US rejects Hamas, UNRWA roles in Gaza as Israeli aid blockade persists

UNRWA, according to US Ambassador Marco Rubio, is “not going to play any role” in Gaza’s aid delivery, and he also refutes the possibility that Hamas will be a part of any future Israeli government.

The US secretary of state claimed that UNRWA had become “a subsidiary of Hamas,” in line with an Israeli government position that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has discredited. She made this claim during a press conference while on a Friday trip to Israel.

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UNRWA reacted by insisting that its presence “remains vital to meeting urgent humanitarian needs” throughout the bombarded and starved enclave, where more than 68, 000 Palestinians have been killed by an Israeli offensive in the past two years.

The organization added that the ICJ has acknowledged that “no organization can replace the UNRWA’s role in supporting the people of Gaza” in a statement published on X.

Rubio’s characterization was also refuted by Farhan Haq, the UN Secretary-General’s deputy spokesperson. He told UN reporters, “You’ve already heard us talk about how UNRWA is not connected to Hamas.” The foundation of our humanitarian operations in Gaza is UNRWA.

After accusing some of its employees of participating in the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 without providing any evidence, Israel forbade the organization from operating.

Nour Odeh, a journalist for Al Jazeera, described Rubio’s declaration that UNRWA was a “subsidiary” as “quite shocking” and “devastating” for UNRWA and all those involved in Gaza.

The ICJ and two independent commissions of inquiry exonerated UNRWA, according to Odeh, and it also has the largest, most comprehensive aid system in Gaza.

She said, “It has thousands of employees and has the knowledge to give Palestinians aid in a timely manner and with dignity.”

In Gaza, “nobody has that kind of history and infrastructure.”

Israel has continued to launch attacks across Gaza in spite of a US-mediated ceasefire that began earlier this month and kept the Rafah crossing close to Egypt closed, preventing the large-scale aid deliveries mandated by the agreement.

Rubio said on Friday that he hoped to set up a global security force soon to enshrine the ceasefire in Gaza and that Israel, which opposes Turkiye, could veto participants.

Rubio said the force will need to include nations that Israel is “comfortable with.”

After largely indirect involvement, NATO member Turkiye, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s occupation of Gaza, has mediated the ceasefire negotiations. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump met last month at the White House, and their increased role followed.

Erdogan stated on Friday that the task force is still in discussion and that “the methods are not yet clear.”

He declared, “We are ready to offer Gaza any form of support on this issue.”

The largest Muslim-majority state in the world, Indonesia, has stated that it is prepared to send troops to Gaza.

The United Arab Emirates has already participated in ceasefire monitoring, having already resumed relations with Israel in 2020.

Palestinians who have fled Gaza City have seen tents being used by displaced people amid destroyed buildings as a result of Israeli attacks, according to a drone view from Gaza City on October 24, 2025.

“Daily struggle for survival”

The main Palestinian factions, including the PA, announced on Friday that they had agreed to have an independent committee of technocrats take control of Gaza, despite Rubio claiming that any potential role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) has not yet been determined.

A temporary Palestinian committee made up of independent “technocrats” who will oversee daily life and basic services in collaboration with Arab brothers and international organizations, was agreed during a meeting in Cairo.

All Palestinian factions agree on a “unified vision,” according to Husam Badran, the head of Hamas’s national relations and political bureaucrat.

The 2.1 million people who have largely been displaced in Gaza have remained severely affected by the situation there.

Homes are still destroyed, bodies are still trapped beneath the rubble, according to Mahmoud Basal, the civil defense spokesperson in Gaza, and roads are blocked by debris.

He claimed that teams are still operating “with almost no resources” despite the “dragon of destruction” that has been felt throughout the Strip.

After one building abruptly collapsed on Palestinians in Gaza City, the civil defense warned residents to stay away from buildings that have been damaged by Israeli bombings in a separate statement.

A woman sorts through her belongings next to a tent
Hiba al-Yazji has been forced to flee several times as a result of Israel’s occupation of Gaza. [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]

Many families in northern Gaza have chosen to go back to their homes because of a “daily struggle for survival,” according to Hani Mahmoud of Al Jazeera.

He claimed that people are only returning to the “skeletons of these buildings” when reporting from Gaza City.

We’ve seen people searching for flour, lentils, or some canned food for hours, sometimes days, to survive these difficult circumstances because there is nothing inside, no access to water, or food supplies.

As aid levels remain significantly below what the ceasefire agreement requires, according to Haq, Israel must permit entry of “more]aid trucks at more crossing points.

