*) UN warns of dire Middle East situation as Israel escalates its war on Gaza The United Nations’ Middle East peace process coordinator, Tor Wennesland, warned the international community about a severe escalation in the Middle East, describing the situation as being at the "most dangerous juncture in decades." Speaking to the UN Security Council, Wennesland highlighted that ongoing Israeli violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and shows no signs of stopping. Wennesland specifically addressed a deadly Israeli air strike in Beit Lahiya on Monday that killed or left missing at least 90 Palestinians, including 25 children. *) Healthcare system in northern Gaza collapses as Israeli invasion continues The healthcare system in northern Gaza has collapsed amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes, according to Hussam Abu Safiya, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital. In an urgent statement, Abu Safiya warned that all injured individuals brought to the hospital are succumbing to their wounds due to a severe lack of medical resources. He pleaded for international assistance to allow ambulances into the blockaded area to evacuate victims of the attacks, noting that currently, not a single ambulance is operational in northern Gaza. *) Palestine weighs bringing Israel’s UNRWA ban before UNSC The Palestinian presidency has announced plans for diplomatic measures following the Israeli Knesset's approval of laws prohibiting the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in occupied territories. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the presidency will urgently engage with countries hosting Palestinian refugees, exploring options to present the issue before the UN Security Council and General Assembly. The presidency emphasised that UNRWA's presence is crucial for addressing the Palestinian issue in line with international law and legitimacy. *) Sudan conflict: UN report accuses RSF of sexual violence, forced captivity A UN fact-finding mission has reported that Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed widespread sexual violence against civilians, including abduction of women as sex slaves, throughout Sudan's ongoing 18-month conflict. Victims, ranging in age from eight to 75, have been targeted in what the report describes as a strategy to terrorise and punish communities with perceived links to opposition forces. Mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman called the scale of sexual violence "staggering" in an 80-page report based on interviews with victims, families, and witnesses. *) EU slaps extra tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, risking Beijing retaliation The European Union announced it will impose additional tariffs on Chinese-built electric vehicles, reaching up to 45.3 percent, following a year-long anti-subsidy investigation that has intensified trade tensions with Beijing. The new tariffs will vary by manufacturer, with Tesla facing an additional 7.8 percent and China’s SAIC 35.3 percent, on top of the EU’s standard 10 percent car import duty. The decision, formally approved by the European Commission on Tuesday, will be published in the EU's Official Journal by Wednesday and will take effect the next day.