Sunday, February 18, 2024
11:40 GMT — The Biden administration is actively seeking measures to bolster the financial stability of the Palestinian Authority amid mounting concerns over an imminent funding crisis, according to a Wall Street Journal report, citing US officials.
To circumvent legal restrictions barring direct contributions to the Palestinian Authority, the US is exploring alternative avenues while also urging allies to boost their financial support, US officials have said.
Palestinian officials have sounded alarms that they may exhaust the funds necessary to meet payroll obligations and sustain essential government services as early as late February, US officials revealed.
The US has pinned its post-war hopes on a revitalised Palestinian Authority as the linchpin for stability in the region.
However, US officials said without a revenue boost, the organisation's ability to maintain control in the occupied West Bank and expand its role could be severely compromised.
11:21 GMT — Netanyahu gov't prepares to declare opposition to Palestine state
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would vote on a "declaratory decision" regarding Israel's opposition to any unilateral imposition of Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting that the move comes after "recent talk in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally impose on Israel a Palestinian state."
The formal statement, he said, would reflect that, "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians.
Such an arrangement can only be reached in direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions."
11: 05 GMT — Canada slams Israel's Rafah attack 'unacceptable', Palestinians trapped
An Israeli offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah is “unacceptable because Palestinians have nowhere to go” Canada’s foreign minister has said.
“We believe in the right of Israel to exist … We also have a foreign policy all about human security … And the protection of civilians has been at the core of everything we’ve been doing,” Melanie Joly said during a panel discussion at Germany’s Munich Security Conference.
“We need an Israeli government that is willing to talk about a two-state solution,” she said.
At the same time, she said Arab nations must normalise diplomatic ties with Israel, which would include a security deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
But time is of the essence; we only have a couple of months,” she said. “(Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu cannot just continue to wage his war.”
10:50 GMT — Gaza death toll nears 29,000
A total of 28,985 Palestinians have been killed and 68,883 others injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement.
At least 127 Palestinians have been killed and 205 others injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.
10:33 GMT — Two-state solution needs to be implemented: PA
Palestine’s prime minister has called for a deal to take place between the Palestinian resistance and Israel “as soon as possible.”
Speaking at Germany’s Munich Security Conference, Mohammad Shtayyeh said: "All our eyes are focused on the suffering of the Palestinians both in Gaza and the West Bank,” adding: “What is needed immediately is a ceasefire, and even more, to allow international aid into Gaza.”
He stressed: “We would like to see the release of all the hostages and we would like to see a deal … in the making as soon as possible because every single day that is delayed, it means more killings, it means more sufferings and it means more disaster for the people.”
“We need to move from talking about a two-state solution into implementing it,” he said.
“We should not allow the circle of violence to repeat itself,” he added.
10: 21 GMT — Russia invites Palestinian groups in Moscow for talks — PA
Russia has invited Palestinian factions to meet in Moscow on Feb. 26, the Palestinian Authority prime minister said on Sunday, adding that the PA was ready to engage with Hamas.
"Russia has invited all Palestinian factions who will be meeting on the 26 of this month in Moscow. We will see if Hamas is ready to come to the ground with us" Mohammad Shtayyeh told the Munich Security Conference.
"We are ready to engage. If Hamas is not then that's a different story. We need Palestinian unity," he said, adding that to be part of that unity Hamas needed to meet certain prerequisites.
10:09 GMT — WHO boss slams Gaza hospital siege, demands patient access
The head of the World Health Organization has voiced grave concerns over the deteriorating situation at a hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, stressing the urgent need for access to patients and medical facilities.
“Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a weeklong si ege followed by the ongoing raid,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X.
Despite concerted efforts by a WHO team and its partners, access to the hospital for assessing patients and critical medical needs was denied, he underlined.
“Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners,” he said.
09:55 GMT — Gaza's second-largest hospital 'completely out of service'
Gaza's second-largest hospital has been put "completely out of service", a spokesperson for the Gaza health ministry has said.
"There are only four medical staffers currently caring for patients" inside the Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, Ashraf al-Qidra told Reuters.
"The Nasser medical complex is the backbone of healthcare in southern Gaza. Its ceasing to function is a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian displaced people in Khan Younis and Ra fah," he said.
Qidra said a lack of fuel and fighting around the facility had put it out of action.
Nasser was Gaza's largest functioning hospital until Sunday and had been under siege this week in Israel's war on Gaza.
09:50 GMT — Global pressure mounts on Israel to comply with ICJ directives
Portugal's Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho has expressed deep concern at the Munich Security Conference regarding the worsening humanitarian conditions in Palestine's Gaza.
Urging adherence to international law, Cravinho called on Israel to comply with directives from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and expanded access to humanitarian aid for Palestinians, citing the adverse effects of Israel's blockades and restrictions. Separately, Malta's top diplomat Ian Borg also denounced the killing of civilians by Israel in Gaza, particularly in response to the October 7 attacks.
Borg called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the besieged enclave.
While supporting Israel's right to self-defence, he stressed the importance of a proportionate response to the incidents.
07:15 GMT - Algeria pushes for Gaza ceasefire at UN
The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on an Algerian push for the 15-member body to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza, said diplomats, a move the United States signalled it would veto.
Algeria put forward an initial draft resolution more than two weeks ago. But US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield quickly said the text could jeopardise "sensitive negotiations" aimed at brokering a pause in the war.
To be adopted, a UN Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia.
06:30 GMT - Displacement of Palestinians to Egypt rejected: Sisi
President Abdel Fattah el Sisi affirmed his country’s “categorical rejection of the displacement of Palestinians to Egypt in any way or form, a position that enjoys full international consensus,” according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.
It came during a telephone call received by el Sisi from French President Emmanuel Macron amid Israel’s escalation in Rafah and international warnings against pushing Palestinians toward Egyptian territories.
The presidency said el Sisi received the call to discuss “ongoing efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, exchanging captives, and delivering humanitarian aid.”
05:52 GMT - Independent Palestinian state ‘prerequisite’ before normalization with Israel: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said that an independent Palestinian state is a "prerequisite" to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, according to Saudi Arabia's El Ihbariyye channel.
Bin Farhan explained Saudi Arabia's stance on the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian issue during a session at the Munich Security Conference.
He noted that "the only secure way to solve the problem in the region is through the commitment of the US and Israel to a two-state solution."
05:18 GMT - Egypt to establish logistics centre in Rafah to facilitate aid to Gaza
Egypt announced that it is beginning to establish a logistics centre in Rafah to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza, which is under attack and occupation by Israel.
Gov. of North Sinai in Egypt, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Abdulfadil, noted that the centre is to be built in the border town, including the Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
Abdulfadil said the Egyptian army has begun constructing the centre in Al Arish to facilitate the work of the Egyptian Red Crescent and to reduce congestion in the area and on the road.
For our live updates from Saturday, February 17, click here
