Live blog: Israel military push in Rafah could lead to 'slaughter' — UN

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

1929 GMT — Israel's planned military push into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the last bastion of refuge for more than a million Palestinians, "could lead to a slaughter," UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths has warned.

"The international community has been warning against the dangerous consequences of any ground invasion in Rafah. The Government of Israel cannot continue to ignore these calls," Griffiths said in a statement.

"Military operations in Rafah could lead to a slaughter in Gaza," he added.

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1835 GMT — Israel blocks flour shipment to Gaza

Israel’s far-right finance minister has confirmed that he is blocking a massive shipment of flour to Gaza because the supplies are destined for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

In a post on X, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich accused UNRWA of cooperating with Hamas. He said he is working with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to find an "alternative distribution mechanism that won’t reach the hands of Hamas."

UNRWA’s director, Philippe Lazzarini, said on Friday that the convoy of food donated by Türkiye has been held up by Israeli authorities in an Israeli port for weeks. The agency says the shipment includes rice, flour, chickpeas, sugar, and cooking oil. It's enough to feed 1.1 million people for one month.

1741 GMT — Israeli drone crashes in southern Lebanon

An Israeli drone crashed in southern Lebanon, the military has confirmed.

Israeli Army Radio said the crash was caused by a technical malfunction.

An investigation was launched into the incident. Lebanese group Hezbollah earlier said that it had seized a Skylark drone “in good operational condition.''

1733 GMT — 162 school buildings directly hit by Israel in Gaza: UN

A UN spokesman has said that more than 160 school buildings have so far been hit in Gaza, where Israeli attacks continue.

"Humanitarian colleagues working on education have analysed satellite images to assess damage to schools across Gaza.

"Their assessment found that 162 school buildings have been directly hit, representing nearly 30 percent of the total 563 school buildings in Gaza," Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York. At least 26 of these buildings have been destroyed, he added.

"Some 175,000 students and more than 6,500 teachers have had their schools directly hit in hostilities. At least 55 percent of schools in Gaza will require either full reconstruction or major rehabilitation," Dujarric said.

1709 GMT — Yemen Houthi leader: No ships linked to Israel passed over the past week

The leader of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis has said that the group had been able to prevent Israeli-linked ships from passing through the Gulf of Aden over the past week.

"This is a real victory," Abdul Malik al Houthi said in a televised speech.

1645 GMT — Only Gaza ceasefire will end Lebanon border hostilities: Hezbollah

Hezbollah's chief has said ending the Gaza war was key to halting hostilities on the Lebanon frontier, and accused foreign efforts to end the cross-border violence of serving Israeli interests.

"When the attack on Gaza stops and there is a ceasefire, the fire will also stop in the south" of Lebanon, Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address, but warned: "If they (Israel) broaden the confrontation, we will do the same."

"Let nobody think Lebanon is weak and afraid, or that they can impose conditions" including over the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters, Nasrallah added. He warned that if Israel decided to wage war on Lebanon, those displaced from northern Israel "will not return" and Israeli officials should "prepare shelters, hotels, schools and tents for two million people" who would be displaced.

1604 GMT — UN chief warns Rafah offensive by Israel would be 'devastating'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced concern about a possible Israeli assault on Rafah in southern Gaza - home to more than one million residents seeking refuge from the war.

"My sincere hope is that the negotiations for the release of hostages and some form of cessation of hostilities to be successful to avoid all-out offensive over Rafah where the core of the humanitarian system is located and that would have devastating consequences," Guterres told reporters ahead of a UN Security Council meeting.

"I am particularly worried with the deteriorating conditions and security for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza. "There is a breakdown in public order. At the same time, we have restrictions imposed by Israel that are not improved and limit humanitarian distribution," said Guterres.

1522 GMT — 'Nowhere to go': UN agency for Palestinian refugees warns of humanitarian crisis if Israel attacks Rafah

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has expressed concern for civilians over a possible Israeli assault on Rafah in southern Gaza on the border with Egypt.

"The question is, where will the civilians go?" Philippe Lazzari ni told reporters after meeting member states at the UN in Geneva.

"There is absolutely no safe place in Rafah anymore. The fear is that the number of people killed and injured might again significantly increase."

1357 GMT — Israel takes steps to block UN agency for Palestinian refugees' work in occupied Jerusalem

Israel has launched steps to stop the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in the occupied East Jerusalem, according to Israeli media.

According to the Times of Israel news website, Israeli Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf on Monday wrote a letter to the director of the Israel Land Authority to evict UNRWA from any so-called state land in Jerusalem.

