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A third (31%) of children under two years of age living in northern Gaza already suffer from acute malnutrition, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), following an assessment of the humanitarian situation in the area. during the month of February.
This percentage represents a “shocking increase” compared to the 15.6% recorded in the January evaluation.
Expanding the focus to children under five years of age, the figure is 25%, a percentage that has also doubled compared to the previous report.
The percentages have also doubled in other areas of the Strip.
After the disembarkation on Friday night of the 200 tons of food that the Open Arms ship brought to Gaza, the NGO World Central Kitchen, led by chef José Andrés, is already preparing a second shipment of food in Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the Israeli spy chief, David Barnea, is expected to go to Doha (Qatar) this Sunday for a new round of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The White House was “cautiously optimistic” on Friday after learning of Hamas' ceasefire proposal in Gaza — it offers a first phase of exchange of prisoners and hostages and then agrees on a permanent ceasefire and a deadline for the Israeli withdrawal.
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The country
Dozens of Israeli protesters demand the mandatory incorporation of the ultra-Orthodox into the army
Dozens of protesters have gathered in the Israeli town of Rehovot to demand that the Israeli government rescind the exemption that allows ultra-Orthodox Jews to evade mandatory military service.
The Israeli Executive has until the end of the month to approve new legislation that could either ratify this exemption or declare mandatory enlistment given the severity of the war in Gaza.
The protest has been called by the Comrades of Arms organization, whose members have held banners with the slogan "For the love of my brothers and sisters, get ready", according to the 'Times of Israel' newspaper.
Earlier this month, a group of extremists blocked one of Israel's main highways in protest against talks on the possible incorporation of ultra-Orthodox.
The High Supreme Court of Israel has given the Government until March 24 to justify the exemption it enacted in June last year in favor of ultra-Orthodox students, in the latest episode of a tension that has lasted decades: extremists, historically, They refuse to serve in the Army because they demand that they dedicate as much time as possible to religious study.
(Europa Press)
ACT.16 MAR 2024 - 17:20
The country
Germany joins the group of countries launching humanitarian aid on Gaza
The German Air Force—Luftwaffe—has launched this Saturday a first shipment of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, adding to the operations to deliver food and other essential goods to the Gazan population after six months of offensive. Israeli military.
The German Ministry of Defense has reported that the first supplies have been delivered by parachute.
Germany has used two C-130 Hercules aircraft relocated from France to Jordan.
Each of these devices has the capacity to transport up to 18 tons.
Jordan is the main organizer of these air shipments of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in which the United States and France also participate.
(EP)
ACT.16 MAR 2024 - 14:30
The country
The head of Israeli intelligence will go to Qatar for the new round of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza
A source has informed Reuters, on condition of anonymity, that the head of the Israeli spy service, Mossad, David Barnea, is going to travel this Sunday to Doha, the capital of Qatar, to participate in talks with Hamas to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian officials will participate in the talks and will focus on the differences that still persist between the parties to agree on a truce, such as the number of Palestinian prisoners that would be released for each Israeli hostage. or the conditions of passage of humanitarian aid.
As this source informed Reuters, Barnea's meeting with the Qatari leader and the Egyptian administration officials is a "direct response" to Hamas' latest proposal, which includes several phases, starting with a 40-day ceasefire. in which there would be an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons and the Israeli withdrawal from some areas of Gaza to allow the free flow of humanitarian aid.
In successive phases, new exchanges would be agreed upon, as well as a definitive ceasefire and a deadline for Israeli withdrawal, according to the Hamas proposal, which was branded “unrealistic” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Last week, with the unsuccessful intention of achieving a ceasefire before Ramadan, which began on Sunday, Hamas representatives went to Cairo, where they participated in talks with the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States. Israel did not sent representatives.
The fact that Barnea does go to Qatar may be an indication that negotiations are on the right track.
ACT.16 MAR 2024 - 14:08
The country
Egyptian sources announce a new round of negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Israel and Hamas will resume negotiations for a ceasefire tomorrow, Sunday or Monday, Egyptian government sources have informed the AP agency, according to the British newspaper
The Guardian
.
The talks have been stalled for a week, after both parties, with the mediation of Egypt, the United States and Qatar, failed in Cairo in their attempt to achieve a truce before the start of Ramadan, which began last Sunday.
This new round will take place in Qatar, according to these sources.
It will then be the first time that the representatives of Israel and Hamas will see each other since the Muslim holy month began, since the Tel Aviv envoys did not go to Cairo for last week's negotiations.
However, contacts have been maintained indirectly in recent days.
Mediators are trying to get both sides to commit to a ceasefire of about 40 days, during which there should be an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas on Thursday offered a three-phase plan.
The first, according to Egyptian sources, would be a six-week ceasefire, in which there would be the release of 35 hostages – women, the sick and the elderly – held by the militants in exchange for 350 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
In addition, Hamas would free five female Israeli soldiers in exchange for 250 prisoners, including some with long sentences in Israel for terrorism.
In this first phase, Israel would withdraw from Gaza's two main roads and allow the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Strip and the free flow of humanitarian aid to the area.
In a second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire and Hamas would release the rest of the hostages it holds, basically soldiers, in exchange for more prisoners.
In the third, Hamas would hand over the bodies of hostages who have died in captivity in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade it maintains on Gaza so that the reconstruction of a territory that has been practically devastated by Israeli attacks can begin.
The Israeli Government considered the proposal “unrealistic”, but has allowed, unlike last week with the talks in Cairo, Israeli representatives to attend the round in Qatar.
The new round, according to Egyptian sources, would begin tomorrow afternoon, although the meeting could be postponed to Monday.
ACT.16 MAR 2024 - 13:00