2024-03-25 20:13:42
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan plans to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant today to discuss negotiations for the release of the hostages, humanitarian aid and the protection of the civilian population in Rafah, a White House official said, quoted by Reuters. .
The meeting is separate from upcoming talks between senior US and Israeli officials to discuss Tel Aviv’s plans for Rafah, the source added.
Against this background, the UN Security Council is likely to vote on a resolution for a cease-fire in Gaza without a US veto, the American publication “Axios” reported.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened not to send a delegation to Washington as planned if the United States does not veto the UN Security Council proposal, Israeli news website Ynet reported. So far, there is no official comment from the government in Tel Aviv on this information.
Meanwhile, an Israeli government spokesman announced that Tel Aviv would stop working with the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of prolonging the conflict.
“UNRWA is part of the problem and we will stop working with them. We are currently in the active phase of ending work with UNRWA because they are perpetuating the conflict instead of trying to alleviate it,” spokesman David Menser told reporters.
Today, the Israeli army launched new airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, including in Rafah, despite calls for a ceasefire.
The city in the southern part of the enclave is the last refuge for about half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.
According to Palestinian medics, 30 people have been killed in Rafah in the last 24 hours.
Israeli security forces have thwarted an attempt by Iran to smuggle cutting-edge weaponry into the West Bank, including shrapnel charges and anti-tank mines, the military said.
The weapons were discovered during an operation against a Lebanon-based operative of Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who recruited agents to smuggle weapons and carry out attacks in the West Bank, BTA writes.