He ordered to "immediately halt" any agreements between the agency and the land authority.

1352 GMT — South Africa files urgent request at ICJ against Israel's Rafah offensive

South Africa has said it had asked the World Court to consider whether Israel's plan to extend its offensive in Gaza into the city of Rafah requires additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians' rights.

"In a request submitted to the court on February 12, the South African government said it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of Israel, has already led to and will result in further large-scale killing, harm and destruction," a statement issued by South Africa's presidency said.

"This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court's Order of Jan. 26," it added.

Read the full story here.

1329 GMT — No prospects for rapid stabilization in Gaza due to Israel’s ‘uncompromising attitude’: Russia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said there are no prospects for a quick stabilisation of the situation in Gaza due to the “uncompromising attitude” of Israel.

"Taking into account the uncompromising attitude of the Israeli leadership to continue the military action in Gaza, now extending it to Rafah, we do not see prospects for a quick stabilisation of the situation in this sector," Lavrov said during a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club on the Middle East.

Expressing that it is nevertheless necessary to create conditions for "reliable sustainable settlement" in Gaza, while also achieving a ceasefire, Lavrov said Russia drew attention to its initiative in the UN Security Council to consult with regional countries to "harmonise their approaches in support of the creation of a Palestinian state."

1242 GMT — UNRWA funding freezes risk 'aiding' deaths in Gaza: Saudi official

Freezing funds to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees risk "aiding" the deaths of civilians in Gaza, the head of Saudi Arabia's humanitarian agency has said.

"If you have close to two million people living in a small place... and then the funding for the food and for the health basics is stopped, basically you are calling for them to live in, actually, disaster and also aiding in their death," said Dr Abdullah al Rabeeah, head of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.

1222 GMT — UN would not cooperate with any forced Rafah evacuation: OCHA

The UN humanitarian office has not received any communication from Israel of a plan to evacuate Gaza's Rafah area either alone or jointly and would not participate in any forced evacuation even if it did, a spokesperson has said.

"We have not received any official communication from Israeli officials," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for OCHA said.

"Regardless, the UN does not participate in forced, non-voluntary evacuations. There is no plan at this time to facilitate the evacuation of civilians," he added.

1138 GMT — CIA, Mossad chiefs, Qatar PM meet Egyptians on Gaza truce

CIA director William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Egyptian officials in Cairo "to discuss a truce in Gaza", Egyptian media has reported.

Al Qahera News reported the "quartet meeting" as international pressure grows for a truce between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

The Israeli spy agency said it was evaluating Hamas's response to a proposed deal to halt fighting in Gaza, where more than 28,000 people have been killed.

1228 GMT — Two journalists severely wounded in Gaza strike: Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera has said two of its journalists were severely wounded in an Israeli strike in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

Reporter Ismail Abu Omar's life is at risk after having his right leg amputated, while cameraman Ahmad Matar has suffered multiple wounds and severe bleeding, the Qatar-based broadcaster said quoting an emergency physician.

1211 GMT — Dismantling UN agency for Palestinian refugees would be a 'disaster': chief

Dismantling the UN agency for Palestinian refugees would be a disaster, its chief has said, as the UNRWA came under pressure after Israel accused it had found a Hamas tunnel under its Gaza headquarters.

Instead, "maybe after this cataclysm which has hit the region in Gaza, it might be time now to genuinely find a political solution", Philippe Lazzarini told reporters at the UN in Geneva, calling for an independent probe into both the allegations on Hamas tunnels and strikes on UN installations in the Palestinian territory.

1204 GMT — Israel's treatment of Palestinian civilians 'disproportionate': Italy

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said that Israel's reaction against Palestinian civilians in Gaza has been disproportionate and asked Tel Aviv to “avoid retaliation against the civilian population.”

"At this point, Israel’s reaction is disproportionate, there are too many victims who have nothing to do with Hamas," Tajani told public broadcaster RAI’s Radio1.

1127 GMT — Erdogan urges protection of UNRWA, calls it 'lifeline for 6M refugees'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged all "conscientious" countries to protect the UN agency for Palestinian refugees or UNRWA, which he said provided a "lifeline for 6 million refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine."

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, the United Arabic Emirates, Erdogan said, "I would like to express our regret for the growing character assassinations on the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees".

Looking at the deep causes of the war in Gaza, Erdogan said: "Every step taken will remain incomplete unless an independent, sovereign, and geographically integrated Palestinian state is established within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital."

"If Israel wants lasting peace, it must stop pursuing its expansionist ambitions and accept the existence of an independent Palestinian state," said Erdogan.

