Sigrid Kaag reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres’s concern that such an operation at current time can be probably disastrous for harmless civilians.
“There are greater than 1,000,000 individuals crammed in Rafah. It isn’t meant for 1,000,000 individuals in shelters, in random type of plastic sheeted constructions. Well being situations are very worrisome,” she advised correspondents in Brussels after briefing European Union overseas ministers.
She additionally voiced deep concern over getting assist into the Gaza Strip and distributing it to these in want.
“Now we have to acknowledge the truth that the safety situations, separate from navy operations, due to what’s referred to as self-distribution by determined civilians, but additionally looting and criminalization, is hampering efforts by the humanitarian group…to ship help to the individuals that really want it,” she mentioned.
Continued hostilities
Intense Israeli bombardment from air, land and sea continues throughout a lot of the war-torn enclave, based on the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), leading to additional civilian casualties, displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Widespread floor operations and heavy combating between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed teams additionally proceed to be reported, particularly in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, OCHA mentioned in a flash update on Monday.
Between 17 and 19 February, dozens of rockets have been additionally reportedly fired by armed Palestinians towards Israel, it added.
Nasser hospital evacuations
Moreover, the Israeli navy operation within the Nasser Hospital complicated in Khan Younis have continued, OCHA mentioned, noting that on Sunday, the UN and the Palestine Crimson Crescent Society evacuated 14 sufferers. Negotiations are ongoing for the evacuation of the remaining sufferers.
Based on the UN World Well being Group (WHO), over 180 sufferers and 15 medical doctors and nurses stay contained in the hospital.
“The hospital remains to be experiencing an acute scarcity of meals, fundamental medical provides, and oxygen. There isn’t any faucet water and no electrical energy, besides a backup generator sustaining some lifesaving machines,” WHO mentioned.
West Financial institution violence
OCHA additionally reported additional violent incidents within the West Financial institution over the weekend, claiming each Israeli and Palestinian lives.
On 16 February, two Israeli males have been shot and killed in southern Israel, and 4 others together with a toddler have been injured, by a Palestinian man from Shu’fats refugee camp in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian man was then shot and killed by an armed Israeli civilian.
On Sunday, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian males in Tulkarm Refugee camp, throughout an alternate of fireside with a Palestinian man whose physique was later withheld by Israeli forces from being handed over.
The second fatality was an unarmed Palestinian who was reportedly killed by an Israeli military sniper whereas standing on the rooftop of his home, OCHA mentioned.
Between 7 October 2023 and 18 February, 393 Palestinians have been killed, together with 100 youngsters, and 4,511 Palestinians, together with 699 youngsters, have been injured in conflict-related incidents throughout the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, and Israel.
Throughout the identical interval, 12 Israelis, together with 4 members of Israeli forces, have been killed and 80 injured in conflict-related incidents in the identical areas, based on OCHA.
World court docket requested for authorized opinion
In the meantime, on the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ) is holding a hearing regarding an advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The advisory, non-binding, opinion on the occupation was requested by the Basic Meeting in December 2022.
The hearings shall be held from 19 to 26 February, with over 50 nations, teams and the State of Palestine scheduled to talk.
