The Latest | Israel cancels Washington visit in protest after US lets Gaza cease-fire pass at UN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled a high-level delegation’s deliberate go to to Washington after the U.S. determined to not use its veto energy on Monday’s U.N. Safety Council decision for a direct cease-fire in Gaza.

After vetoing three earlier resolutions calling for a cease-fire, the U.S. determination to abstain comes at a time of rising tensions between President Joe Biden’s administration and Netanyahu over Israel’s prosecution of the battle, the excessive variety of civilian casualties and the restricted quantities of humanitarian help reaching Gaza.

Worldwide support officers say your entire inhabitants of the Gaza Strip — 2.3 million individuals — is affected by meals insecurity and that famine is imminent within the hard-hit north.

Greater than 32,000 individuals have been killed within the territory, and greater than 74,000 wounded, in line with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its counts. It says ladies and youngsters make up two-thirds of the lifeless.

Some 1,200 individuals had been killed on Oct. 7 when Palestinian militants launched a shock assault out of Gaza, triggering the battle, and kidnapped one other 250 individuals. Hamas continues to be believed to be holding some 100 Israelis hostage, in addition to the stays of 30 others.

At present:

— Palestinians describe our bodies and ambulances crushed in Israel’s ongoing raid at Gaza’s principal hospital.

— U.N. passes decision demanding a cease-fire in Gaza throughout present Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

— Hundreds of Christians attend Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem in opposition to a backdrop of battle.

— Israeli airstrike in northeastern Lebanon wounds three individuals, native official says.

— Discover extra of AP’s protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.

Right here’s the newest:

WHITE HOUSE SURPRISED BY ISRAEL’S RESPONSE TO U.N. VOTE

WASHINGTON — White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby stated the response by Israel to the U.N. decision was shocking. “We’re sort of perplexed by this,” he stated.

He stated the Israelis had been “selecting to create a notion of daylight right here once they don’t want to try this.”

In accordance with a U.S. official with direct data of the talks, American officers had been in contact with Israel all through the weekend to make the U.S. place identified on the Safety Council decision, and to articulate that it was not a change in coverage or in help for Israel. The official spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity to debate the delicate discussions.

Netanyahu didn’t speak to Biden earlier than he canceled the delegation’s journey, and Biden doesn’t have any speedy plans to telephone Netanyahu, the official stated.

In the meantime, Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant was set to fulfill with U.S. Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan and others Monday in Washington the place discussions would proceed. The U.S. official stated the plan by Israel to enter Rafah was not imminent and there would nonetheless be time for ongoing talks — regardless of the canceled journey.

Eytan Gilboa, an knowledgeable on U.S.-Israel relations at Bar Ilan College, stated Netanyahu’s determination to cancel the diplomatic delegation to america was a mistake and demonstrates the strain between the US and Israel at this second.

Gilboa stated Biden is attempting to placate voices inside the Democratic get together that oppose his help of Israel, whereas Netanyahu is attempting to point out his means to face as much as American insurance policies he considers anti-Israel.

“If home issues are dominating determination making within the battle, you will have very harsh exchanges of rhetoric,” he stated.

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Related Press author Colleen Lengthy in Washington contributed.

‘REASONABLE GROUNDS’ TO BELIEVE ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE IN GAZA, INDEPENDENT U.N. EXPERT SAYS

GENEVA — An impartial knowledgeable working with the U.N.’s prime human rights physique says there are “affordable grounds” to consider Israel has been finishing up genocide in Gaza.

Israel’s authorities rapidly rejected the report.

The report from Francesca Albanese, the U.N. particular rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, cited Israeli polices and the “patterns of violence” throughout Israel’s army operation within the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

It accused Israeli army forces and authorities leaders of getting deliberately violated the legal guidelines of battle and protections that they confer, “in an try and legitimize genocidal violence in opposition to the Palestinian individuals.”

