• Israel have threatened if hostages are not released by the start of Ramadan, they will commence with a ground offensive in Rafah.
• Israel continues to reject all international calls for a ceasefire, including the call from Algeria.
A further 107 Palestinians have been killed during the past 24 hours and the total number of people wounded in Israeli operations in Gaza has surpassed 69,000. Furthermore, Israel has killed 29,000 Palestinians amidst a crisis of shere starvation. The ministry has indicated that about two-thirds of the casualties in Gaza are women and children.
Israel’s military reported strikes on Khan Younis, the largest city in southern Gaza, while international concerns persisted about a planned Israeli offensive in the nearby city of Rafah.
Retired Israeli general Benny Gantz, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “War Cabinet”, stated that if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza prior to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, “the fighting will continue to the Rafah area.” The words of the general imply that there is some sort of symmetry of Palestinians and Israelis in weaponry and arsenal. This is of course fallacious.
Ramadan is expected to begin on March 10th.
Pictured: Minister Benny Gantz
With Rafah’s proximity to the Egyptian border and widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip due to Israel’s counter offensive, it remains unclear where Palestinian civilians can safely seek refuge.
More than half of Gaza’s population is now in Rafah, with many having fled there amid Israeli evacuation orders.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s intention to “finish the job” on Sunday.
Israel rejected international calls, including from its chief ally, the United States, for “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood, asserting that any such agreement could only be achieved through negotiations.
Netanyahu has dismissed Hamas’ demands as “delusional,” which include Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza and leaving Palestinians with the ability to rebuild its arsenal.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, stated in a Saturday statement that the U.S. would veto an Algerian plan likely to come before the U.N. Security Council this week, calling for an immediate cease-fire.
She emphasized that the U.S. seeks “a sustainable resolution” to the Gaza conflict, leading to an immediate and sustained period of calm for at least six weeks. This would allow for essential supplies such as food, water, fuel, and medicine to reach Palestinian civilians in need.
Thomas-Greenfield stated that the Algerian plan would not achieve the same results and “may run counter to them.” She warned that if the Algerian plan were to come up for a vote, “it will not be adopted.”
