A Palestinian inspects the damage caused by a fire at the “Hajjah Hamidah” mosque in the town of Deir Istiya, northwest of Salfit in the West Bank, Nov 13, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

UNITED NATIONS/JERUSALEM/GAZA – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday strongly condemned a reported attack by Israeli settlers on a mosque in Deir Istiya in the occupied West Bank, his spokesperson said.

“Such acts of violence and desecration of religious sites are unacceptable,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson. “Religious sites must be respected and protected at all times.”

Dujarric said that Guterres condemns all attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, adding that such incidents are part of an increasing pattern of extremist violence that is inflaming tensions and must stop immediately.

“Israel, as the occupying power, must protect the Palestinian civilian population and ensure that those responsible for attacks are held accountable,” the spokesperson said.

The Palestinian Liberation Organization’s Commission Against the Wall and Settlements said in a statement that Israeli settlers set fire to parts of the mosque and wrote anti-Islam slogans on its walls on Thursday.

The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs said that the act violated international law and conventions protecting freedom of worship and the establishment of places of worship. It urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Arab and Islamic states to take actions to “end these attacks, which defy description”.

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In the Gaza Strip, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it has been leading a number of assessments across Gaza to areas where people are living or have moved, including in proximity of the so-called “Yellow Line”, where Israeli ground forces remain present.

“Humanitarian teams note that communities in these areas urgently need aid – and it is essential that services are restored quickly,” OCHA said. “These assessments will inform a rapid response by the UN and its partners to the most critical needs, which include water, food, shelter, hygiene supplies and healthcare.”

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid drive through Gaza City after entering from Israel via the Zikim crossing, northern Gaza Strip, Nov 13, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Relief agency in dire financial situation

Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing a dire financial situation, with a shortfall between the last quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 at approximately $200 million, the UNRWA chief said Thursday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly Fourth Committee, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that despite the steady implementation of austerity and cost control measures amounting to 150 million dollars in 2025 and strict cashflow management, severe deficit and cashflow crises are jeopardizing the viability of the agency’s operations.

Unlike in previous years, the projected income in the first quarter of 2026 is too low to absorb a large deficit from 2025, Lazzarini said.

“In the absence of a significant influx of new funding, the delivery of critical services to millions of Palestine refugees across the region will be compromised,” he said.

Israel receives body of another hostage 

Separately, Israel received on Thursday night the remains of another hostage through the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement.

The remains were handed over to the military and Shin Bet security forces inside the Strip. From there, the body will be transferred to Israel, where it will be identified, the office said.

The handover was part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Earlier on Thursday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas said in statements they would hand over the body, which was found earlier in the day in Morag area, north of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

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The groups did not specify the identity of the deceased hostage.

Before the latest transfer, Hamas had returned the remains of 24 hostages to Israel under the current ceasefire. If the identity of the latest deceased hostage is confirmed, Hamas has three more bodies in Gaza required to return to Israel.