Middle East Crisis Ceasefire

Criticism of the government: Leave my brother in Gaza, bring home the ones who are alive

Danny Elgarat's brother is among the 33 hostages to be released by Hamas in the current phase of the ceasefire. At a hearing in the Israeli parliament, he demands that his brother and the other seven dead be left in Gaza, Israeli media reports.

-Leave the remains and bring home the ones who are alive, he says according to the Jerusalem Post.

Elgarat sharply criticizes the government for the ceasefire being delayed so long that many of the hostages have already died.

- Who should be held accountable for the decisions that have caused the deaths of 40 hostages? he says according to the Times of Israel.

Another relative on site, Hanna Cohen, protests Elgarat's proposal.

- We need to bring home the remains too. Speak for yourself, she says according to the Jerusalem Post.

Israel cuts all contact with UN refugee agency

Israel is cutting all contact with the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa. The country's UN ambassador said on Tuesday, AFP reported.

Israel has previously accused Unrwa of being infiltrated by the terrorist group Hamas and demanded that the organization end all its activities in East Jerusalem, according to the New York Times.

Unrwa head Philippe Lazzarini calls the decision a "relentless attack" on the organization, which plays a central role in providing food aid, healthcare and schools to Palestinians in the occupied territories.

- This erodes Palestinians' trust in the international community and jeopardizes all prospects for peace and security, says Philippe Lazzarini according to AFP.