By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. Human Rights Chief called on Wednesday for renewed efforts to bring a permanent end to hostilities in Lebanon, as Israeli air strikes continue despite an agreed ceasefire.

High Commissioner for the Office of Human Rights Volker Turk said 103 civilians had been killed in the last 10 months.

"We are still seeing devastating impacts of jet and drone strikes in residential areas, as well as near U.N. peacekeepers in the south," Turk said.

By Olivia Le Poidevin

GENEVA (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of families left homeless after a powerful earthquake in Afghanistan urgently need shelter as winter approaches, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Wednesday.

The 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck on the night of August 31 into September 1, killing more than 2,200 people and destroying more than 8,000 homes, according to the IFRC.

Israeli naval forces on Wednesday intercepted a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, ending its latest bid to break an Israeli blockade of the war-battered Palestinian territory.

The Israeli military operation was announced by both the flotilla itself and the Israeli foreign ministry.

The Global Sumud Flotilla -- involving around 45 vessels carrying politicians and activists including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg -- left Spain last month, aiming to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory, where the UN says famine has set in.

By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jonathan Spicer

ANKARA (Reuters) -A rash of Russian violations of NATO airspace last month has prompted some allies to recall Turkey's swift and deadly response a decade ago, when it shot down a Russian fighter jet that had crossed over its southern border.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said in an X post that Turkey "set an example 10 years ago" for NATO as she urged stronger action in the face of Russia's "tests" today.

US President Donald Trump has signed an order vowing to defend key ally Qatar against attacks, the White House said Wednesday, in an extraordinary move following Israeli strikes on the Gulf state last month.

The Israeli strike angered Washington and spurred Trump to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into accepting a Gaza peace deal this week -- and apologizing personally to Qatar.

ANKARA (Reuters) -President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey will not allow Syria's fragmentation or harm to its territorial integrity if diplomacy to implement an integration deal between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and Syria's government fails.

"We have engaged all channels of diplomacy both to preserve Syria's territorial integrity and prevent a terrorist structure from forming across our borders. We continue to use these channels with patience, sincerity, and common sense," Erdogan told an event to mark parliament's re-opening.

By Ali Sawafta and Suleiman Al-Khalidi

RAMALLAH (Reuters) -Driven out of Gaza two decades ago by Hamas, strapped for cash and headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority's hopes of running a future Palestinian state have long seemed bleak.

Its prospects, however, appeared to brighten briefly on Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to end the Gaza war that hinted at a future role for the PA and its 89-year-old leader President Mahmoud Abbas, who hasn't faced an election since 2005.

A flotilla bound for Gaza with aid for the war-battered Palestinian territory said on Wednesday that it would continue its course despite what it called "intimidation tactics" by the Israeli military.

The flotilla of some 45 vessels carrying activists and politicians, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg and Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla Mandela, departed Spain last month with the aim of breaking the blockade on Gaza, where the UN has said there is a famine.

ROME (Reuters) -Italy and Greece on Wednesday called on Israel not to hurt activists aboard an international flotilla, which is bracing for Israeli action to prevent it from delivering aid to Gaza.

"(We) are calling on the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety and security of the participants and to allow for all consular protection measures," the two countries said in a joint statement issued by their respective foreign ministers.

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -It is highly unlikely that UN peacekeeping forces will be deployed in Ukraine or Gaza given the compositionoftheUnited Nations Security Council, a senior Indian defence ministry official said on Wednesday.

The official, Vishwesh Negi, was speaking at a press conference of the conclave of army chiefs of United Nations troop contributing countries in New Delhi.

He was replying to questions about the possibility of deployment of UN peacekeepers in Ukraine and Gaza.