UN Security Council fights for a ceasefire in Gaza – the nightly update without photos Austria faces a new wave of protests from climate activists

International concern is growing over the looming Israeli ground offensive in the refugee-filled city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council is expected to vote on a resolution tabled by Algeria calling for an immediate ceasefire. If the US, as an ally of Israel, vetoes it as announced, it would have to “take responsibility for whatever happens next,” a diplomat said. “If Rafah happens, there will be no going back.”

Benny Gantz, a minister in Israel’s War Cabinet, made it clear on Sunday: “The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know, that if our hostages are not home by Ramadan, the fighting will continue and spread to Rafah.” However, it is uncertain whether international mediators will be able to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages before the start of the Muslim fasting month on March 10.

US: No ground offensive under “current conditions”

The US, as an ally of Israel, is also under increasing pressure. In recent days, Washington had – according to its own statements – tried to prevent a vote on the Algerian resolution text, so as not to jeopardize negotiations between Israel and the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas. But Washington would also want to avoid being seen as a pioneer in Israel’s increasingly criticized warfare.

With regard to Rafah, its own draft resolution states that “such a large-scale ground offensive should not be carried out under the current circumstances.” A “temporary ceasefire in Gaza is needed as soon as possible.” The text, which is available to the German Press Agency, indicates that the US is increasingly distancing itself from the Israeli military operation in the south of the Gaza Strip. However, the American text will initially not be voted on in the World Security Council.

EU foreign ministers call for an immediate ceasefire

Germany and 25 other EU countries are calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. This should lead to a lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of the hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid, according to a statement made on Monday evening after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. As background for the demand, the ruling of the International Court of Justice of January 26 is also cited, which gave Israel a binding order under international law to do everything possible to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Foreign Ministers also called on Israel not to take military action in Rafah that would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed delivery of basic services and humanitarian aid.

The Israeli army wants to submit an operational plan to the war cabinet

In Rafah, the Israeli army prepares to move in to destroy the remaining Hamas battalions and free suspected hostages there. However, the Israeli government has not yet issued an operational order in this regard. Military action in the Gaza Strip’s southernmost city is highly controversial because 1.5 million Palestinians, most of whom have fled fighting in other parts of the coastal region, are packed into a small area. The Israeli army plans to present a developed operational plan to the war cabinet this week, the news site Axios reported on Tuesday evening, citing Israeli officials. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, civilians in the combat zones should be given the opportunity to move to safe areas before a ground offensive begins.

Report: Biden’s Middle East coordinator travels to Israel

US President Joe Biden’s Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk is expected in Israel and Egypt this week for talks on the possible Israeli military operation in Rafah and efforts to release hostages held by Hamas, “Axios” reported on Tuesday evening , citing three Israeli and American officials. US President Joe Biden had previously warned Israel in clear terms that a military operation in Rafah “must not proceed without a credible and feasible plan to ensure the security and support of the civilian population in Rafah.” There must be a “temporary ceasefire” to free the hostages. He expects “that the Israelis will not launch a large-scale ground offensive in the meantime.”

Netanyahu: Military control over Palestinian territories remains

Netanyahu stressed this weekend that they would not bow to international pressure: “Anyone who wants to prevent us from operating in Rafah is ultimately telling us to ‘lose the war,’” Netanyahu said. The right-wing politician also emphasized his tough stance on the issue of a two-state solution after the end of the war in a video message on Monday evening: Even in the event of an agreement with the Palestinians, Israel would claim comprehensive military control over all Palestinian territories. “In any case, with or without a permanent solution, Israel will maintain full security control over all areas west of the Jordan,” Netanyahu said. This “obviously” includes the West Bank and Gaza Strip. “Everyone knows that it was I who for decades blocked the creation of a Palestinian state that would threaten our existence,” Netanyahu said.

As an ally of Israel, the US increasingly supports the two-state solution, which envisions the peaceful coexistence of Israel and a future Palestinian state. This should largely extend to the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, i.e. the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

What will be important on Tuesday

The UN Security Council vote on the resolution tabled by Algeria calling for an immediate ceasefire is scheduled for 5:30 PM Swiss time. However, the date has not yet been definitively confirmed. (sda/dpa)