Live Updates: EU seeks 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza as UN awaits US resolution

March 22, Friday, 2024

4:16 GMT — EU seeks 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza as UN awaits US resolution

EU leaders have called for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in Gaza, urging measures to prevent population displacement amid ongoing Israeli aggression in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"The EU calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire. Full & safe humanitarian access into Gaza is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance in a catastrophic situation in Gaza," European Council President Charles Michel said as a joint text agreed upon by EU’s 27 heads of state and government was released.

"The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance," the bloc said in the text published by the council.

03:41 GMT — No moral argument that justifies arms sales to Israel: UN rapporteur

Providing weapons to Israel that kill more Palestinian civilians is a "war on human rights" and nothing justifies continuing arms sales, according to the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders.

In an op-ed published by the British daily The Guardian, Mary Lawlor evaluated the continued arms sales to Israel in the face of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, where nearly 32,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7 last year.

"There exist no moral arguments that can justify the continued sale of weapons to Israel by states that respect the principle of the universality of human rights," said the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders.

03:10 GMT — US to bring resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza for vote in UN

The United States will bring a UN draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an Israel-Hamas hostage deal to a Security Council vote on Friday morning, a US spokesperson said.

The latest version of the draft resolution, seen by Reuters news agency, says an "immediate and sustained ceasefire" lasting roughly six weeks would protect civilians and allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The resolution "unequivocally supports ongoing international diplomatic efforts to secure such a ceasefire in connection with the release of all remaining hostages," it reads, referring to ongoing talks brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

02:28 GMT — Expulsion out of Rafah would take 'weeks': CENTCOM chief

The head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza's southern city of Rafah would take "weeks."

That was Michael "Erik" Kurilla's response to being asked by a lawmaker on the Senate House Armed Services Committee if 1.3 million residents could be moved from Rafah for a possible Israel invasion "in two weeks."

He said he could not give a timeframe "without seeing their [Israel's] definitive plan."

For our live updates from Thursday, March 21, click here.