The Israel-Hamas war

The Israel-Hamas war|The reactions  

Norway defies Israel - gives 275 million to UNRWA  

 

Norway goes against Israel and a long line of other countries and gives 275 million kroner to the UN's Palestinian organization Unrwa, VG reports. 

 

 - It is important to quickly get this support in place because several other countries are withdrawing theirs and the need is enormous, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.  

 

The minister calls UNRWA the "backbone of all humanitarian efforts in Gaza". He calls the information that employees participated in the Hamas terrorist attack "shocking", but he adds that Norway's position is that UNRWA and the population of Gaza should not be punished collectively.  

 

Sweden, the USA, Canada, Germany, Great Britain and France are some of the countries that stopped support for UNRWA  

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UN chief: The world is entering an age of chaos 

 

The world is entering an "age of chaos", says UN Secretary-General António Guterres according to AFP. 

 

He points in particular to the deep division within the UN Security Council regarding the Israel-Hamas war. 

 

- This is not the first time the council has been divided, but it is the worst. Today's dysfunction is deeper and more dangerous.  

 

During the Cold War, there were well-established mechanisms to even out the balance between the superpowers - these no longer exist in today's "multipolar world", Guterres adds. 

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Netanyahu rejects Hamas demands - vows 'total victory' 

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects Hamas' latest ceasefire terms, AP reports.  

 

- We are heading for total victory, he says, adding that the only option for Israel is to completely eliminate Hamas - a goal he claims will be achieved within months.  

 

Netanyahu also says IDF forces have been ordered to prepare for fighting in Rafah on the Gaza Strip's southern border, according to AFP.  

 

On Tuesday, Hamas submitted its response to the proposal drawn up by the United States, Israel, Qatar and Egypt. 

 

The terror group put forward a three-step plan for a cease-fire, demanding, among other things, the release of 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli hostages. 

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Blinken: Much remains to be done before a ceasefire can be reached  

 

There remains "a lot of work" before Israel and Hamas can agree on the conditions for a ceasefire, says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to The Guardian.  

 

The flash arrived in Israel yesterday, at the same time that Hamas submitted its response to the new proposal drawn up by the US, Israel, Qatar and Egypt.  

 

According to Egyptian media, negotiations between the parties are ongoing on Wednesday. In its response, Hamas has presented a plan for a ceasefire and exchange of prisoners and hostages in three stages.  

 

Earlier in the day, a senior Israeli official said that Israel will not meet some of the demands made by Hamas in its response. ​