He claimed that there has never been a time since the ceasefire’s implementation that 600 UN trucks have reportedly entered Gaza, the most frequently required daily transportation for Palestinians there.

The aid flow into Gaza has decreased significantly, according to the World Health Organization, and there has also been no discernible decrease in hunger.

According to WHO’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “the situation continues to be catastrophic because what is entering is not enough.”

Paloma Faith’s whirlwind romance after bitter split as she announces pregnancy

Paloma Faith, the star of the singer and celebrity traitors, just months after going public with her new boyfriend, is pregnant.

Paloma Faith stunned her fans on Friday as she announced she is pregnant with her third child at the age of 44. The sweet announcement comes three years after she split from the father of her first two children and months after going public with her new flame.

The singer and star of this series’ The Celebrity Traitors took to social media to announce the exciting news, labelling it a “plot twist”. Calling herself an “OAP Milf,” Paloma revealed she is 18 weeks pregnant as she showed off her growing baby bump.

And the news shocked her followers, who were quick to share their delight in the comments section. The news was far from expected, following Paloma’s bitter break up from ex-husband Leyman Lahcine.

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Before splitting in 2022, the pair had been together for ten years. She cited the situation as proof that the two simply didn’t “grow together” as parents.

She said, “You either grow together, adapting to one another like expandable foam and filling the gaps where it’s empty, or one person grows and the other stays the same.”

For the first time in my life, I needed more than nothing, and the expandable foam simply wasn’t there, because becoming a mother was such a massively life-changing experience.

She continued, “Our relationship ended because of those kids.” And I believe it was worthwhile.

After going public with Stevie Thomas’ new partner in March, Paloma has obviously moved on. At a post-British Awards party, the couple caught up with one another. The couple had been dating for a year before becoming widely known, according to a report from The Sun at the time.

According to a source, “Stevie and Paloma are absolutely in love with each other, but she’s been telling people that their relationship is also the healthiest ever.” She adores how tall he is over her because he’s 6’6″.

He’s a great communicator and has a lot of heart, but it’s also sexy and exciting.

In a chat with Vogue Williams a few months later, Paloma raved about her “posh” new boyfriend. Paloma and Vogue, 39, discussed the men in their lives while they were airing on the Mad, Sad and Bad podcast.

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After Vogue discussed Spencer Matthews’ appeal, Paloma responded, “Yes, but I’ve got a posh boyfriend.” I’m sleeping with the enemy while I’m dating one.

The singer has frequently spoken about her raised in Hackney, London, and working-class background. She made fun of the fact that she had just begun dating a Birmingham music venue’s director. She joked, “I’m thinking about it more like a social experiment.”

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Fernandes Turned Down Saudi Offer To Pursue Man Utd Dreams

Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he prefers to pursue his Manchester United aspirations over a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

In Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton at Old Trafford, United captain Fernandes will make his 300th appearance for the club.

United have struggled for a lot of Fernandes’ time in Manchester, finishing 15th last season, which was the club’s worst final top-flight position since 1973-74.

Additionally, they lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final, which also undermined their chances of making it to the Champions League.

When Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal reportedly expressed interest, Fernandes was given a means of escape during the off-season.

He jest, however, and the 20-time English champions, who last won the title in 2013, rejected the move to concentrate on unfinished business.

“We always say we have an offer from Saudi because, after all, they must come wherever I am.” He said in response to his wife Ana and his family, “They can choose not to, but I’d prefer them to come.”

“And obviously, she said, “Are you successful at the club?” because she is aware of my absence.

Fernandes has occasionally received criticism for having too much emotion on the pitch and having frustrated tirades against teammates.

However, Ruben Amorim, the manager of United, acknowledges that the Portugal midfielder has a burning desire to win the Premier League and Champions League.

Fernandes stated that the manager spoke with her. He claimed that I was still a project participant. He desired that I remain. The club repeated itself.

I’ve always said, “Okay, I have to find a solution for myself, whatever is best for me and my family, and I will leave” if the club was like “Bobby, we want to cash in, we want to make some money, we don’t think you can be part of the future project” or whatever.

“But it’s obvious that wasn’t the case.” I believed that whatever our goals were, the club could still benefit from my involvement in the plan.

Fernandes has a year’s contract with the option to extend it until 2027.

And the 31-year-old won’t be able to talk about his future until after the World Cup in 2014.

He said, “I feel good here, as I’ve always said. “I still want to realize my dreams. I can’t speak by the side of the club, though, of course.

I’ve seen a lot of news, they say. I’ve heard a lot of people saying I’m ready to leave the following season. I haven’t spoken with anyone because that agreement was never made with the club because it wasn’t made with me.

