To better assess the scale of Israeli destruction of Gaza, its impact on municipalities, and the emergency plans to salvage what remains, Al-Estiklal interviewed Deputy Head of the Union of Gaza Municipalities and Khan Younis Mayor Alaa el-Din al-Batta.

The Israeli occupation has not only waged a fierce war on Gaza over the past year, but has also gone beyond that to adopt a blatantly hostile approach towards international and UN institutions.

Despite claims of division within Israeli society, the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban UNRWA's activities and prohibit contact with the organization passed with a strong majority, reflecting the nation’s overall hardline stance.

Teachers and educational institutions in Gaza did not remain idle and have launched individual initiatives to enroll university and school students in education.

Unlike its approach to most Islamic governments, the UAE is strengthening ties with the Afghan Taliban, who took power after the U.S. ended its 20-year occupation.