People inspect debris and rubble in a building heavily damaged by Israeli bombardment, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 11, 2024. Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP
Doha, Qatar: Palestinians endured constant air strikes in Rafah as heavy Israeli bombardment continued in the city where 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 48 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Rafah overnight.
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[11pm Doha Time] Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met today in Doha with the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran HE Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations and ways to enhance and develop them, in addition to the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as the expanding circle of violence in the region, and its repercussions on regional and global security and stability.
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[10pm Doha Time] ‘Unprecedented’ levels of food insecurity in Gaza: UN
The deputy director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) says with each passing day, people in Gaza are “simply going hungry” and increasingly lacking any access to food, water and medical services.
“There are unprecedented levels of acute food insecurity, hunger, and near-famine-like conditions in Gaza,” Beth Bechdol said in an interview with FAO staff.
[8pm Doha Time] IMF, World Bank warn Gaza war, Red Sea attacks imperil global economy
The Gaza war has already hit the Middle East and North Africa region's economy, said the International Monetary Fund's managing director Kristalina Georgieva. Its knock-on effects could impact the world the longer the fighting drags on. Read more.
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[7:17pm Doha Time] EU's Borrell urges Israel allies to stop sending weapons
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday urged allies of Israel -- primarily the United States -- to stop sending it weapons as "too many people" are being killed in Gaza. Read more.
[3pm Doha Time] 'Hell falling': Fear and grief in Rafah after deadly Israeli raid
Majed al-Afifi was just 40 days old when he was killed, his uncle told AFP in Rafah where Israeli forces bombed multiple homes while rescuing two Gaza hostages.
"We heard the bombing without warning," said Said al-Hams, 26, in Rafah refugee camp.
His nephew, a twin, "was born exactly 40 days ago and was killed", while their mother was wounded.
The newborn is among around 100 people killed by Israeli forces overnight in Rafah, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Dozens of Israeli strikes pounded Rafah, where some 1.4 million people have sought refuge during four months of Israeli onslaught.
"The situation was hell," said Abu Suhaib, who was sleeping dozens of metres from where Israeli forces struck. Read more
[2:25pm Doha Time] Qatar Amir meets Palestinian President
The Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the President of the sisterly State of Palestine HE Mahmoud Abbas at the Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Council at the Amiri Diwan on Monday morning.
During the meeting, they reviewed the relations between the two countries and ways to support and enhance them, and discussed the developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, the expanding circle of violence in the region, and its repercussions on regional and global security and stability. Read more
[2:05pm Doha Time] There is no safe place for Palestinians to evacuate to from Rafah: PRCS
Nebal Farsakh, the spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), has told Al Jazeera that there is nowhere left in Gaza for Palestinians to go.
“Rafah already has nearly half of Gaza’s population. Since the beginning of the war in Gaza, people have been fleeing to Rafah following Israeli evacuation orders. Families have already evacuated up to 10 times,” she said.
“The question is – where should people go? There is no safe place at all and there is no way to evacuate. On top of that, there is a complete destruction of the infrastructure, and the lack of transportation as well makes it impossible for people to make their way anywhere,” Farsakh added.
[12:25pm Doha Time] IN PHOTOS: Rafah after Israeli bombardments on February 12, 2024
A series of Israeli air strikes on the southern Gaza town of Rafah on February 12, 2024 killed atleast 67 Palestinians, according to the health ministry. The strikes hit 14 houses and three mosques in different parts of Rafah, according to the government.
Wounded Palestinian girl Somay al-Najar comforts her brother Yamen (Photo by Mohammed Abed / AFP)
People inspect debris and rubble in a building heavily damaged by Israel in Rafah on February 11, 2024. (Photo by Said Khatib / AFP)
People inspect the damage in the rubble of buildings damaged during Israeli bombardment in Rafah on February 12, 2024. (Photo by Said Khatib / AFP)
People stand around craters caused by Israeli bombardment in Rafah on the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2024. (Photo by Said Khatib / AFP)
[12:19pm Doha Time] Health ministry in Gaza says death toll at 28,340
The health ministry in Gaza Strip on Monday said at least 28,340 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the besieged territory.
The latest toll includes 164 fatalities over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, while a total of 67,984 people have been wounded in Gaza since October 7.
[11:46am Doha Time] Deaths in Israeli strikes on Rafah rise to 67: Health Ministry
Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah killed 67 Palestinians and wounded dozens, according to Ashraf al-Qudra, Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesperson.
Al-Qudra had earlier said that 48 people were killed in the attacks.
[11am Doha Time] WHO chief renews call for a ceasefire in Gaza
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has reiterated a call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2024 in Dubai, he said that help provided so far to Gaza in terms of medical supplies is “a drop in the ocean of need which continues to grow every day”.
[8:30am Doha Time] Japan ‘deeply concerned’ about Israel’s operations in Rafah
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement saying it’s “deeply concerned” about “reports of an Israeli military operation in Rafah”.
“As the humanitarian situation on the ground deteriorates and the number of civilian casualties, including a large number of children, women, and elderly people, continues to rise, it is crucial to improve the humanitarian situation as soon as possible and to secure an environment in which humanitarian assistance activities can be carried out to achieve this,” the statement said.
[8:15am Doha Time] Rafah attack ‘horrific and devastating’: Australian senator
Australian Senator David Shoebridge has decried the bombardment on Rafah and questioned the timing while viewers in the United States watch the Super Bowl.
“The attack on Rafah happening at 2am Gaza time while the US is watching the Superbowl is utterly horrific and devastating,” said Shoebridge in a post on social media.
“Our hearts are with the Palestinian people now more than ever,” he added.
Shoebridge is a member of the Australian Greens who have called for a ceasefire in Gaza and questioned Australia’s role in exporting weapons to Israel.
[8am Doha Time] Netanyahu responsible for ‘unprecedented humanitarian disaster’: Bernie Sanders
US Senator Bernie Sanders has said “no one in Congress” should support the Biden administration sending military aid to Israel, in a post on X.
He added that Netanyahu’s “war machine” is responsible for an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster”.
His comments come as Israel is preparing to launch an assault on Rafah – a move the international community has warned will create a humanitarian catastrophe in the city in southern Gaza.
