Sigrid Kaag reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres’s concern that such an operation at current time can be doubtlessly disastrous for harmless civilians.
“There are greater than one million individuals crammed in Rafah. It is not supposed for one million individuals in shelters, in random kind of plastic sheeted constructions. Well being situations are very worrisome,” she advised correspondents in Brussels after briefing European Union overseas ministers.
She additionally voiced deep concern over getting assist into the Gaza Strip and distributing it to these in want.
“We now have to acknowledge the truth that the safety situations, separate from army operations, due to what’s known as self-distribution by determined civilians, but additionally looting and criminalization, is hampering efforts by the humanitarian neighborhood…to ship help to the individuals that really want it,” she stated.
Continued hostilities
Intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues throughout a lot of the war-torn enclave, in accordance with the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), leading to additional civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Widespread floor operations and heavy combating between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed teams additionally proceed to be reported, particularly in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, OCHA stated in a flash update on Monday.
Between 17 and 19 February, dozens of rockets had been additionally reportedly fired by armed Palestinians towards Israel, it added.
Nasser hospital evacuations
Moreover, the Israeli army operation within the Nasser Hospital advanced in Khan Younis have continued, OCHA stated, noting that on Sunday, the UN and the Palestine Pink Crescent Society evacuated 14 sufferers. Negotiations are ongoing for the evacuation of the remaining sufferers.
In line with the UN World Well being Group (WHO), over 180 sufferers and 15 medical doctors and nurses stay contained in the hospital.
“The hospital continues to be experiencing an acute scarcity of meals, fundamental medical provides, and oxygen. There isn’t a faucet water and no electrical energy, besides a backup generator sustaining some lifesaving machines,” WHO stated.
West Financial institution violence
OCHA additionally reported additional violent incidents within the West Financial institution over the weekend, claiming each Israeli and Palestinian lives.
On 16 February, two Israeli males had been shot and killed in southern Israel, and 4 others together with a toddler had been injured, by a Palestinian man from Shu’fats refugee camp in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian man was then shot and killed by an armed Israeli civilian.
On Sunday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian males in Tulkarm Refugee camp, throughout an change of fireplace with a Palestinian man whose physique was later withheld by Israeli forces from being handed over.
The second fatality was an unarmed Palestinian who was reportedly killed by an Israeli military sniper whereas standing on the rooftop of his home, OCHA stated.
Between 7 October 2023 and 18 February, 393 Palestinians have been killed, together with 100 youngsters, and 4,511 Palestinians, together with 699 youngsters, have been injured in conflict-related incidents throughout the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, and Israel.
Throughout the identical interval, 12 Israelis, together with 4 members of Israeli forces, had been killed and 80 injured in conflict-related incidents in the identical areas, in accordance with OCHA.
World court docket requested for authorized opinion
In the meantime, on the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) is holding a hearing regarding an advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The advisory, non-binding, opinion on the occupation was requested by the Basic Meeting in December 2022.
The hearings can be held from 19 to 26 February, with over 50 international locations, teams and the State of Palestine scheduled to talk.
World Points Information with Newsmaac
