The German frigate “Hessen,” stationed in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships, repelled “for the first time” an attack by the Houthi militias operating in Yemen. The ship belonging to the EU military mission Aspides shot down two drones “in quick succession” last night.
It was the German Navy's first use of weapons in the operation that began on Friday and, according to the authority, is considered the most dangerous naval operation in the history of the Bundeswehr, today's Bundeswehr.
10:29 p.m
In Gaza, the number of children dying from malnutrition rises to 6
The number of people increases to six Dead children in the Gaza Strip due to malnutrition and dehydration. This was announced by Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qudra, stating that two minors died at Al Shifa Hospital and two others died at Kamal Adwan Hospital. “We call on the international institutions to take immediate action to prevent the humanitarian catastrophe in the northern Gaza Strip,” the spokesman added, explaining that the international community must provide “moral and humanitarian evidence” and “the genocide they have committed.” “We must put an end to Israel’s occupation of Gaza.”
9:47 p.m
Israeli air strikes near Damascus
Syria's state news agency SANA said Israeli warplanes carried out strikes on several locations near the capital Damascus, causing “material losses.” Citing a military source, Sana said Israel's warplanes fired their missiles from the Golan Heights and Syrian air defenses shot down “most of them.” Sana reports no injuries from the attacks.
8:06 p.m
European Parliament: “Immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza”
“The European Parliament calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in order to guarantee its residents uninterrupted access to food and water.” This is the text of an amendment proposed by the Left Group in the report on the protection of the Gaza Strip adopted by the Chamber in Strasbourg human rights against authoritarian regimes.
(afp) 19:41
US to Israel: “Let the believers pray in Al-Aqsa”
The United States called on Israel to allow Muslims to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem during Ramadan after a far-right minister suggested Palestinians from the occupied West Bank be banned from praying there. “We continue to call on Israel to facilitate access to the Temple Mount (the Temple Mount for Jews) for peaceful worshipers during Ramadan, consistent with past practice,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a briefing.
6:57 p.m
Israeli police: “There would be unrest if the Temple Mount were banned”
Senior Israeli police officials, speaking under the guise of anonymity, are warning that unrest could break out in Jerusalem and mixed Arab-Jewish cities if authorities ban Muslim citizens from attending prayers in Jerusalem Esplanade of the Mosques during Ramadan. This was reported by Israeli television channel 12. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has authority over the police, is said to have pushed for men under a certain age to be banned from entering the Temple Mount, considered Islam's third most holy place.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security officials at a Cabinet meeting earlier this month to present options for age criteria and quotas that could be imposed on Arab citizens wishing to visit the holy site over the holidays, reportedly triggering warnings from Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. that the move could lead to sectarian violence.
(Portal) 18:01
Red Sea, Spiegel: German frigate risks shooting down a US drone
Last Monday, the German frigate Hessen almost shot down an American drone due to inadequate coordination of various military operations in the Red Sea and Yemen. The German weekly newspaper “Der Spiegel” reports on this and explains that the Hesse crew accidentally shot at an American Reaper drone. The drone was shot down not only because of a technical defect in two German anti-aircraft missiles, which then fell into the sea. After spotting the drone on radar, the Hessian crew contacted their US Navy colleagues. However, they also knew nothing about the mission of the Reaper drone, which was supposedly traveling to the region as part of an American anti-terror mission. After consulting with the Prosperity Guardian mission, the commander of the Hessen gave the order to fire on the unknown drone that was flying towards the German frigate. However, after two anti-aircraft missiles were fired, a technical defect occurred and the two missiles fell into the sea. Only later did it emerge that the target was a US drone.
(afp) 5:35 p.m
PNA: “We don’t expect miracles from a faction meeting in Moscow”
Palestinian Authority (PNA) Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said he does not expect “miracles” from tomorrow's talks between the Fatah and Hamas factions in Moscow on a unified government and post-war reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The meeting in the Russian capital comes the day after President Abu Mazen accepted the resignation of Mohammed Shtayyeh's government to favor a unified Palestinian technical government, including Gaza, after the end of the conflict.
“We hope,” Al Maliki said from Geneva, quoted by the media, “that good results can be achieved in terms of mutual understanding among all factions on the need to support an emerging technocratic government.”
“Of course,” he added, “we do not expect miracles from a simple meeting in Moscow, but I believe that the Moscow meeting should soon be followed by other meetings in the region.”
4:14 p.m
Israel: “Forward with new settlements in the West Bank”
The Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pledged to further expand settlement construction in the West Bank, defying international pressure on Israel to halt construction. Smotrich announced the approval of a new settlement called Mishmar Yehuda in Gush Etzion, a group of Jewish settlements south of Jerusalem. The expansion of the colonies “will progress quickly,” announced Smotrich.
