Live Updates: Israel kills 12 in Gaza strike; China says UN resolution binding

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

04:15 GMT — Israel kills 12 in Gaza strike; China says UN resolution binding

Israel has targeted a displacement camp in southern Gaza, killing at least 12 Palestinians including children, Gaza's Health Ministry said.

The ministry in a statement reported "12 martyrs including children in an air strike that hit a tent for displaced people" in the coastal al Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis city. As usual the Israeli military said it was looking into it.

Al Mawasi, on the besieged Gaza Mediterranean coast, is now home to thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly six months of Israeli war who shelter in makeshift tents.

03:20 GMT — Biden says Gaza protesters 'have a point' as tensions heighten with Netanyahu

President Joe Biden has said that pro-Palestinian protesters demanding a ceasefire in besieged Gaza "have a point" as tensions between him and hawkish Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu hit a boiling point.

The president was speaking at a healthcare-focused campaign event in North Carolina when he was interrupted by demonstrators who asked "What about the healthcare in Gaza?"

"Hospitals in Gaza are being bombed," one protester yelled. Another accused Biden of being "complicit in genocide" while others shouted now-familiar refrains demanding a cease-fire in the coastal enclave.

02:45 GMT — UN ceasefire resolution 'binding' on Israel

China and Pakistan have emphasised that "UN Security Council resolutions are binding" on Israel — specifically concerning Gaza and rejecting US claims to the contrary.

China "calls on the parties concerned to fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter and to take due action as required by the resolution," a Chinese government official said in response to a question by Anadolu Agency about comments by the US top envoy to the UN who claimed a resolution passed Monday was "non-binding" on parties to the conflict in Gaza, which has been under an onslaught by Israel since October last year.

Pakistan's top diplomat at the UN also doubled down on the need to follow the UN Charter with regard to the Council resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza.

02:19 GMT — Rafah invasion 'must account' for more than 1 million people: Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has noted any Israeli invasion into Gaza's southern city of Rafah that does not take into account more than 1 million people would be a "mistake."

"What we continue to reiterate, both publicly and privately, is that any type of operation into Rafah must account for over 1 million people that are sheltered there and take into account innocent civilian lives.

"So, what we've said is going forward with an operation in Rafah would be a mistake if those lives aren't taken into account," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

For our live updates from Tuesday, March 26, click here.