The United States vetoed a new draft UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire “immediate” in Gaza, Tuesday February 20. This is their third veto since the start of the war between their Israeli ally and Hamas. The draft text, tabled by Algeria, required “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire which must be respected by all parties.” On the 15 current members of the Security Councilit received 13 votes for, one against (that of the United States) and one abstention (United Kingdom).
The World Food Program suspends aid to the northern Gaza Strip. The WFP was forced to suspend food aid in the north of the Gaza Strip, due to the situation there. “On Sunday, the convoy was surrounded by crowds of hungry people near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint”, mentions in particular the UN aid agency. And Monday, a convoy “faced total chaos and violence due to the breakdown of civil order”with looted trucks and a beaten driver.
A risk of an “explosion” in the number of child deaths in Gaza, according to UN agencies. An alarming lack of food, rampant malnutrition and the rapid spread of diseases worry the United Nations. Food and drinking water have become “extremely rare” in the Palestinian Territory and almost all young children suffer from infectious diseases.
The diplomatic crisis between Israel and Brazil is worsening. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is “persona non grata” in Israel, the Israeli Foreign Minister said on Monday, after the Brazilian president accused the government of Benjamin Netanyahu of committing a “genocide” Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli ambassador to Brazil was also summoned by the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Israel threatens to continue its offensive in Gaza during Ramadan. Fighting continued on Monday in the Gaza Strip where Israel is threatening to continue its offensive against Hamas during Ramadan (starting March 10) if the hostages are not released by then, including in the Rafah region.