Citing 'biased and hostile conduct,' FM Sa'ar says permit for OCHA official Jonathan Whittall will not be renewed; Israeli official says he will leave country 'in the near future' The post Israel refuses to renew visa for senior UN official over alleged anti-Israel slant appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israeli tanks pushed into the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time, an area where the Israeli military believes some of the remaining hostages may be being held.

Israel has declined to renew the visa for Jonathan Whittall, the senior U.N. aid official for the occupied Palestinian territories, a U.N. spokesperson said on Friday, adding there were intensifying threats of reduced access to suffering civilians.

Razan was one of at least four children to succumb in the last three days, the youngest just three months. Over the past 24 hours, 18 deaths have been recorded due to famine in Gaza, the health ministry says, reflecting a deepening crisis in the territory.

Israel has refused to renew visas for the heads of at least three United Nations agencies in Gaza. The U.N. humanitarian chief blames it on their work trying to protect Palestinian civilians in the war-torn territory.

Israeli troops are preparing for ground operations in central Gaza for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, raising hopes that some of the remaining 50 hostages may be located.

Israel took action against a top UN official, citing bias, hostility, and violation of neutrality that distorted facts—latest in moves against UN staff.

OCHA Israel office chief Jonathan Whittall's residency permit will not be renewed for what Foreign Minister Sa'ar called 'biased and hostile conduct against Israel.'

Israel has demanded the U.N. Human Rights Council scrap a commission investigating rights violations in the Palestinian territories and Israel, accusing the body of bias, in a letter seen by Reuters.

Syrian war monitor says fighting across Sweida province ongoing, although Druze fighters regained control of provincial capital after booting out rival armed factions