“By analyzing the patterns of violence and Israel’s insurance policies in its onslaught o Gaza, this report concludes that there are affordable grounds to consider that the brink indicating Israel’s fee of genocide is met,” stated the report, entitled “Anatomy of a Genocide.”

The report was drawn up beneath a mandate from the Human Rights Council., the U.N.’s prime human rights physique. It lays out a few of the most methodical reasoning but into claims of genocide in opposition to Palestinians which have been raised by critics of Israel and others.

The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva, the place the council is predicated and is presently in session, stated the report “brings disgrace” on the 47-country rights physique and blasted Albanese for a “marketing campaign of delegitimizing the very creation and existence of the State of Israel.”

“Because the battle, she has continued this marketing campaign unabated, excusing and legitimizing the assaults of Oct. 7, dismissing their antisemitic nature and dismissing any concrete proof of acts of savagery that had been perpetrated on that day,” the mission stated.

“It’s clear from the report that the Particular Rapporteur started with the conclusion that Israel is committing genocide, after which tried to show her distorted and politically-driven views with weak arguments and justifications,” it added.

U.N. human rights officers have been cautious to say that solely a reliable court docket could make the ultimate willpower about genocide, and that’s particularly exhausting throughout ongoing battle just like the one in Gaza.

Albanese is an out of doors knowledgeable and doesn’t communicate for the United Nations.

JORDAN AND TURKEY PRAISE U.N. CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION

ANKARA, Turkey — Jordan and Turkey have welcomed the U.N. Safety Council’s decision on Gaza, with each nations saying Israel should adjust to the decision’s calls for.

Turkish International Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli stated in an announcement that the decision was “a optimistic step.”

“We name on the worldwide neighborhood to take a united stand in opposition to Israel to finish the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and to discover a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian battle,” the spokesman stated.

Jordan’s International Ministry spokesman Sufyan Al-Qudah famous the decision “emphasizes defending civilians and permitting the unhindered supply of humanitarian support.”

HAMAS WELCOMES U.N. CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION BUT WANTS TRUCE TO BE PERMANENT

CAIRO — Hamas stated it welcomed the choice by the United Nations to name for a cease-fire however stated the truce must everlasting.

“We affirm our readiness to interact in a direct prisoner alternate course of that results in the discharge of prisoners on each side,” the Palestinian militant group stated Monday.

Israel is looking for the discharge of the greater than 100 hostages nonetheless held in Gaza by Hamas, whereas Hamas needs an finish — not a brief pause — to the battle together with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamas additionally needs Israel to launch giant numbers of Palestinian prisoners.

Worldwide mediators, led by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, have been engaged on a cease-fire to pause or finish the battle in Gaza.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS U.S. POLICY HAS NOT CHANGED, AFTER ABSTAINING ON U.N. CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION

WASHINGTON — White Home nationwide safety spokesman John Kirby insisted the the U.S. abstaining from a U.N. decision on Gaza cease-fire, permitting the decision to go, was not a change in American coverage.

“There is no such thing as a purpose for this to be seen as an escalation. Nothing has modified about our coverage,” he stated.

Kirby stated the decision known as for each a cease-fire and the discharge of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. “And that’s, broadly talking, consistent with what has been our coverage.”

Kirby stated the U.S. was disillusioned in Israel’s determination to cancel this week’s diplomatic delegation to Washington, however stated the discussions with Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant would seemingly embrace a few of what the U.S. had hoped to debate with the delegation on Israel’s deliberate floor assault on the Gaza metropolis of Rafah.

He stated he wouldn’t focus on whether or not the U.S. would take into account withholding help if the Israelis had been to proceed.

The White Home was aiming to speak to the Israelis about potential options to a floor invasion of Rafah, however Kirby wouldn’t get into specifics.

NETANYAHU CANCELS ISRAELI DELEGATION’S TRIP TO WASHINGTON IN PROTEST OF U.N. CEASE-FIRE VOTE

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled a deliberate go to to Washington by a high-level delegation to protest Monday’s U.N. Safety Council determination calling for a direct cease-fire.

