Palestinian Authority blames UN Security Council for “failure to ensure access to basic humanitarian needs”
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sharply criticized the United Nations Security Council for failing to confront the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
The ministry, which is based in the occupied West Bank, said “the UN Security Council is drowning in miserable double standards and lacks the minimum consensus on its duties and responsibilities towards the humanitarian catastrophe that has befallen our people and amounts to the new Nakba.”
“The Ministry strongly rejects the politicization of the continuous entry of all humanitarian relief aid into the Gaza Strip and considers it a blatant violation of international law and international human rights law,” the statement added.
It called for the establishment of permanent humanitarian corridors to provide aid and protection to Palestinians in Gaza.
Two small convoys of trucks entered Gaza from Egypt through Rafah crossing over the weekend, totaling 34 trucks. Earlier on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza reported that 5,087 people, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, had been killed since October 7.
‘Refusal to allow aid into Gaza is a war crime’
Human Rights Watch (HRW) told Al Jazeera that Israel’s refusal to allow aid into the besieged Gaza Strip is a “war crime”.
“What’s so tragic about the last two weeks is the way in which civilians have been targeted and basic rules about protecting civilians… have been flouted,” Sari Bashi, HRW programme director, said.
“The fact that Hamas fighters committed war crimes against Israeli civilians does not justify the Israeli authorities committing war crimes against Palestinian civilians and that is what we are seeing right now,” Bashi added.
“The refusal to allow aid into Gaza is a war crime. It is collectively punishing civilians for the actions of fighters. And because nearly half of the people in Gaza are children, it is collectively punishing children for the actions of adult fighters.”
Gaza doctors forced to operate without morphine and painkillers to treat civilians: Relief agency
Relief workers in hospitals in Gaza are unable to use morphine or painkillers to treat civilians, as Israel’s siege on the enclave drains critical medical supplies amid persistent bombardment, a relief agency official said Monday.
“What is extremely important are the trauma kits, the surgery kits,” stated Leo Cans, the Head of Mission for Medicins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Jerusalem.
Doctors were “doing surgical operations without the correct dose of narcotics, without the correct dose of morphine,” Cans told CNN’s Max Foster.
“In terms of pain management, it’s not happening. We currently have people being operated on without having morphine. It just happened to two kids. We have a lot of kids that are unfortunately among the wounded, and I was discussing with one of our surgeons, who received a 10-year-old yesterday, burnt on 60% of the body surface, and he didn’t end up having painkillers.”
“There is no justification at all to block these essential medicines to reach the population,” Cans added.
Gaza exposed to ‘Israeli murder machine’
Palestine Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh has said the quest for freedom and independence by Palestinians will not stop regardless of Israel’s actions.
Shtayyeh stated in his speech before a cabinet session in Ramallah that the specter of death threatens thousands of children and patients in Gaza’s hospitals as fuel runs out, amid shortage of electricity, water, medicine and food.
“Our people in the Gaza Strip are exposed to… the Israeli murder and criminal machine,” he added.
EU foreign policy chief calls for “humanitarian pause” to allow aid into Gaza
The European Union’s top diplomat has called for “more” essential supplies to enter Gaza “quicker,” as Israel’s blockade and relentless bombardment on the strip has spiraled into a devastating humanitarian crisis.
Ministers of member states will discuss a potential “humanitarian pause” to facilitate aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave at a foreign affairs meeting on Monday, Josep Borrell told reporters.
“The most important thing is to call for humanitarian support to go into Gaza,” he added.
“We, the European Union, we have increased our support, but there are queues and queues of trucks waiting to enter. They have to enter, and they had to bring in things that are badly needed,” Borrell stressed.
Gaza needs fuel “as urgent as water and food”: UN agency
Gaza needs fuel “as urgent as water and food,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) told CNN on Monday,” as the two aid convoys that entered Gaza this weekend barely alleviate the dire conditions within the territory.
“Without fuel, it is not going to be possible to go around Gaza. . .or to power the water desalination plant to get clean drinking water or to power hospitals and the lifesaving machines,” Communications Director Tamara Alrifai said.
Alrifai added humanitarian aid that entered Gaza was “a fraction” of what is needed for over 400,000 displaced people currently taking shelters in schools run by UNRWA, adding the situation is “very, very dire.”