Tinubu Congratulates Japan’s First Female PM Sanae Takaichi

Sanae Takaichi, the first woman to lead Japan in history, was honored with honors by President Bola Tinubu, who described her as a milestone accomplishment that reflects her long-standing contributions to Japanese politics and governance.

After overcoming a decades-long gender barrier in the leadership of the world’s fourth-largest economy, Takaichi, a veteran politician and former minister of internal affairs and communications, won majority support in Japan’s parliament.

The President reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties with Japan under Takaichi’s administration in a statement released on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President’s representative on Information and Strategy.

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He wished the Nigerian government and people well, while highlighting the shared values that govern Japan-Nigeria relations.

Tinubu claimed that her victory demonstrated both the support for her political party and the legitimacy of her victory.

The President congratulated her on becoming the first woman to serve as prime minister of Japan, “on behalf of the people and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Your victory as the Liberal Democratic Party’s leader and, ultimately, as Japan’s Prime Minister, is a remarkable testament to the good people of Japan’s confidence in you.

Your election as Japan’s first female prime minister also demonstrates how much you have contributed to the development of your political party and administration.

Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s desire to grow bilaterally. Under her leadership, he expressed hope that both nations’ economic and diplomatic ties would grow.

You can be assured of Nigeria’s continued goodwill and support for Japan as you assume this position.

Over the years, Nigeria and Japan have developed a strong, productive, and strategic relationship that covers a number of areas of bilateral cooperation.

I have faith in our partnership to advance the foundation that has been laid, as well as to strengthen and enhance our bilateral relations.

Therefore, I look forward to meeting with you as soon as possible to discuss these options.

Claudia Winkleman reveals she planned to quit Strictly with Tess Daly in ‘pizza pact’

Before viewers began to wonder, “Can that tiny orange creature just shuffle off,” Claudia Winkleman said she was leaving. “

When they were at the top of their game, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly hatched a Thelma and Louise-style plot over a pizza to quit Strictly together.

When the dynamic hosting duo for Strictly Come Dancing announced they would be waltzing off the dancefloor at the end of this year’s series, fans were shocked this week.

But Claudia revealed that the pals forged their plan to quit Strictly together years ago. Laughing, she refuted the idea that fans wanted her to stay forever, saying: “I don’t think anybody would want that.

“I’m sure that when someone watches, they’ll say, “Can that tiny orange creature just shuffle off?” I’m going to leave at the same time as Tess. Pizza and we made that pact. Pepperoni was what I had. ”

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The pair took over from the late TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth, who left the show back in 2014, after 10 years as host. Now with mass hit The Traitors also under her belt, Claudia says the dynamic between her and Tess is perfect.

Doing live TV makes me frighten, she said. Tess always wears a long-sleeved shirt or upper-arm garb because I squeeze her because I’m incredibly scared. I have imposter syndrome, which is why. ”

Claudia, 53, claims she still uses the Tube incognito despite her fame. She said, “I don’t feel any fame.” I watch the Tube four times per day. One of my life’s greatest loves is the Central line, and I have never been forgotten. No one looks up at me while I’m wearing full sequins and hum the theme song on the Tube. Not one. ”

After completing her studies in Cambridge University’s History of Art, Claudia credits her parents, former newspaper editor Eve Pollard and her father Barry, who encouraged her to pursue her showbiz dreams.

She began her TV adventure in 1992 on the long running BBC travel series Holiday. Claudia said: “The confidence I have comes from my parents. When I was tiny, to them the BBC was everything and it was the place they would always go to rely on.

“I can recall working for the BBC for the first time. I called my father, and we both started crying. I responded, “I have a job at the BBC.” He said, “It has all been worthwhile. I promised to do a three-part documentary series for BBC Three. He yelled, “Stop.” What’s its name? I responded, “It’s called Toilets.” ’”

After years working on shows including Talking Telephone Numbers, This Morning, Liquid News and Fame Academy, Claudia’s big break came in 2004 when she was picked to host Strictly’s sister show It Takes Two. After six years on the BBC2 spin off, Claudia graduated to the main event – presenting the weekly Sunday night show with Tess, which she says she has loved. “It is a show predominantly run by women and they are brilliant women,” she said.

She claims that she based every outfit on a theme, becoming something of a style icon. It might be a place or a person. When I had long hair pieces and we put turf in my dressing room, Andre Agassi recalled one year.

