Gaza, Hamas opens up to peacekeepers. Unrwa denounces: children in harsh conditions

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Afp that the Palestinian Islamist movement is open to international peacekeeping forces in Gaza, but rejected any interference in the territory's "internal affairs". "Our position on international forces is clear: we want peacekeeping forces to monitor the ceasefire, ensure its implementation and act as a cushion between the occupation army and our people in the Gaza Strip, without interfering in Gaza's internal affairs," Qassem said.

Meanwhile in the Strip, the living and humanitarian conditions of the children are 'incredibly harsh'. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) made the appeal. "The humanitarian situation throughout Gaza remains dire," the agency said in a note, "exacerbated by restrictions on humanitarian access. Guaranteeing them the right to education is not just an option, but an absolute necessity to help them overcome the tragedies of war and build their future'. Unrwa stated that it continues to provide essential services to the displaced, including health care, education, shelter, food assistance and protection services, through its network and extensive field presence. However, 'the scale of the needs far exceeds what is currently being provided,' it said, reiterating its call for the lifting of Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access. According to Unicef, children account for about half of the nearly two million displaced people in Gaza, who have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety and shelter elsewhere in the Strip since the Israeli military operation began in October. Of these, some 17,000 have been orphaned.