The decision handed 14-0 on Monday after the U.S. determined to not use its veto energy and as a substitute abstained.

Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from what he stated had been a “principled place” by permitting the vote to go with out conditioning the cease-fire on the discharge of hostages held by Hamas.

The Israeli delegation was to current White Home officers with plans for an anticipated floor invasion of the strategic Gaza city of Rafah, the place over 1 million Palestinian civilians have sought shelter from the battle.

U.N. DEMANDS CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA DURING RAMADAN, ITS FIRST DEMAND TO HALT FIGHTING

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Safety Council has demanded a cease-fire in Gaza through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its first demand to halt combating.

The US abstained on the decision, which additionally demanded the discharge of all hostages taken captive throughout Hamas’ Oct. 7 shock assault in southern Israel.

Nevertheless, the measure doesn’t hyperlink that demand to the cease-fire through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which ends April 9. As a result of Ramadan ends subsequent month, the cease-fire demand would final for simply two weeks, though the draft says the pause in combating ought to lead “to a everlasting sustainable cease-fire.”

Because the begin of the battle, the Safety Council has adopted two resolutions on the worsening humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, however none has known as for a cease-fire.

The US has beforehand vetoed three resolutions demanding a cease-fire in Gaza, the latest an Arab-backed measure on Feb. 20. That decision was supported by 13 council members with one abstention, reflecting the overwhelming help for a cease-fire.

Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored decision in late October calling for pauses within the combating to ship support, the safety of civilians and a halt to arming Hamas. They stated it didn’t mirror world requires a cease-fire.

They once more vetoed the U.S. decision Friday, calling it ambiguous and saying it was not the direct demand to finish the combating that a lot of the world seeks.

HAMAS ACCUSES U.S. OF DISRUPTING ITS TALKS WITH ISRAEL

CAIRO — Hamas has accused america on Monday of disrupting cease-fire talks the militant group has been holding with the Israeli authorities.

In an announcement, Hamas stated the U.S. shouldn’t be a mediator attributable to its help of Israel.

“The American administration is the principle purpose for stalling any settlement,” senior Hamas official Husam Badran stated in an announcement. He additionally described Washington as “army associate” of Israel, making it unfit to play the position of mediator.

The criticism comes days after a contemporary spherical of cease-fire talks concluded in Doha, Qatar, which included the CIA chief, William Burns.

The U.S. has supplied Israel with key diplomatic and army help all through the battle. It has labored with Qatar and Egypt in mediation makes an attempt to dealer a deal that would come with a pause in combating and the discharge of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas has demanded ensures for an finish to the battle, the discharge of Palestinian prisoners and a plan for reconstruction of war-battered Gaza.

Throughout a earlier one-week cease-fire in November, round 100 hostages, principally Israelis, had been launched in alternate for 180 Palestinian prisoners.

Badran additionally claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be occupied with a deal and is deceiving hostages’ households.

Israeli media have reported that Israel has accepted a method that will launch a whole lot of prisoners for the hostages and was ready for a response from Hamas.

“The problem will not be associated to the prisoners and their numbers,” Badran stated. “The issue is that the occupation refuses to offer any ensures to the mediators on the fundamental points within the lives of individuals in Gaza.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Hamas of creating unrealistic calls for.

U.N. CHIEF SAYS AN INVASION OF RAFAH WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC

AMMAN, Jordan — The U.N. secretary-general says there’s a “rising consensus” that an Israeli floor invasion of the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah could be a “catastrophic humanitarian catastrophe.”

António Guterres, talking to reporters throughout a go to to a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan on Monday, reiterated his name for a cease-fire and the discharge of all hostages held by Hamas.

He famous that america, European and Muslim nations have urged Israel to not increase its floor offensive to Rafah.

Some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have fled combating elsewhere in Gaza, have packed into the southern metropolis on the border with Egypt. Israel and Egypt refuse to simply accept refugees, and it’s unclear the place civilians might flee inside the war-ravaged territory.