“I have done Pam StClement, Slash from Guns n Roses, I had a Joan Rivers moment, Sharon Osbourne, Anita Dobson, Rob Kardashian, Elton John, Mr Darcey from Pride and Prejudice. My favourite though was when we dressed the whole series as Sexy Fish, based on the restaurant in London. I have to say it did not look good on me!”

Kate Moss is a true example of her style. She says, “Great boots, thank you Kate Moss, skinny jeans, thank you again, thank you.” Kate is skilled at what she is doing with an oversize coat. Claudia, however, prefers to work in primarily dark colors. She says, “I have a uniform,” and she laughs. I’m doing exactly what I’m doing. I am unable to get up and think. There isn’t much time for reflection. I lack the brain, band width, or capacity for that. It must either be a black T-shirt or skinnies. A long-sleeved black shirt or perhaps a navy shirt is possible.

“I want to look like a male teacher of French geography!” I like the way that black makes me look older. rumpled . And that’s it. I prefer black because it’s simple and coordinates well with everything. I discovered goths, Siouxsie, the Banshees, Chrisse Hynde, Wendy James, and then I saw a photo of Joan Jett on Top of the Pops, and she was wearing black and white lipstick. ”

On the day of her wedding, she made an exception. She claims that it was white on the day of my wedding. a disgusting list. A very long day was had. I enjoy coloring a lot. One of the best things I’ve ever worn was a red sequinned trouser suit for the Strictly launch. It sounded violent. “

Claudia continues to be incredibly appreciative of Strictly and for all of her other TV work, looking forward to 2026 and any new, exciting projects that might come her way. She said, “I still believe I have had the best career possible, even if they called me right now and said, “You’re done.” ”

Teess reveals that Bruce Forsyth is to be credited.

Forsyth, a TV legend, is to blame for her glittering Strictly career, according to Tess Daly. She remarked, “Bruce looked after me. He was very giving. He was a TV legend, and I was no one when I first started.

It felt like I was in the presence of greatness when I first met him. When I first knocked on his door at first, he was very kind and greeted me and gave me his digestive biscuits.

He made fun of me for stealing his Mars bars, he said. He never once complained to me. He simply had energy. When I worked with him, we had two children, and they were identical. “

Tess, 56, claims that when Bruce left, the choice of two women to lead the show was viewed as very contemporary. Sue and Mel had been doing it on Bake Off, so we weren’t the first, she said. As Claudia and I used to do the Sunday night results show, it seemed natural for us to move forward. ”

Additionally, Claudia and she have been excellent partners. I love Claudia and she said, “She is cheeky. She is a girl’s girl, and she is a lot of fun. She is a wonderful companion. We discuss our families and how we each have the same pair of TopShop jeans but cannot wear them on the same day.

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Why are last season’s relegated trio struggling in the Championship?

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This week’s Championship action has not just deepened long-standing hangovers suffered by the three clubs relegated from the Premier League but pointed to issues more wide-reaching than simply having to adapt to life back in the second tier.

For the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, all three recently relegated sides are currently outside of the top six of the Championship due to the midweek defeats suffered by Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton.

Marti Cifuentes, Kieran McKenna, and Will Still have plenty to think about as unbeaten leaders Coventry City show no signs of slowing down and second-placed Middlesbrough continue to lead the charge.

The Championship is a relentless, unforgiving division. A side can easily fly up the table with no effort during a run of form, though.

    • nine hours ago

‘ Angry ‘ Cifuentes laments performance

Leicester City – 8th – 11 played – 17 points (W4, D5, L2).

Following his side’s 2-1 defeat at the MKM Stadium by Hull City, Leicester manager Cifuentes was unfazed to voice his opinions.

He lamented a poor opening period for his side, where their hosts were dominant, before a late salvage operation attempt ended in vain after conceding two goals in the first half an hour on Humberside.

“Bad game, really bad first half. The worst game we have played this season, according to Cifuentes, who spoke to BBC Radio Leicester.

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After being placed on gardening leave by previous club QPR, Cifuentes took the Leicester hot seat in July following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Before the season began, the Spaniard was only allowed to strengthen his squad through free transfers and loan deals. He only had four weeks to play for his new team.

The strikers’ careers have also sputtered.

While the iconic Jamie Vardy departed for Italy, Patson Daka has failed to step up. Since February 2024, he has not scored for the club this calendar year and has only scored once in 45 league games.

In their 27 league starts this year, Daka, Jordan Ayew, and Argentine loanee Julian Carranza have each scored one goal.

“Life for Leicester City back in the Championship hasn’t kicked off the way they would have liked”, said BBC Radio Leicester’s Owynn Palmer-Atkin.