1108 GMT — Israel must provide 'safe corridors' in Rafah: Germany

It is Israel's duty to guarantee "safe corridors" for Palestinian civilians in Rafah before conducting any incursion in the southern Gaza city, Germany's foreign minister has said.

"If action is to be taken now against the terror organisation in Rafah, then it is ... the responsibility of the Israeli army to provide safe corridors for the people who have sought protection there," Annalena Baerbock said, following talks with Palestinian foreign minister Riad al Malki in Berlin.

0951 GMT — Israeli ground attack on Rafah to have 'disastrous' consequences: Norway

Israel's planned ground offensive into Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza, would cause the already catastrophic situation in the territory to spiral further, Norway's foreign minister has warned.

"I am deeply disturbed by the heavy death toll in Rafah. Over 1.5 million people are seeking refuge in a city originally housing around 280,000," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in remarks to Anadolu.

"Distinguishing between civilians and military targets in densely populated areas in Gaza is extremely difficult. Under such circumstances, I strongly urge Israel to cease the aerial attacks against Gaza," Eide added.

0841 GMT — Senator Bernie Sanders slams Israeli Premier Netanyahu, US for supporting devastating Gaza attacks

US Senator Bernie Sanders slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's relentless attacks on Gaza and the US Congress for supporting them, warning against the US sending "the Israeli war machine" $10 billion more for bombings that cause innocent deaths.

On YouTube, Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, criticised both the Netanyahu administration and the US for continuing to send it money even four months into an offensive that has killed tens of thousands of people and reduced most of Gaza to rubble.

Citing Netanyahu's words about "victory" in Gaza, meaning "smashing glass" into smaller and smaller pieces, Sanders said: "The question we must ask ourselves over and over again is how many more children and innocent people will be smashed in the process? And why is the United States helping to fund this humanitarian disaster?"

0830 GMT — Gaza death toll reaches 28,473: ministry

A total of 28,473 Palestinians have been killed and 68,146 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said in a statement.

The ministry added that some 133 Palestinians were killed and 162 others wounded in the past 24 hours alone.

0826 GMT — Palestinian killed by Israeli fire in northern West Bank

A Palestinian young man was killed by the Israeli army during its raid to the city of Qalqilya in north of the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA quoted local sources as saying that the Israeli forces raided Qalqilya and opened fire on Mohammad Sharif Selmi while he was in his car, resulting in his death.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20-year-old Mohammad received several Israeli shots in his head, chest and shoulders.

Mohammad's death brings the toll of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023 to at least 392 in addition to over 4,440 others injured.

0713 GMT — Palestine calls for pressure to stop Israel's invasion of Rafah

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has urged for pressure on the Israeli government to stop its intended invasion against the Rafah city in southern Gaza.

Shtayyeh made the statement on Monday during his meeting with his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in Ramallah, central city in the occupied West Bank, his office said.

He stressed the necessity to stop the Israeli invasion of the tiny city that is currently home to an estimated 1.4 million people living in extreme humanitarian conditions.

The Palestinian premier also urged for increasing the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stressing that what enters Gaza does not exceed 8 percent of the actual need for humanitarian aid.

0638 GMT — Israel's planned operation on Rafah would be 'devastating': Canada

It is "unacceptable" that Israel goes ahead with a planned invasion of Rafah because such an operation would be devastating to Palestinians, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

"I'm very concerned about what's going on in Gaza, in particular Rafah," Joly told reporters in Ottawa. "The operation would be devastating and is devastating to Palestinians and all those seeking refuge."

"What the (Benjamin) Netanyahu government (of Israel) is asking (Palestinians) to do, which is to leave again, is unacceptable," Joly said. "They have nowhere to go, and so that's why we need right now for the violence to stop.

"We need a sustainable ceasefire. We need a hostage deal. Hostages must be released, and humanitarian aid must go in."

0635 GMT — Protesters gather outside White House against Israel's plans for Rafah offensive

People gathered outside the White House late Monday to protest against Israel's assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

Demonstrators, including NGOs and university students, carried Palestinian flags and chanted against President Joe Biden while unfurling banners saying "Hands of Rafah", "Biden: Rafah Is On You; Stop This Slaughter", "Save Rafah", "End All US Aid To Israel."

0412 GMT — Greece's main opposition party condemns Israeli attack on Rafah

Greece's left-wing main opposition SYRIZA party has condemned Israel's attack on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which killed over 100 people, and the Greek government's "deafening silence" over it.

"SYRIZA-PS expresses its strong concern about the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The absolutely reprehensible actions of Hamas do not justify in any way the violation of international humanitarian law which maintains the vicious cycle of blood and violence," the party said in a statement.

