Event: Palestinians

People wait to fetch drinking water at a makeshift camp for displaced Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip on April 10 | AFP-JIJI Geneva – Israeli authorities are systematically depriving people in Gaza of the water they need to live, Doctors Without Borders warned Tuesday, decrying a campaign of "collective punishment" against Palestinians.The extensive destruction of civilian water infrastructure in Gaza coupled with obstruction of access constitutes "an integral part of Israel's genocide," said the medical charity, which goes by its French acronym MSF.In a report entitled "Water as a Weapon," MSF said the "engineered scarcity" was occurring alongside "direct killing of civilians, the devastation of health facilities, (and) the destruction of homes." In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing, you can help us get the story right. SUBSCRIBE NOW

Inside StoryThe Palestinian Authority’s Fatah party and its affiliates sweep council vote.Local elections are one of the few ways for Palestinians to exercise their democratic rights.But this weekend’s vote appears to have diluted that.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What lies ahead for Gaza after ceasefires in Iran and Lebanon?list 2 of 3Abbas loyalists sweep Palestinian elections, including some seats in Gazalist 3 of 3Analysis: Bennett-Lapid alliance attempt to unseat Israel’s Netanyahuend of listNo ballots were cast in Ramallah and Nablus because there weren’t enough candidates.Turnout was 25 percent in Deir el-Balah, the only area in Gaza where voting happened.Most candidates were from the Palestinian Authority’s Fatah party and its affiliates.Hamas, which controls Gaza, stayed away.The Palestinian Authority says the elections were for Palestinian unity. Will the vote achieve that aim?And will it make any difference to Palestinians living under Israeli occupation and violence?Presenter: Imran KhanGuests:Ahmed Fattouh –  Fatah spokespersonJalal Abukhater – Policy manager at 7amleh: The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social MediaXavier Abu Eid – Political analyst and former communications director for the Palestine Liberation Organization

Iran-linked group reiterates defiance; Israeli defence minister threatens to ‘burn all of Lebanon’.Israel has threatened to “burn” all of Lebanon after Hezbollah reiterated its defiance and rejection of peace talks as war across the border grinds on.The Lebanon-based armed group on Monday condemned Beirut’s ongoing discussions with Israel and again refused to end its campaign of strikes across the border in the face of Israel’s persisting attacks on the south of the country. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz retorted that defiance would bring catastrophic consequences.Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem asserted in a statement that while “sacrifices are great”, the Lebanese people have two options: “Liberation and pride or occupation and humiliation.”The Iran-linked armed group has criticised the Lebanon government for entering talks with Israel to seek an end to the latest series of hostilities, which was sparked by the United States-Israeli war on Tehran.“We are continuing our defensive resistance for Lebanon and its people,” Qassem said. “We will not return to the pre-March [status quo]; we will respond to the Israeli aggression and confront it. No matter what the enemy threatens, we will not retreat, we will not bow down, we will not be defeated.”Hezbollah resumed attacks against Israel on March 2, in response to strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Lebanon has since outlawed Hezbollah’s military activities and held the first direct negotiations with Israel since 1983.Qassem reiterated his rejection of those talks and outlined pre-conditions for Hezbollah to enter any such dialogue, including the end of “the aggression on land, sea and air,” Israel’s withdrawal “from the occupied territories”, the release of prisoners, the return of all displaced people and “reconstruction”.The Hezbollah leader also demanded that Lebanon end direct talks and reverse its decision that “criminalises the resistance”.Israeli Minister Katz responded by saying Qassem was “playing…