🚨 Anthony Blinken:

Our failure to vote on the international resolution confirms our position that any ceasefire comes as part of the hostage release agreement.

We hope to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages through negotiations in the near future

[GG]

Breaking News: Netanyahu Cancels Visit to Washington After U.S. Abstains from U.N. Vote on Gaza Ceasefire

Reuters |

🔴 The White House expresses "very disappointed" as Netanyahu scraps high-level Israeli delegation's visit to D.C. This comes after the U.S. abstained from a crucial U.N. vote demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

🔻 "It's disappointing," says White House spokesperson John Kirby. The cancellation prevents crucial discussions on alternatives to a ground offensive in Rafah, leaving civilians at risk.

🤝 Despite the cancellation, U.S. officials will still meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss critical issues like hostages, humanitarian aid, and civilian protection in Rafah.

🔥 U.S. policy remains firm: a major ground offensive in Rafah would be a grave mistake. Washington says it “will continue to voice concerns about Israeli policies in Gaza”.

[K.P.]

🔺The bodies of 15 martyrs have been recovered from various areas in the city of Khan Yunis since this morning

[NP]

Anthony Blinken:

❗️We cannot provide an assessment regarding a video broadcast by Al Jazeera targeting an Israeli march of civilians in Gaza

❗️ We asked Israel for clarification regarding the content of the Al Jazeera video, which showed a march targeting civilians in Gaza

[GG]

🔻 The Al-Qassam Brigades targeted a Zionist "Merkvah" tank with an "Al-Yassin 105" shell and completely burned it in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[GG]

US State Department: We want a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza linked to the release of prisoners

🔻Congress’s decision to ban dealing with UNRWA will not prevent us from helping the Palestinians, and we are making plans for that

🔻Our assessment is that Israel does not use aid as a weapon, but we continue to monitor and evaluate the situation

🔻Israeli settlement is an obstacle to peace and is inconsistent with international law

🔻The Security Council’s decision on the ceasefire is non-binding and its implementation may take place through negotiations

[GG]

UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths announced that he will step down “Due to health problems”, minutes after ceasefire vote.

Griffiths famously previously stated: that “Hamas is not a terrorist group for us” which enraged Israel.

He also openly blamed Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza multiple times.

His voice will be missed.

[K.P.]

🚨 The Israeli occupation arrests displaced people from the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis and forces the women to go to the Al-Mawasi area.

[GG]

Hebrew media: “Channel 12” quoting Gantz:

Security Minister Yoav Galant says before the meetings in the United States:

“The United Nations resolution is a scandal. It is better for Prime Minister Netanyahu to travel himself and conduct a direct dialogue with President Biden and senior administration officials.”

[GG]

Armed clashes and Israeli artillery shelling targeting the Al-Amal neighborhood, west of the city of Khan Yunis

[A.k]

😌 Israeli media: Commercial businesses in the north are completely empty of customers and employees in light of the absence of residents, tourists, and buyers.

[G&T]

Occupation forces close Bab al-Sahira in Jerusalem, claiming that “there is a suspicious object” in the place

[A.k]

🔺An Israeli family dresses for Purim as a Gazan family amidst destruction

[NP]

Likud, military and political veteran (Moshe Ya'alon).

He told Hebrew Channel 12 that the Rafah storming represents Netanyahu's propaganda campaign, as "he will respond by saying that he was restrained by the Americans, and he will accuse them of not enabling him to achieve absolute victory."

He explained the matter by saying, "They withdrew the brigades. There are 4 brigades in Gaza now instead of the 28 brigades that were there. Do you think Yahya Al-Sinwar does not realize this?"

He said that Netanyahu wants to prolong the war, “because the life of his term as prime minister is the duration of the war’s continuation, and he does not want it to end,” and he is “ready to sacrifice the kidnapped.”

He added, "If we were working based on Israel's interests, and not based on preserving the survival of the government coalition, we would have dealt with the issue of the kidnapped from the beginning."

Referring to Netanyahu's extremist allies, he said: “For them, the return of Christ is near, and the events of last October necessitate celebration. Their motto is, ‘Let’s occupy Gaza so that the Jews can settle it. For that, of course, there will be no ceasefire, and the kidnapped will not be released.’” The result in their mind is: “ Sacrificing the kidnapped is for the coming of Christ,” he said, adding that “it seems crazy.”

[A.k]