs stood empty for hostages still held captive in Gaza.

The week-long Jewish festival, also known in Hebrew as the "holiday of freedom", celebrates the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery, as told in the Bible.

Passover is traditionally observed with a seder: a holiday feast when families eat symbolic foods and read the Haggadah.

An Ultra-Orthodox Jew prepares Matzoth, unleavened bread, at a Jerusalem bakery on the eve of Passover

Two injured in Jerusalem car ramming attack, suspects arrested

Two civilians were injured in a car ramming attack in Jerusalem on Monday morning, Israeli police said, adding that they had arrested two suspects after an hours-long search.

The incident occurred on Techelet Mordechai street in Jerusalem on a day when Israeli Jews marked the start of the Passover holidays.

"A short time ago, a report was received that two civilians had been run over on Techelet Mordechai Street in Jerusalem, resulting in minor injuries," the police said in a statement.

Israeli police detain a man at the site of a reported ramming attack in Jerusalem

Doner diplomacy: German president takes kebab chef on Turkey trip

Accompanied by a Berlin kebab chef, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier kicked off a delicate visit to Turkey Monday, hailing strong ties between Germans and Turks despite Berlin's difficult relationship with his Turkish counterpart.

Steinmeier, who is visiting Turkey for the first time since becoming president, has had a tricky relationship with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The German head of state has been quick to call out Erdogan's approach towards Israel and has previously raised concerns about the erosion of democratic norms in Turkey.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier walks in Istanbul at the start of his three-day visit to Turkey