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Palestine will be the first of 52 countries to speak as the ICJ begins six days of hearings examining the legality of Israel’s 57-year occupation.
Here’s how things look on Monday February 19, 2024:
Fighting and humanitarian crisis
- The Gaza Health Ministry said another patient died at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, bringing the death toll to eight since the Israeli army cut off electricity and oxygen supplies.
- Footage verified by Tel Aviv Tribune shows hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza City rushing towards aid trucks before fleeing after Israeli forces opened fire on them.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed aside growing calls to stop the military offensive in Gaza, vowing to “finish the job”.
- Israeli air raids continued on Gaza, killing at least 18 people overnight Monday, according to doctors and witnesses.
- World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a WHO team was not allowed to enter Nasser Hospital. In an article on
- Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said at least 200 fighters had gone to the hospital. Gaza’s health ministry said 70 medical staff were among those arrested, along with patients, leaving 150 patients without medical care.
- Around 80 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced and a quarter faces famine. Wael Abu Omar, a spokesman for the Palestinian Crossings Authority, said that 123 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday via Karem Abu Salem, also known as the Kerem Shalom border crossing, and that four trucks of cooking gas entered via the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
Diplomacy
- On Monday, the State of Palestine will be the first of 52 countries to take the stand as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) begins six days of hearings on Monday.
- This case focuses on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem since 1967.
- Separately, the United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on Tuesday on an Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, which the United States has announced it will veto.
- Meanwhile, Norway agreed to serve as an intermediary between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the transfer of frozen tax funds.
- Separately, US Congressman Robert Garcia expressed support for a “free and safe” two-state solution and a “lasting ceasefire.” job on social networks.
Violence in the occupied West Bank
- The Israeli army attacked the town of Qabatiya, south of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, the Wafa news agency reported.
- Israeli forces destroyed property and vehicles, distributed threatening leaflets and arrested at least three Palestinians in raids on homes, the Wafa news agency reported. Clashes also broke out, with the Israeli army throwing smoke bombs.
