Live Updates: Israeli attack on Rafah would violate ICJ orders — UN

Thursday, February 29, 2024

09:31 GMT — Israeli attack on Rafah would violate ICJ orders — UN

The UN human rights chief Volker Turk has warned that the Israeli attack on Rafah would not be consistent with the World Court's binding provisional measures against Tel Aviv, calling on all states to do "everything within their power to avert such outcome."

"The prospect of an Israeli ground assault on Rafah would take the nightmare being inflicted on people in Gaza into a new dimension. Over 1.5 million people are sheltering in Rafah, despite continuing bombardment, and it has become Gaza's humanitarian aid hub," Turk said.

He warned that such ground assault would incur potentially "massive loss of life, additional risk of atrocity crimes, new displacement, to another unsafe location distribution, and sign a death warrant for any hope of effective humanitarian aid."

06:04 GMT — Over 30,000 Palestinians killed in Israel's Gaza war — ministry

The Health Ministry in Gaza has said that the number of people killed in the Palestinian territory in Israel's war in the enclave has surpassed 30,000.

"The number of martyrs exceeds 30,000," the ministry statement said.

It added that the toll includes at least 79 deaths reported overnight.

05:37 GMT — Last hospital in northern Gaza shut down due to Israeli blockade

The only functioning hospital in northern Gaza was forced to halt operations due to a fuel shortage, leaving residents devoid of essential health care services.

In a statement, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Kamal Adwan Hospital has been shut down.

The statement highlighted a complete cessation of activity at the hospital due to a lack of fuel and the inability to operate generators.

04:52 GMT — Canada working for aid supply into Gaza

Canada is working to airdrop humanitarian aid to Gaza as soon as possible, Canadian International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen has said.

He said the provision of airdrops in partnership with like-minded countries in the region, such as Jordan, was on the table.

Hussen said last week that the provision of aid is nowhere near what’s needed and a tedious inspection process was slowing down the movement of supplies brought in by truck.

04:14 GMT — Israeli police warn curbing access to Al Aqsa Mosque in Ramadan may fuel tensions

Israeli police have warned that imposing restrictions on the entry of Palestinians to Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan could inflame tensions in occupied Jerusalem, local media reported.

Recently, extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for not allowing occupied West Bank residents to enter Islam's third holiest site during the Muslim fasting month while only permitting entry to Palestinian citizens of Israel aged 70 and above.

Israel's Channel 12 quoted unnamed senior police officials as saying that a decision on the matter will be made next weekend.

03:24 GMT — Israel kills 2 people in southern Lebanon strikes

Israel has killed two people and wounded 14 in air strikes in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's National News Agency said.

"Israeli warplanes carried out raids in three sorties on the towns of Seddiqine and Kafra, resulting in the deaths of two people from Kafra and 14 injuries," the agency reported.

03:00 GMT — After 30K deaths and starvation, US mulls aid airdrops into Gaza

US President Joe Biden's administration is considering airdropping aid into besieged Gaza as land deliveries become increasingly difficult, American news website Axios has reported, citing four US officials.

"The situation is really bad. We are unable to get enough aid [in] by truck so we need desperate measures like airdrops," one US official told Axios.

Very little humanitarian aid has entered besieged Gaza this month, with a 50 percent reduction compared to January, the head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said on Monday.

02:50 GMT — US seeks Israeli assurance over US-supplied weapons

The State Department has confirmed a request to Israel to sign off on a letter provided by the Biden administration that includes a written assurance that it will use US-supplied weapons in compliance with international law.

The letter does not single out Israel and is instead the result of a February 8 memorandum signed by President Joe Biden that requires countries that receive US military assistance to give Washington "credible and reliable written assurances" that the arms will be used in compliance with "international human rights law and international humanitarian law."

"There is a process that we are engaged in with every country that receives military assistance from the United States to make sure they are aware of the requirements of the national security memorandum, make sure that they are aware of the timeline that is outlined in the national security memorandum," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters.

02:13 GMT — US Congress members demand full UNRWA funding

Forty-seven members of the US Congress have called for full funding of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide urgent humanitarian relief to besieged Gaza.

"For decades, UNRWA has played a unique and integral role in supporting the welfare and survival of Palestinians," Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said in a statement.

Jayapal said that humanitarian aid in the region is already severely restricted.

For our live updates from Wednesday, February 28, click here.