Israel says Hamas maintains 4 battalions with hundreds of fighters in Rafah, and that it can not defeat the militant group with out crushing them.

“I strongly hope that this consensus that’s rising in the entire of the worldwide neighborhood will make Israel mirror and keep away from what could be a dramatic threshold,” Guterres stated.

ISRAELIS IN JERUSALEM CELEBRATE PURIM IN THE SHADOW OF WAR

JERUSALEM — Tens of hundreds of Israelis are celebrating the Purim vacation in Jerusalem within the shadow of the battle in Gaza.

The competition of Purim marks the victory of Jews over a tyrant in historical Persia and is well known with costumes, ingesting and events.

Though many cities throughout Israel determined to cancel the celebrations as a result of ongoing battle, Jerusalem — celebrates Purim someday later than the remainder of the nation — held a standard Purim parade for the primary time in 42 years. It featured giant floats of beloved youngsters’s characters and DJs dressed up as characters from the story of Purim.

About two dozen members of the family and supporters of the roughly 100 hostages being held in Gaza protested the parade.

“I do know it’s custom to be glad on Purim, however this 12 months I believe it’s tactless to do these carnivals,” stated David Heyd.

Different members of the family of the hostages kicked off the parade, marching silently on the entrance with a large yellow ribbon.

“My daughter, she must be right here, she was imagined to be right here. I’m carrying a shirt she was imagined to put on, and I’m ready for her,” stated Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter Romi has been held hostage in Gaza for 170 days.

Because the parade wound its method by the streets of Jerusalem, youngsters in colourful costumes packed the streets consuming sweets and cookies, ready for the floats to go.

“We’re displaying the entire world and our enemies that we’re persevering with to reside, persevering with to have fun,” stated Shabi Levy, a Jerusalem resident who was watching the parade together with his three youngsters.

ISRAELI STRIKES KILL AT LEAST 30 PALESTINIANS IN RAFAH IN PAST 24 HOURS, PALESTINIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian well being officers say Israeli strikes have killed no less than 30 Palestinians within the southern metropolis of Rafah over the previous 24 hours.

The Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital, which obtained the our bodies, stated Monday that 10 youngsters and 11 ladies had been amongst these killed.

Israel has vowed to increase its floor offensive to Rafah, which is now housing some 1.4 million individuals – greater than half of Gaza’s inhabitants. Most have fled combating elsewhere.

Israel ordered Palestinians to maneuver south within the opening months of the battle however has continued to hold out strikes in all elements of the territory, together with Rafah.

The US, Israel’s closest ally, has urged Israel in opposition to launching a serious operation in Rafah, warning of a humanitarian disaster. Israel says it can not defeat Hamas with out going into Rafah, the place it says the group has 4 battalions composed of hundreds of fighters.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, in line with native well being officers, and pushed a 3rd of Gaza’s inhabitants to the brink of hunger. It was launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault into Israel, which killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians.

Hamas-led militants additionally took round 250 individuals hostage. It’s nonetheless holding round 100 hostages, and the stays of round 30 others, after a lot of the relaxation had been freed throughout a cease-fire final 12 months in alternate for the discharge of Palestinian prisoners.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE KILLS AT LEAST 21 IN CENTRAL GAZA, PALESTINIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian well being officers say an Israeli airstrike on an house block in central Gaza killed no less than 21 Palestinians from two prolonged households.

The strike late Sunday killed 10 members of the Salman household and 11 members of the Buhesi household, in line with hospital information. An Related Press reporter noticed the our bodies on the hospital within the central city of Deir al-Balah.

The Israeli army says it tries to keep away from harming civilians and blames civilian casualties on Hamas as a result of the militants combat in dense, residential neighborhoods. However the army hardly ever feedback on particular person strikes, which regularly kill ladies and youngsters.

The battle broke out on Oct. 7. when militants from Gaza stormed into southern Israel, killing no less than 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking one other 250 hostage.

