Live Updates: US veto in truce vote makes Gaza 'even more dangerous' — China

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

0914 GMT — China has warned that a US decision to veto a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza pushed the conflict into an "even more dangerous" situation.

"China voted in favour of the draft resolution," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

"The United States has once again single-handedly vetoed it, pushing the situation in Gaza into an even more dangerous situation".

0819 GMT — Several Israeli missiles hit Damascus: Syrian state media

Several Israeli missiles hit the Kafr Soussa district in Syria's capital Damascus, Syrian state media reported.

The neighbourhood is known to host several security agencies and was targeted in an Israeli attack in February 2023 that killed Iranian military experts.

Israel had no comment.

0420 GMT — Yemen's Houthis targeted ship linked to humanitarian aid: US

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group targeted a ship linked to humanitarian aid, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

In a statement posted to X, CENTCOM said Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at M/V Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, US-owned bulk carrier bound for the port of Aden in Yemen.

Saying that one of the missiles detonated near the ship, causing minor damage, it added: "Nevertheless, her crew proceeded on course to their ultimate destination."

0411 GMT — Israel attacks Doctors Without Borders' shelter in Gaza

Israel attacked a shelter belonging to medical charity Doctors Without Borders [MSF] in besieged Gaza, killing at least two people.

"Tonight, Israeli forces conducted an operation in Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, Gaza, where a shelter hosting MSF staff and their families was shelled," MSF said on X.

"While details are still emerging, ambulance crews have now reached the site, where at least two family members of our colleagues have been killed and six people wounded. We are horrified by what has taken place," it added.

0315 GMT — Gaza's Nasser Hospital 'has become a place of death': UN

An official from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA] expressed concern over the state of Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis in the southern besieged Gaza.

"The conditions are appalling. There are dead bodies in the corridors. Patients are in a desperate situation," said Jonathan Whittall, senior humanitarian affairs officer at OCHA in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"This has become a place of death, not a place of healing," he added.

0255 GMT — UN official says 'there needs to be an explanation on how the veto is used'

The five nations that hold veto power at the UN Security Council "have a great amount of responsibility," a UN official said after it failed to adopt a resolution on a humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza.

"We know every time a permanent member of the Security Council vetoes, they now have to go and explain themselves in a sense in front of the [UN] General Assembly. This will happen again," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said during his press briefing.

"The five countries that hold the veto have a great amount of responsibility, and I think there needs to be an explanation on how the veto is used," he added.

0229 GMT — Israel has denied access to many planned aid missions to northern Gaza Strip: UN

Israel has denied access to more than half of the missions planned by the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees [UNRWA] and its humanitarian partners to deliver aid in the northern besieged Gaza since the start of the year, the agency said.

''Since the start of 2024, 51 percent of the missions planned by UNRWA and humanitarian partners to deliver aid and undertake assessments to areas in north Gaza this year were denied access by Israeli authorities,'' the agency said on X.

''Food insecurity north of Wadi Gaza has reached an extremely critical state,'' it added.

0200 GMT — US, Russia to speak on Israeli occupation at top UN court

The United States and Russia will present arguments on Wednesday in proceedings at the UN's highest court examining the legality of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

More than 50 states will present arguments until February 26. Egypt and France were also scheduled to speak on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, 10 states, including South Africa, were overwhelmingly critical of Israel's conduct in the occupied territories, with many urging the court to declare the occupation illegal.

For our live updates from Tuesday, February 20, click here