She said people in Gaza are forced to ration food, “even counting the minimum required calories per person per day per survival,” adding “We are really counting on a continuous and unimpeded access of the trucks from Rafah into Gaza.”
Israel has announced that fuel won’t be allowed into Gaza.
Former Israeli PM admits responsibility for Hamas’s attack
Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former Prime Minister, says he is also to blame for the failures of the government that led to Hamas’s October 7 assault into southern Israel.
“I served as prime minister for 12 months. There were things I didn’t have time to do and then the government fell. Certainly I bear responsibility,” Bennett was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel.
The attack was considered by many as one of Israel’s biggest intelligence failures. Several senior Israeli officials, including army chief Herzi Halevi and head of security services Ronen Bar, have taken responsibility for the attack.
An opinion poll by the Maariv newspaper said that nearly 70 percent of those who voted Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party in the last elections want Netanyahu to speak in public over the attacks.
Amnesty accuses UK PM of ‘diminishing’ gravity of Israel rights violations
Rights group Amnesty International accused UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and senior opposition member Lisa Nandy of “diminishing” the gravity of the Israeli human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.
“By refusing to condemn clear breaches of international law, by not saying clearly that Israel’s restriction of water and food is collective punishment and a war crime, and that Israel’s evacuation order amounts to forcible displacement, UK politicians are diminishing the gravity of Israel’s actions,” Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK Chief Executive, said in a statement.
Sunak and Nandy, the shadow cabinet secretary for international development, have faced backlash for refusing to condemn Israel’s total blockade of the Strip during interviews.
At least 222 captives in Gaza: Israeli military
In his latest press briefing, Israel’s top military spokesperson has said 222 people are being held captives by Hamas.
“We will use every method in order to release the captives and return them to their families,” Daniel Hagari told reporters.
Hamas estimates 200-250 people are held in Gaza but said they couldn’t provide an exact number due to “operational difficulties” caused by the incessant Israeli bombardment.
Gaza needs fuel “as urgent as water and food”: UN agency
Gaza needs fuel “as urgent as water and food,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) told CNN on Monday”, as the two aid convoys that entered Gaza this weekend barely alleviate the dire conditions within the territory.
“Without fuel, it is not going to be possible to go around Gaza. . .or to power the water desalination plant to get clean drinking water or to power hospitals and the lifesaving machines,” Communications Director Tamara Alrifai said.
Alrifai stated humanitarian aid that entered Gaza was “a fraction” of what is needed for over 400,000 displaced people currently taking shelters in schools run by UNRWA, adding the situation is “very, very dire.”
She said people in Gaza are forced to ration food, “even counting the minimum required calories per person per day per survival”, adding “We are really counting on a continuous and unimpeded access of the trucks from Rafah into Gaza”.
Israel has previously announced that fuel won’t be allowed into Gaza.
Vicinity of Gaza’s Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals hit by Israeli strikes: Report
Over 400 killed in Israeli strikes in last 24 hours: Report
Biden, western leaders reiterate Israel’s right to defend itself
The US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the UK have stressed Israel’s right to defend itself, but also called for Israel to protect civilians.
The countries said in a joint statement that they welcomed the release of two hostages by Hamas, and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
After speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden convened a meeting of the Quint – a bloc that includes the US, France, Britain, Germany and Italy – plus Canada.
In the statement, Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the arrival of the first aid convoys in Gaza.
The UN’s World Food Programme says that only 0.002 percent of the enclave’s immediate relief needs have been met so far.
They also agreed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to “prevent the conflict from spreading”.
China willing to do ‘whatever is conducive’ to achieve ceasefire
China’s envoy to the Middle East has said that Beijing sees the situation in Gaza as “very serious” with the risk of conflict spreading throughout the region
Zhai Jun, who is visiting the Middle East, stated China is willing to do “whatever is conducive” to promote dialogue and achieve a ceasefire, as reported by China Central Television.
Last week, Zhai noted the cause of the fighting between Israel and armed Palestinian groups in Gaza was because of the lack of guarantees for Palestinian rights.
Amnesty chief condemns killing of Gaza journalist
Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital faces ‘real disaster’ as fuel supply dwindles: Hospital director
Israel threatens to strike al-Quds Hospital: Red Crescent
UN says 14 trucks with aid enter Gaza, no fuel supplied
29 UNRWA staff killed in Gaza since October 7
French and Dutch leaders are set to visit Israel this week: Israeli PM
French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are due to arrive in Israel Monday, the Israeli prime minister’s office said Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone to the two leaders as well as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Macron and Rutte will arrive on Monday and Tuesday, and will meet with Netanyahu, according to his office.
