- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved a plan for a ground invasion of Rafah city with the army “preparing operationally and for the evacuation” of about 1.5 million Palestinians trapped there.
- Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has accused Netanyahu of “manoeuvring to conduct more crimes of genocide”.
- The United Nations, Germany and the Netherlands are among those warning Israel against a Rafah attack. The US has also struck a cautious tone.
- Netanyahu has described the latest Hamas ceasefire proposal as “ridiculous” – though a delegation led by Mossad’s spy chief is heading to Qatar for truce talks.
- At least 31,490 Palestinians have been killed and 73,439 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139 with dozens taken captive.
- British Muslims reflect on Gaza suffering during RamadanThe war in Gaza is casting a shadow over the Islamic holy month of Ramadan for many Muslims around the world, who are using the time to reflect and pray over the plight of Palestinians.Outside the central mosque in London, one man told Al Jazeera: “It’s really distressing to see all the bombings and all the killings taking place in the holy month. It’s a very bad moment for all humanity, not only for Muslims.”Watch our report here:Play VideoVideo Duration 02 minutes 04 seconds02:04British Muslims advocate for Gaza ceasefire amid surge in IslamophobiaClick here to share on social media
- Babies being born already malnourished in GazaDominic Allen, a representative for the UN Population Fund Palestine, recently visited the Emirati hospital in Rafah.Conditions at the facility’s maternity ward are deeply disturbing, he said, with a stark rise in malnourished newborns and stillborn deaths.“The doctors are reporting that they no longer see normal-sized babies,” Allen told Al Jazeera. “What they do see though tragically is more stillborn babies and more neonatal deaths.”
A baby, hospitalised due to malnutrition and dehydration, lies in an incubator at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, Gaza [Mahmoud Issa/Anadolu Agency]Click here to share on social media - Japan to deliver aid to Gaza through Mediterranean corridorJapan will join the Mediterranean maritime corridor initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza from the Republic of Cyprus, according to Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.In remarks quoted by local media, the minister said the government plans to coordinate promptly with other related countries to deliver aid through the corridor.The project was launched earlier in the week, mainly initiated by Cyprus, the US, the EU and the United Arab Emirates.“We will work promptly on the matter,” the top Japanese diplomat added.Click here to share on social media
- Israel defence minister: PA-linked Palestinian groups leading Gaza is least-worst optionDefence Minister Yoav Gallant said local Palestinians associated with the Palestinian Authority (PA) should govern Gaza after the war because that is the most viable option, reports The Times of Israel.Gallant, speaking at a security cabinet meeting on Friday, said there are four scenarios that could play out in Gaza after the war:
- Hamas continues to rule if Israel does not entirely defeat itIsrael permanently occupies GazaGaza falls into chaos with no structured leadershipLocal Palestinians govern the Strip, taking their cue from PA-led Ramallah
- Children, pregnant women killed in Nuseirat attack: Gaza authoritiesThe government media office in Gaza says most of the 36 people killed in Friday’s Israeli army attack on a family home close to the Nuseirat refugee camp were children.The media office added that pregnant women were among the dead in the house, which was located in the west of the camp located in central Gaza.“We hold the American administration, the international community and the [Israeli] occupation fully responsible for the escalation of these crimes and massacres against defenceless civilians,” the statement on Telegram said.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/16/israels-war-on-gaza-live-will-the-netanyahu-government-attack-rafah
