Switzerland

30 October 2023; MEMO: The United Nations Sunday announced that 59 employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks since October 7, reports Anadolu Agency.

According to a statement posted on UNRWA’s social media account X, a memorial ceremony was held to honor the UNRWA employees who lost their lives in the attacks on Gaza.

GENEVA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A U.N. committee on racism voiced concern on Friday about a "sharp increase in racist hate speech and dehumanisation" directed at Palestinians by Israelis, including senior officials, since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticised the statement which it said "failed all the victims of the October 7 massacre and the victims of antisemitic attacks worldwide".

26 October 2023; MEMO: The estimated number of Palestinians have been killed or are missing under the rubble as a result of the unprecedented Israeli military attack on the Gaza Strip now exceeds the number of people killed in the Srebrenica massacre, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said yesterday.

Some 6,734 Palestinians—including 2,812 children—have been killed since 7 October and about 1,755 more are missing beneath the rubble of their homes, the rights group said.

ZURICH, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Switzerland moved rightwards in an election on Sunday, giving the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) more seats in parliament as concerns about rising immigration outweighed those about the environment, final results showed on Monday.

While the change is unlikely to alter the make up of the country's governing Federal Council consisting of seven members from four different parties - including two from the SVP - analysts said it pointed to a shift in the political climate.

19 October 2023; MEMO: Delegates from around the world invited to attend the US ambassador's speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, turned their backs as the diplomat addressed the room in a silent protest against America's human rights record.

It comes as Washington vetoed a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in Israel's violent assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.

14 October 2023; AA: Attacks on medical facilities are prohibited under international humanitarian law, a UN human rights spokesperson told Anadolu on Saturday on the Israeli order for a hospital in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate.

12 October 2023; MEMO: The deputy director of UNRWA affairs in the Gaza Strip has confirmed that 11 members of the agency’s staff and personnel have been killed in the Israeli bombardment of the besieged territory.

“I am very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip,” said Jennifer Austin. “They included five teachers at UNRWA schools, one gynaecologist, one engineer, one psychological counsellor and three support staff.”

9 October 2023; MEMO: Swiss travel agencies on Monday began cancelling trips to Israel due to the ongoing tension in the region, Anadolu Agency reports.

This came after the Swiss Foreign Ministry issued a travel warning earlier in the day.

It is not recommended to travel to Israel for tourist trips and any other travel that is not of an emergency nature

the Ministry said in a statement.

10 October 2023; MEMO: Supply cuts by Israel could leave the Gaza power plant without fuel within days and cause a severe shortage of drinking water for 610,000 people, the UN humanitarian agency warned on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports.

10 October 2023; MEMO: UEFA confirmed, on Tuesday morning, that Italy and Turkiye will host Euro 2032, Football Italia reports.

According to the report, the two countries had started as individual bidders but decided to join forces and submitted a joint bid to stage the competition.

UEFA also confirmed on Tuesday that Ireland and the UK will host Euro 2028, the report added.