"In contrast to the continued deafening silence of the government, which is limited to repeating the need for a 'prolonged cessation of hostilities' and 'de-escalation of the crisis', SYRIZA-PS consistently expresses its solidarity with the hard-pressed Palestinian people."

0409 GMT — Israel's response to ceasefire proposal obstructive: Hamas

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has said Israel's response to a framework agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza does not help reach a deal.

At a press conference, senior Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said his group reviewed the Israeli response and considers it a backtrack from the proposed framework as it "puts conditions and obstacles that don't help reach a deal to stop the aggression on our people."

"The (Israeli) occupation's response to the Paris proposal doesn't guarantee the freedom of movement of residents and the return of displaced people to their homes and areas and also doesn't include a total withdrawal from all areas of the Gaza Strip," Hamdan said.

He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's behaviour "confirms that he is continuing with a policy of evasion and procrastination" and is not serious about reaching a ceasefire deal.

0356 GMT — UN special rapporteur slams Israel for denying her entry amid escalation of atrocities in Gaza

The UN special rapporteur for Palestinians issued a scathing rebuke against Israel for denying her entry to the country, saying it is the latest instance of barring UN special rapporteurs since 2008 and an attempt to deflect attention from the escalation of atrocities in Gaza.

Francesca Albanese's statement came amid reports of intensified violence in Gaza, particularly in the southern city of Rafah, where civilians have sought refuge in supposedly safe areas, only to come under devastating bombings.

"Israel's denying me entry is not news: Israel has denied entry to all special rapporteurs/oPt since 2008! This must not become a distraction from Israel's atrocities in Gaza, which are taking (on) a new level of horror with the bombing of people in 'safe areas' in Rafah," she said on X.

0239 GMT — UNGA president warns another phase of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza 'is at our doorstep'

The president of the UN General Assembly expressed grave concern over Israel's assault on the city of Rafah in the southern besieged Gaza.

"I am deeply distressed by the escalating military operation into Rafah, where over a million civilians are already sheltering in the most dire conditions," Dennis Francis said on X.

"Another phase of this humanitarian catastrophe is at our doorstep. This is not a path to sustainable peace," he added.

0239GMT — US Senate advances Ukraine aid bill to final phase before passage

The US Senate has voted to advance a $95.34B aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan toward possible passage on Wednesday, sweeping aside a final procedural hurdle after days of legislative wrangling.

0215 GMT — 'US claims Houthis fired 2 missiles toward Bab al Mandab Strait

Yemen's Houthi group fired two missiles toward the Bab al Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

"On Feb. 12 from 3:30 to 3:45 am (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Bab al-Mandab," CENTCOM said on X.

"Both missiles were launched toward MV Star Iris, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel transiting the Red Sea carrying corn from Brazil," it said, adding the ship reports being seaworthy with minor damage and no injuries to the crew.

2330 GMT — France proposes Hezbollah withdrawal, border talks for Israel-Lebanon truce

France delivered a written proposal to Beirut aimed at ending hostilities with Israel and settling the disputed Lebanon-Israel frontier, according to a document seen by the Reuters news agency that calls for fighters, including Hezbollah's elite unit, to withdraw 10 km from the border.

The document, the first written proposal brought to Beirut during weeks of Western mediation, was delivered to top Lebanese state officials, including Prime Minister Najib Mikati, by the French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne last week, four senior Lebanese and three French officials said.

The plan proposes Hezbollah and Israel would cease hostilities against each other, including Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.

2200 GMT — Jordan's king says Gaza needs 'lasting ceasefire now'

Jordanian King Abdullah II called for an immediate ceasefire in besieged Gaza, speaking at the White House alongside US President Joe Biden.

"We need a lasting ceasefire now," he said.

The Jordanian king added that an Israeli ground attack on the crowded southern Gaza city of Rafah would be "certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe."

2200 GMT — Rafah attack will have 'severe consequences,' Iran warns Israel

The Iranian foreign minister has warned of "severe consequences" after the Israeli premier vowed to continue their attacks on Rafah in the south of besieged Gaza.

"Extending the scope of war crimes and genocide of the occupying Israeli regime to the Palestinian refugees in Rafah will have severe consequences for Tel Aviv," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on X.

2100 GMT — Israel kills 67 Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah

Israeli air strikes have killed 67 Palestinians in the city of Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled to escape Israel's brutal war, as Israel claims to have rescued two captives in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza during the attack.

Women and children were among those killed in the air strikes, Palestinian officials said.

For our live updates from Monday, February 12, click here.