The United States on Tuesday, February 20, vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza. This is their third veto since the start of the war between their Israeli ally and Hamas. The draft text, which called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties,” received 13 votes in favour, one against and one abstention (UK).
The World Food Program (WFP) is suspending aid to the northern Gaza Strip. Due to the situation there, the WFP was forced to stop providing food aid to the north of the Gaza Strip. “On Sunday, the convoy was surrounded by crowds of hungry people near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint,” the UN aid agency said. And on Monday, “total chaos and violence occurred due to the breakdown of civil order” in a convoy, with trucks looted and a driver beaten.
A resolution for a ceasefire. The UN Security Council must decide on a new text calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza. This resolution is threatened by a new veto by the United States, its third since the start of the war between its Israeli ally and Hamas. Voting must take place at 10 a.m. local time (4 p.m. in France).
There is a risk of an “explosion” in the number of child deaths in Gaza, according to UN agencies. Alarming food shortages, rampant malnutrition and the rapid spread of disease are worrying the United Nations. Food and drinking water have become “extremely scarce” in the Palestinian territory and almost all small children suffer from infectious diseases.
The crisis between Israel and Brazil is worsening. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is “persona non grata” in Israel, Israel's foreign minister said on Monday, after the Brazilian president accused Benjamin Netanyahu's government of committing “genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli ambassador to Brazil was also summoned by the Brazilian foreign minister.
Israel threatens to continue its offensive in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan. Fighting continued on Monday in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is threatening to continue its offensive against Hamas during Ramadan if the hostages are not released by then, including in the Rafah region.