In response, Israel launched one of many deadliest and most damaging army campaigns in current historical past. Gaza’s Well being Ministry says over 32,000 Palestinians have been killed. It doesn’t differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties however says ladies and youngsters make up round two-thirds of these killed.

AID GROUPS DESCRIBE ‘UNIMAGINABLE’ SITUATION IN GAZA HOSPITAL

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Support teams that visited a packed Gaza hospital described an “unimaginable” state of affairs wherein giant open wounds had been left untreated.

An emergency medical workforce organized by three support teams spent two weeks finishing up surgical procedures and different care on the European Gaza Hospital close to Khan Younis. The southern metropolis has seen heavy combating between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants for the reason that begin of the 12 months.

The hospital has expanded to 1,000 beds from its unique capability of 200 to accommodate sufferers from Nasser Hospital, the principle hospital in Khan Younis, which Israeli forces raided final month. There are additionally an estimated 22,000 individuals sheltering on the European Gaza Hospital.

The visiting surgeons “reported giant contaminated open wounds on sufferers and having to manage emergency dietary provides to sufferers as the dearth of meals was jeopardizing affected person remedy.”

In an announcement launched Monday, the workforce stated healthcare staff had been pressured to evacuate or had been unable to entry the hospital. It stated Israeli restrictions had led to shortages of medical provides, together with fundamentals like gauze and plates and screws used to stabilize damaged bones.

Israel accuses Hamas of utilizing hospitals and different civilian amenities to defend its fighters and has raided plenty of medical amenities for the reason that begin of the battle. Most of Gaza’s hospitals have been pressured to close down, whilst scores are killed and wounded every day in Israeli strikes.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, and consultants warn that much more are susceptible to dying from illness and hunger.

The battle started on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel and killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and kidnapped round 250 individuals.

The emergency medical workforce was organized by Medical Support for Palestinians, the Worldwide Rescue Committee and the Palestine Youngsters’s Reduction Fund.

UN SET TO VOTE ON RESOLUTION DEMANDING IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Safety Council is ready to vote Monday on a decision demanding a direct humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The vote comes after Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored decision Friday that will have supported “a direct and sustained cease-fire” within the Israeli-Hamas battle.

The US warned that the decision to be voted on Monday morning might harm negotiations to halt hostilities by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar, elevating the potential of one other veto, this time by the Individuals.

The decision, put ahead by the ten elected council members, is backed by Russia and China and the 22-nation Arab Group on the United Nations.

THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS MARK PALM SUNDAY IN JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM — Hundreds of Christian trustworthy attended Palm Sunday celebrations at Jerusalem’s sacred Mount of Olives, marking the primary day of Holy Week as battle surges throughout the area.

Pilgrims waved branches and fronds within the air, objects that had been positioned earlier than Jesus’ ft as he was greeted by cheering crowds throughout his entrance into Jerusalem, in line with the Bible. Earlier Sunday, Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre — revered as the location of Jesus’s crucifixion — additionally held a service.

The annual celebration got here because the Israel-Hamas battle rages on in Gaza. Nevertheless, the battle appeared to have had little impact on the procession, which swelled to the same measurement as final 12 months.

The celebration marks the start of probably the most somber week within the Christian calendar, which marks Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE HITS LEBANON, WOUNDING AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE

BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike deep in northeastern Lebanon early Sunday wounded no less than three individuals, an area official stated.

The airstrike close to the town of Baalbek, a stronghold of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group, was the newest to hit the world in current weeks.

The strike occurred a couple of minutes after midnight and wounded three individuals in line with Baalbek’s mayor, Bachir Khodr, who posted the information on X.

It was not instantly clear what was struck. The strike got here hours after Hezbollah stated it used two drones carrying explosives to assault an Israeli Iron Dome missile protection system within the northern Israeli city of Kfar Blum.

The Israeli army stated warplanes attacked a workshop utilized by Hezbollah for army actions. It added that after the strike some 50 rockets had been fired from Lebanon towards Israel, saying some had been shot down and others fell in open areas.