NEW YORK, Oct 19, (Agencies): The State of Kuwait has consistently supported the Palestinian cause and rights through political, diplomatic, and humanitarian efforts, a Kuwaiti official has said. Speaking before the UN’s Second Committee on Economic Affairs concerning Palestine, Abdullah Bu Abbas, Kuwait’s diplomatic attaché, emphasized, “Kuwait stands firmly with Palestine, recognizing it in the international community and participating in global political efforts to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause and end Israeli occupation.”

Bu Abbas affirmed that Kuwait has spared no effort in pursuing this goal through all available channels, urging the international community to support Palestinians who have long endured Israeli aggression. He also stressed the severe economic challenges facing Palestine, which hinder its stability and development. Bu Abbas pointed to the ongoing conflict, political instability, and the Israeli blockade that has severely impacted key sectors such as agriculture, industry, and trade. Citing a UN report from last May, he noted that over 80 percent of Gaza’s population lives below the poverty line. He also highlighted that approximately 5.8 percent of agricultural and food industries in the West Bank have nearly ceased operations.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with little improvement in access to humanitarian aid or healthcare in recent weeks, he warned. Bu Abbas further underscored the importance of UN Security Council resolutions regarding the protection of civilians in Palestine. Kuwait Permanent Representative to UN: UNRWA lifeline to millions of Palestinians Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Tareq Al-Banai, emphasized that UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region and occupied Palestine. His statement followed a press conference at the UN headquarters on Thursday, where 123 nations reaffirmed their support for the agency.

This show of backing stemmed from an initiative launched by Kuwait, Jordan, and Slovenia in May to express solidarity with UNRWA. Ambassador Al-Banai reiterated the global commitment to UNRWA, cautioning against the severe consequences of halting the agency’s operations and responsibilities toward Palestinians.

In other news, the Palestinian movement Hamas officially declared on Friday that the head of its politburo Yahya Sinwar had been assassinated. Hamas’ statement said Sinwar, 61, had been assassinated in a clash with forces of the Israeli occupation. He was in the forward ranks moving among combat position before his death. Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group said Friday it is entering a new phase in its fight against invading Israeli troops, as the region reckons with the killing of top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a battle with Israeli forces in Gaza. Hamas acknowledged Sinwar’s death and described him as a martyr.

Sinwar was a chief architect of the attack on southern Israel that precipitated the latest escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Many, from the governments of Israeli allies to exhausted residents of Gaza, expressed hope that Sinwar’s death would pave the way for an end to the war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech announcing Sinwar’s death that “Our war is not yet ended.” In latest development, the Israeli government said a drone targeted the prime minister’s house Saturday, though there were no casualties, as Iran’s supreme leader vowed Hamas would continue its fight following the killing of the mastermind of last year’s deadly Oct. 7 attack. Sirens wailed in Israel warning of incoming fire from Lebanon. The military said dozens of projectiles were launched. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the drone targeted his house in the Mediterranean coastal town of Caesarea, though neither he nor his wife were home.