A draft U.S. resolution to the U.N. Security Council would cross the line by advocating for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza while warning of an Israeli invasion of the crowded city of Rafah, Reuters and the Associated Press reported. It was reported on Monday.
According to Reuters, the text of the draft resolution counters measures proposed by Algeria that call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and moves closer to the United Nations' call for a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.” be.
It is unclear when the resolution will be voted on, but the United States has already said it will veto the proposal circulated by Algeria, which represents 22 Arab countries on the 15-member council. A vote on the bill is expected to take place on Tuesday. Both proposals call for the release of all hostages held in Gaza.
Expressing the public's unwavering support for Israel, the Biden administration has rejected widespread calls for a ceasefire, insisting it is only helping Hamas, which incited the war with a vicious attack on Israeli border areas on October 7.
The United States has repeatedly tried to dissuade Israel from launching a ground offensive on the border city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge from the fighting. The draft resolution underscores that stance, saying such attacks would be devastating for civilians and further destabilize an already tense region.
According to the news agency, the US draft resolution states: “Under the current circumstances, a large-scale ground attack on Rafah would result in further damage to civilians and further displacement, including potentially to neighboring countries.'' “It will be,” it says.
International Court of Justice:Orders Israel to take steps to prevent death and destruction in Gaza
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∎ Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had accused Israel of genocide and compared its actions in Gaza to Adolf Hitler's campaign to exterminate Jews. He declared himself “persona non grata” in Israel until he apologized. Hamas issued a statement thanking Lula for “accurately describing what our people are being exposed to and revealing the enormity” of Israel's crimes in Gaza.
∎ Houthi rebels shot down a US drone and said the cargo ship they attacked in the Gulf of Aden appeared ready to sink. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on the drone. British Maritime Trade confirmed that the Rubimar's crew had abandoned ship and said military authorities were providing assistance.
∎ The Houthis said missiles also hit two American cargo ships in the Gulf of Aden, the Sea Champion and the Navis Fortuna. The US has not confirmed these attacks.
The Israeli military said it had attacked a Hezbollah weapons depot near the southern Lebanese city of Sidon after a drone exploded in a field near the northern Israeli city of Tiberias early Monday, as the neighboring countries continued their escalating conflict. Announced. Lebanese media said 14 people were injured in the Israeli attack.
Prime Minister Netanyahu strongly rebuked him.Calls Brazilian leader an 'anti-Semite' after comparing him to the Holocaust
'Colonialism and apartheid': Palestinians condemn Israel in UN tribunal
Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem denies Palestinians the right to self-determination, is illegal and must be ended “immediately, unconditionally and completely,” the Palestinian foreign minister said on Monday. stated at the United Nations Supreme Court.
Riyad al-Maliki told the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, that the Palestinians had endured “colonialism and apartheid” since the beginning of the occupation in 1967, and now the world must finally end support for Israel. He said it must be done.
“No aid, no support, no collusion, no contribution to coercion, no money, no weapons, no trade,” Maliki said. “All United Nations member states are obliged by law to end the Israeli presence in the Palestinian territories.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the lawsuit, calling it an effort to “violate Israel's right to defend itself against existential threats.” .
The United Nations General Assembly asked the court for an advisory opinion on Israel's 57-year occupation and refusal to meet the world's overwhelming support for a two-state solution. Netanyahu's government says it needs to maintain security control over the territory because Palestinian political leaders have vowed to destroy Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu pointed to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants, which killed 1,200 people and captured more than 250 hostages before retreating to Gaza. Maliki accused Israel of denying Gaza's desperate need for humanitarian aid by falsely claiming the aid was supporting Hamas.
“Israel has turned the Gaza Strip into an impoverished enclave, a community strangled, besieged and shelled, isolated and cut off from the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” Maliki told the court. “The leaders established this official government policy, declaring that Israel had sovereignty over all the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.”
More than 50 countries are expected to testify during the week-long hearing. Israel is likely to submit a written rebuttal. It could be months before the justices issue a non-binding opinion.
Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects UN tribunal hearing on occupation
Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected Palestinian demands for Israel to relinquish control of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These areas have been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Prime Minister Netanyahu said the ongoing court proceedings in The Hague were an attempt by the Palestinians to dictate a diplomatic solution. without negotiation.
“We continue to reject this,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “The Government and Parliament stand together in rejecting this unacceptable action.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state. “We will not consecrate Palestinian terrorist organizations with the blood of our soldiers,” Smotrich said, speaking at the Knesset meeting of his far-right religious Zionist faction.
In December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly resolved to seek a court opinion on the legal consequences of the occupation. The United States and Israel were among the 27 countries that voted against the hearing.
The lawsuit is separate from another South African lawsuit accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza since the war began on October 7. In this case, the court ordered Israel to prevent and punish incitement to genocide and provide necessary humanitarian aid by February 26. .
Hamas says 6,000 militants killed
Hamas officials said Monday that 6,000 of their fighters have been killed in the war, about half the number Israel claims it has killed. Officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Hamas continues to prepare for a long war.
Also on Monday, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that 29,092 Palestinians have been killed and 69,028 injured since the war began. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but the ministry says more than 70% of victims are women and children.
Israel announced the death of Staff Sgt. Simon Shlomov, 20, brings the number of military deaths since the start of the war to 235.
Qatari leader warns that ceasefire talks are 'not very hopeful'
Qatar's prime minister criticized Netanyahu's call on Qatari officials to pressure Hamas to release Israeli hostages. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani added that talks towards a ceasefire and long-term peace agreement were “not very promising”.
Qatar, Egypt and the United States are leading the talks, and authorities in all three countries have generally maintained positive public comments on the talks. But on Monday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari said Netanyahu's request was “nothing but another attempt by the prime minister to delay and prolong the war for reasons that are obvious to everyone.” . Mr. Ansari accused Mr. Netanyahu of acting only to escape a “personal political crisis” in Israel, where Mr. Netanyahu is the subject of a lengthy corruption trial.
“We urge him not to make such statements every time it suits a narrow political agenda, but to make statements that serve regional security and end the ongoing tragedy of continued war,” Ansari said. I urge them to focus on the progress of the negotiations.”
Contributed by: Associated Press
