Live Updates: Israel attacks Nasser Hospital in Gaza, kills 1, wounds others

Thursday, February 15, 2024

05:34 GMT - Israel attacks Nasser Hospital in Gaza, kills 1, wounds others

At least one person was killed, and many others were wounded in an attack by Israeli forces on Nasser Hospital in besieged Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis, a Palestinian news agency.

The attack was carried out in the hospital’s orthopaedics section, WAFA reported.

The report noted that the hospital has been under a blockade by Israeli forces for the last 25 days.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army forced thousands of Palestinians who were seeking refuge in Nasser Hospital to leave.

05:00 GMT - Australia, New Zealand and Canada call for immediate ceasefire

Canada, Australia and New Zealand have called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza, according to a joint statement released in response to reports about Israel's planned military operation in Rafah.

The joint statement said a negotiated political solution is needed to achieve lasting peace, saying the Israeli-planned attack on Rafah would be catastrophic.

04:31 GMT - Biden signs deferral protection for 'most' US Palestinians

US President Joe Biden has deferred protection of "most" Palestinians already in the US due to the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Gaza.

In light of the situation, Biden signed an executive order "directing the deferral of removal of certain Palestinians who are present in the United States, giving them a temporary safe haven," Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said.

The protections will remain in place for 18 months. Individuals who have been convicted of felonies "or who are otherwise deemed to pose a public safety threat are not eligible for deferred enforced departure," Sullivan said. Any individual who returns to Palestine will similarly lose the protections.

03:50 GMT - Pro-Palestine group protests outside Israeli embassy in Czech Republic

Scores of people protested outside the Israeli embassy in the Czech Republic's capital, Prague, against Israel's ongoing onslaught on the city of Rafah in the southern besieged Gaza.

They shouted slogans demanding an immediate ceasefire in the blockaded enclave and expressed their reservations over the Czech Republic's unequivocal diplomatic and military support for Israel.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, one of the participants, Dominika Znameneanckova, said a ceasefire is the need of the hour.

03:25 GMT - Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt foreign policy debate in Sweden's parliament

Protesters condemning Israel's war in besieged Gaza disrupted a foreign policy debate in Sweden's parliament or Riksdag.

The first disturbance took place just after 9 am when a woman from the audience suddenly interrupted Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom while he was speaking.

Billstrom said: "Sweden stands behind Israel's legitimate right to defend itself against Hamas in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law."

02:55 GMT - South Africa serving Hamas in latest World Court bid: Israel

South Africa's latest request to the World Court against an assault by Israel in southern besieged Gaza serves resistance group Hamas and is an attempt to stop Israel from defending itself, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

South Africa continues to represent the interests of Hamas and is "trying to deny Israel the fundamental right to defend itself and its citizens," said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat.

"Israel is committed to upholding international law, including facilitating the transfer of humanitarian aid and preventing harm to innocents," Haiat said on X.

For our live updates from Wednesday, February 14, click here.