“First of all, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this is a completely different scenario than the campaign’s opening of 2023-24.

The Foxes had a better squad, a successful transfer window, and manager [Enzo Maresca] who worked with his players throughout the pre-season on his meticulous play.

“This time around, there was a delay before proceedings could even get going. Ruud van Nistelrooy was probably aware of the end of May when his time was up, but he remained in charge until a few days before the start of the new pre-season campaign.

“Marti Cifuentes arrives a few weeks later. I do believe that this has had a significant impact on his ability to work with the players enough to instill the gameplan, the tactics, the philosophy ready for the beginning of the season.

“The Foxes, along with the manager, did not make any new outfield signings until much later in the year when the new faces started to emerge. When first-team players were lobbying for moves away at the time, it gave off a sense of uncertainty.

” On the pitch though, this season, is the season no Foxes fan wanted to see – a Leicester squad without Jamie Vardy in it.

He was the man you could rely on for so long, even when things weren’t going well. The man who rescues Leicester from peril. To score the goals. to be team leader. to be the complete legend.

What has been McKenna’s most difficult leadership phase so far?

Ipswich Town – 14th – 10 played (1 abandoned) – 13 points (W3, D4, W3).

Since Ipswich’s first East Anglian derby win against struggling bitter rivals Norwich City for 16 years, McKenna’s side have experienced back-to-back defeats by Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic.

In contrast to Cifuentes, McKenna was given permission to loosen the purse strings in the summer and spent close to £40 million on players, including Norwegian forward Sindre Walle Egeli, who broke the record transfer signing, and Kasey McAteer, Marcelino Nunez, with help from Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson.

He has credit in the bank after guiding Town back to the Premier League following two decades away, but he faces an important, and arguably his most testing period, as he approaches his four-year anniversary in charge of the club.

After making seven changes on Tuesday from the team that lost to Boro just four days prior, it seems like he is still to decide on his preferred starting lineup.

While we all anticipated Liam Delap’s departure, Omari Hutchinson, Cameron Burgess, Conor Chaplin, Massimo Luongo, Axel Tuanzebe, Nathan Broadhead, and Luke Woolfenden all had significant influence, according to BBC Suffolk’s Brenner Woolley.

” These were key men, both on and off the pitch, during Town’s most successful period for decades.

The group was “a band of brothers,” as Chaplin put it, and it was an incredible camaraderie that led to back-to-back promotions.

In one of the most difficult, unforgiving, and difficult divisions in football, McKenna is currently attempting to form a new team. It will take time.

Given how amazing it was to transition them from League One to the Premier League in his first two full seasons as manager, “I firmly believe it will be his greatest achievement if he gets them up this season.”

The numerous summer arrivals have taken some time to adapt, so performances have been inconsistent so far.

“Making six changes for the recent trip to Bristol City and then seven against Charlton in midweek also hasn’t gone down well with fans”.

Because of the scale of the revamp, he continued, “I always thought bookmakers were being overly optimistic when they had them down as favorites and went straight back up.”

Still’s Saints lack serious firepower.

Cameron Archer sends a shot wide and over the Swansea goalShutterstock

Southampton – 18th – 11 games (W2, D6, L3), 11 points.

When Southampton picked up a stoppage-time victory at home to Wrexham on the opening day of the season, you could have forgiven fans for getting a little carried away.

Hopes of better things to come were almost unavoidable after a disastrous Premier League campaign that included just two victories and 30 defeats as well as the league’s first ever relegation.

However, Saints have only managed one league win since then, with some fans dissatisfied with the team’s slow build-up play and a few goals that have proved difficult to come by.

Former manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who was also ominously pictured in the Ashton Gate crowd, was also ominously pictured in the stands for Bristol City’s 3-1 defeat on Tuesday.

Still is a target for criticism because he and Sports Republic are still in his first managerial position in England.

” The last couple of games they have actually played quite good football and they’ve created good chances, “said former Saints midfielder and BBC Solent summariser Jo Tessem.

The scoring of goals is the biggest issue in football, and it’s the most challenging.

They have struggled to find a solution to Ross Stewart’s injury because he unlocked the issue they’ve been having with the striker. Unfortunately, he is now injured until Christmas and that is not good news.

They have, however, been generating a lot of opportunities. The play is moving forward and putting the ball in the box, but chances are not being converted.

“Will Still is playing possession football in a different way, more aggressive than under Russell Martin.

In the first half, Bristol City sat back and defended, and I believe he finds that a little challenging.

The good news is that we should have won both games [versus Swansea and Bristol City] and that we have created chances, which is a positive thing.

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