(Portal) 3:27 p.m
According to UNICEF, one million children in Gaza suffer from food insecurity
In the Gaza Strip, one million children are suffering from serious food insecurity after four months of war. Unicef denounces this with a post on the official X profile of Unicef Mena (Middle East and North Africa). “After more than four months of war, 1 million children in Gaza are suffering from severe food insecurity and facing what could soon become a public health disaster,” the post said. “Safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to and within the Gaza Strip is necessary to reach affected populations wherever they are. Over 95% of families have limited the amount of food adults receive to ensure young children eat,” the post concludes
1:00 pm
Haniyeh: “Open to an agreement but ready to fight again”
The head of Hamas Ismail HaniyehIn a televised address in Beirut that was picked up by international media, he said the group was showing “flexibility in the talks” on a possible deal that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and a temporary ceasefire, but was also “ready to continue.” In the televised address, Haniyeh also called on the so-called “axis of resistance” to intensify their attacks
11:39
Hamas leader Haniyeh: “Palestinians go to the esplanade for Ramadan”
The leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh appealed to Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank on the first day of Ramadan, 10/11. March to march to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. This was reported by Portal, quoted by Haaretz
“Ceasefire from Monday”. But Hamas and Israel deny the US
by our correspondent Daniele Raineri February 28, 2024
11:09
Military radio: “Hamas would have rejected the agreement”
The Israeli military broadcaster cited by the media reported, based on an unsourced report, that Hamas would react negatively to a proposed agreement on a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages. One proposal, according to the same report, defined a “Zionist document” that does not meet Hamas's demands for an end to the war, the full return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Strip and the release of some Palestinian security detainees in exchange for the hostages. There is no confirmation of this news in Israel or from other sources
10:39 a.m
The families of the hostages march towards Jerusalem
The families of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip today began a march from the border community of Kibbutz Reim to Jerusalem under the slogan “United to free the hostages.” The procession's arrival is scheduled for Saturday. Today the group will first travel to Sderot, where they will hold a solidarity ceremony at the police station at 4:30 p.m., reports the Times of Israel. The Sderot police station was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, killing 35 officers and civilians there. Many of the officers stationed there were first responders in the border towns when the attack began on October 7th. The group then travels to Kiryat Gat, where they will spend the first night. Tomorrow the march will go from Kiryat Gat to Beit Guvrin before continuing to Beit Shemesh where a ceremony will take place in the evening. On Saturday evening, protesters in Jerusalem will hold a rally in the city's Paris Square
09:01
Media: “Fatah and Hamas will meet in Moscow tomorrow”
Representatives from Hamas and Fatah will meet in Moscow tomorrow to discuss the formation of a Palestinian unity government and the reconstruction of Gaza. This was announced by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti, citing the Palestinian ambassador to Russia. The news of the meeting was also confirmed to RIA by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov
08:28
US diplomatic sources: “Iranian Hezbollah operates in Yemen amid Houthi attacks”
Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah militants are present in Yemen and supporting Houthi attacks, a senior US diplomat said on Tuesday. “Credible public reports indicate that significant numbers of Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah support Houthi attacks from Yemen,” the U.S. special envoy for Yemen said Tim Lenderking to the legislators
08:23
Warning sirens in northern Israel
Warning sirens sounded in several Israeli communities near the northern border with Lebanon, warning of rocket fire. This was reported by the Times of Israel. The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Gen Dear Haleviwarned yesterday that Hezbollah would pay “a very high price” for its continued attacks on northern Israel
07:01
German frigate fends off Houthi attack for the first time
The German frigate “Hessen,” stationed in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships, repelled “for the first time” an attack by the Houthi militias operating in Yemen. The Dpa reported this on the grounds that the ship of the EU military mission “Aspides” shot down two drones “in quick succession” last night. It was the German Navy's first use of weapons in the operation that began on Friday and, according to the authority, is considered the most dangerous naval operation in the history of the Bundeswehr, today's Bundeswehr.
06:03
Two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza, total number of casualties rises to 242
The Israeli Defense Forces announced that two officers were killed in northern Gaza yesterday, bringing the death toll in the offensive against Hamas to 242. They are 25-year-old Iftah Shahar, 25, company commander of the Tzabar Battalion of the Givati Brigade, and 24-year-old Itai Seif. The IDF said seven other soldiers from the Tzabar Battalion were seriously injured in the same incident following a bomb explosion in a building in the Zeitoun district of Gaza City.
04:52
The Israeli army attacks Jenin in the West Bank
The Israeli army attacks the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank. The Russian agency Tass reports that Israel is using drones and heavy weapons.
04:24
Biden asks Israel for assurances about the use of US weapons in Gaza
The Biden administration has given Israel until mid-March to sign a letter ensuring that it complies with international law when using American weapons and allowing humanitarian aid to flow into the Gaza Strip. Axios reports it. The American initiative is part of the memorandum requested by Biden and published on February 8th. Although the document is not specifically aimed at Israel, the measures it proposes reflect concerns expressed by Democratic US senators about Israel's campaign in Gaza. If the necessary assurances are not given on time, arms deliveries to the country will be suspended. The national security memorandum released on February 8 states that before American weapons are delivered, the country to which they are intended must provide “credible written assurances” that the weapons will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law. The document also emphasizes that a country using American weapons in conflict areas must provide “credible written assurances” that it will “facilitate indirect deliveries of American humanitarian assistance and not arbitrarily deny or directly restrict them.”
02:42
Conversation between Blinken and Saudi minister: “Let’s work together for peace”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. According to the State Department, Blinken and the secretary of state “are committed to continuing to engage closely with the Palestinians and other regional and international partners on ways to resolve the conflict in Gaza and prepare for the post-war period.” Blinken thanked the Saudi foreign minister for his “generous humanitarian assistance” to the Palestinians and underscored the United States’ commitment to “achieving lasting peace through the creation of an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel.”