The Israeli prime minister thanked the the Western leaders for their support of Israel’s “right to defend itself against Hamas’s brutal terrorism,” his office announced in a statement, adding that “Israel’s victory over Hamas would be a victory for the entire world.”
Biden held calls with Pope Francis and Netanyahu
US President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in two separate calls about developments in Middle East.
In his discussion with Pope Francis, Biden condemned the attack by Hamas and discussed his efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
The two “discussed the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East,” according to a readout of his call.
The White House is expected to send a readout of the president’s call with Netanyahu soon.
Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris also received a briefing Sunday morning from their national security team about the latest Gaza developments.
Participants in the briefing included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown, Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Hamas and Israeli troops clash inside Gaza
Hamas fighters clashed with Israeli troops inside Gaza, the Palestinian group’s Al-Qassam Brigades said Sunday, in what appears to be one of the first skirmishes between the two sides on the ground inside the strip since war broke out on October 7.
Hamas announced its fighters destroyed two Israeli military bulldozers and a tank in an ambush, forcing Israeli troops to retreat into Israel without their vehicles.
“The soldiers of the Zionist force that fell into the Khan Younis ambush left their vehicles and fled east of the fence on foot,” the Al-Qassam Brigades said on social media.
The Israel Defense Forces said only that “shots were fired at IDF soldiers operating west of the Gaza Strip security fence, in the area of Kissufim.”
“An IDF tank struck the terrorist cell who fired at the soldiers,” the IDF added.
Kibbutz Kissufim is east of Khan Younis, in Gaza.
The IDF confirmed to CNN by phone that its troops had been operating inside Gaza during the incident.
It is not the first time the IDF has said it operated inside Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. On October 13, the IDF confirmed it had carried out raids inside Gaza in the previous 24 hours, but it did not say clashes had taken place.
Blinken says he’s hopeful more hostages will be released
US President Joe Biden’s administration is “hopeful” that more hostages held by Hamas will be released, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday.
“We don’t know why Hamas chose to release Natalie and Judith (Raanan) first. I use the word first advisedly, because again, we’re hopeful that more follow,” he said, adding, “This is something we’re engaged in virtually around the clock.”
He noted US officials have been engaged with partners in the region and in talks with those who might have influence with Hamas to release the hostages.
Blinken added that of the 10 Americans unaccounted for, some are believed to be hostages, but he didn’t provide an exact figure.
“What we don’t know for sure is whether some of the unaccounted for are dead and have simply not been uncovered yet, or whether they’re hostage. But we have a pretty strong idea that some number of the 10, at least, are being held in Gaza by Hamas,” he said.
When asked whether the US wants Israel to delay its ground operation until more hostages can be released — as CNN has reported, according to two sources briefed on the discussions — Blinken stated the US is talking to Israel on a regular basis but maintained the decisions are for Israel to make.
Blinken later said the US remains concerned over a potential escalation by Iranian proxies and is prepared for that likelihood.
“We are taking steps to make sure that we can effectively defend our people and respond decisively if we need to. This is not what we want, not what we’re looking for. We don’t want escalation,” he continued.
US is “concerned about potential escalation” in Middle East: Austin
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated the US is “concerned about potential escalation” in the Middle East, following the announcement of additional US military assets to the region.
“We’re concerned about potential escalation. In fact, what we’re seeing is a — is a prospect of a significant escalation of attacks on our troops and our people throughout the region, and because of that, we’re going to do what’s necessary to make sure that our troops are in the right — in a good position, and they’re protected, and that we have the ability to respond,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Austin added the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, as well as additional Patriot defense battalions, to locations throughout the region was to protect US troops in the area. Those deployments were announced Saturday night.
The Defense Secretary said he has encouraged Israeli officials, and specifically Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, “to conduct their operations in accordance with the law of war.”
In response to a question on whether Israel was doing enough to protect or ensure innocent civilians are not being killed, Austin stated, “We encourage them at every opportunity, Jon, to make sure that, you know, we’re accounting for those civilians that are in the battle space that were providing corridors for them to leave the battle space if necessary, and that they’re allowing humanitarian assistance to get into that space as well.”
Austin did say he thinks a two-state solution is still “very, very supportable.”
