what to remember from Sunday February 18

The Israeli army carried out new strikes on Gaza on Sunday.

Hopes for a truce are dwindling as the days pass. Rafah and Khan Younes, located in the south of the Gaza Strip and a few kilometers apart, were the targets of Israeli bombings which left 127 dead, the Hamas Ministry of Health announced on Sunday February 18. Here’s what to remember from this day.

Washington threatens to block UN resolution calling for ‘ceasefire’

The United States, Israel’s main ally, has threatened to block a new draft resolution at the UN Security Council demanding “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire which is said to be respected by all parties”. The American ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, believes that putting this text to a vote could “to go against” ongoing diplomatic negotiations for a truce including further releases of hostages. “If we came to a vote on the current project, it would not be adopted”she warned, clearly evoking a veto.

Brazilian president accuses Israel of committing ‘genocide’

THE brazilian presidentLula, accused Israel of committing a “genocide” Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. “What is happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people has not happened at any other time in history. In fact, it has happened before: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews”, said the left-wing leader. These statements are among the most virulent ever made on the ongoing conflict by Lula, a prominent voice from the countries of the South, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20

His comments immediately provoked a reaction from the Israeli Prime Minister, who denounced comments “shameful and serious” and summons the Brazilian ambassador to Israel on Monday. “Brazil has been on the side of Hamas for years. President Lula supports a genocidal terrorist organization (…) and in doing so brings shame on his people and violates the values ​​of the free world”for his part reacted on X the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant.

France and Egypt express “their firm opposition” to an offensive on Rafah

During a telephone call on Saturday, Emmanuel Macron and Abdel Fattah al-Sissi expressed their “firm opposition” to an offensive on Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians are crowded together. The leaders also expressed their opposition “any forced displacement of populations” towards Egypt, which “would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law”emphasizing “the urgency of drastically increasing the entry of aid for the population of Gaza”.

The Nasser hospital in Khan Younès is “no longer functional” warns the head of the WHO

This concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza is shared by the head of the World Health Organization (WHO). On XTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns of the situation at the Nasser hospital, located in Khan Younès, which “is no longer functional, after a week’s siege” then a “raid in progress”. “There are still around 200 patients in the hospital.”he warns, specifying that“at least 20 of them must be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive health care”. “Access to patients and the hospital must be facilitated”claims the Director General of the WHO.

At Nasser hospital, seven patients including a child have died since Friday due to power cuts, according to the Hamas Ministry of Health. In all, “70 members of medical staff including intensive care doctors” were arrested, he added. For its part, the Israeli army claimed to do everything possible “to ensure that the hospital continues to operate”tried to reassure an Israeli army spokesperson, Richard Hecht, by asserting that “fuel and oxygen supplies had been delivered there”.