US might press for temporary cease-fire in Gaza at UN Security Council

Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Monday, Feb. 19. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file for Tuesday, Feb. 20.

A U.S. draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council would cross a threshold by advocating for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza − contingent on all the hostages being freed − while warning against an Israeli invasion of the crowded city of Rafah, Reuters and The Associated Press reported Monday.

The text of the draft resolution, a rival to the measure proposed by Algeria seeking an immediate halt to hostilities, hews closer to the U.N.’s call for “a temporary cease-fire in Gaza as soon as practicable,” Reuters said.

It’s not clear when the draft resolution might be put to a vote, but the U.S. has already said it would veto the proposal circulated by Algeria, which represents the 22 Arab nations in the 15-member council. A vote on that measure is expected Tuesday. Both proposals call for the hostages' release.

In its steadfast public support for Israel, the Biden administration has rebuffed widespread calls for a cease-fire, arguing it would only help Hamas, the war’s instigator with its vicious attack on Israeli border communities Oct. 7.

The U.S. has repeatedly attempted to dissuade Israel from launching a ground offensive in Rafah, the border city where an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering as they seek to escape the fighting. The draft resolution underscores that stance, saying such an attack would be catastrophic for civilians and further destabilize the already strained region.

“Under current circumstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in further harm to civilians and their further displacement including potentially into neighboring countries,” the U.S. draft resolution says, according to the news services.

International Court of Justice: Orders Israel to take steps to prevent Gaza death and destruction

Developments:

∎ Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva "persona non grata" in Israel until he apologizes for accusing Israel of genocide and comparing its actions in Gaza to Adolf Hitler’s campaign to exterminate Jewish people. Hamas issued a statement thanking Lula for his "accurate description of what our people are exposed to and revealing the enormity" of Israel's crimes in Gaza.

∎ Houthi rebels said they shot down a U.S. drone and that a cargo ship they attacked in the Gulf of Aden appeared ready to sink. U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to a USA TODAY request for comment on the drone. The U.K.'s Maritime Trade confirmed the crew of the Rubymar had abandoned ship and said military authorities were providing assistance.

∎ The Houthis said their missiles also struck two American cargo vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the Sea Champion and the Navis Fortuna. The U.S. has not confirmed those strikes.

∎ The Israeli military said it struck Hezbollah arms depots near the Lebanese southern city of Sidon in response to a drone exploding in an open field near the northern Israeli city of Tiberias earlier Monday as the neighboring countries continued their simmering conflict. Lebanese media said 14 people were wounded in the Israeli attack.

Netanyahu's strong rebuke: Calls Brazil leader 'antisemite' for Holocaust comparison

'Colonialism and apartheid': Palestinians accuse Israel at UN court

Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem denies Palestinians the right of self-determination, is illegal and must be brought to an “immediate, unconditional and total” end, the Palestinian foreign minister told the U.N.'s top court Monday.

Riyad al-Maliki told the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, that Palestinians have endured "colonialism and apartheid" since the occupation began in 1967. Now the world must finally cut off support to Israel, he said.

"No aid. No assistance. No complicity. No contribution to forcible actions. No money, no arms, no trade," Maliki said. "All U.N. member states are obliged by law to end Israel’s presence on the territory of Palestine.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the proceedings, which he described as an effort "to infringe on Israel's right to defend itself against existential threats."

The U.N. General Assembly asked the court for an advisory opinion on Israel's 57-year occupation and refusal to comply with overwhelming global support for a two-state solution. Netanyahu's government argues it must retain control of security over the territories because Palestinian political leaders have vowed to destroy Israel.

Netanyahu points to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants, who killed 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages before retreating back to Gaza. Maliki accused Israel of denying Gaza residents desperately needed humanitarian aid with a false claim that the aid was supporting Hamas.

"Israel ... has transformed the Gaza Strip into an impoverished enclave, a strangled, besieged, bombarded community, isolated and severed from the West Bank and East Jerusalem," Maliki told the court. "Its leaders have declared that Israel will be sovereign over all the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and made this formal government policy.”

More than 50 countries are expected to testify during the weeklong hearing. Israel likely will provide a written rebuttal. Judges could take months to issue a non-binding opinion.

Netanyahu rejects UN court hearing on occupation

Netanyahu dismissed Palestinian demands that Israel relinquish control of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem − territories essentially occupied by Israel since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967. Netanyahu described the court proceedings underway in The Hague as a Palestinian attempt to dictate a diplomatic settlement without negotiations.

"We will continue to reject this," Netanyahu said in a statement. "The government and the Knesset are united in rejecting this unacceptable course of action."

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state. Smotrich, speaking at the Knesset meeting of his far-right Religious Zionism faction, said he will not “consecrate a Palestinian terror entity with the blood of our soldiers.”

The U.N. General Assembly voted in December 2022 to seek the court’s opinion on the legal consequences of the occupation. The U.S. and Israel were among 27 nations that voted against the hearing.

This case is separate from another case pressed by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza since the war began Oct. 7. In that case the court ordered Israel to prevent and punish incitement to genocide and to provide needed humanitarian aid by Feb. 26.

Hamas says 6,000 militants have been killed

A Hamas official said Monday that 6,000 of its fighters have died in the war, about half the number Israel claims to have killed. The officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Hamas remains prepared for a long war.

Also Monday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reported that29,092 Palestinians have been killed and 69,028 have been wounded since the war began. The ministry numbers don't differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry says more than 70% of the casualities are women and children.

Israel announced the death of Staff Sgt. Simon Shlomov, 20, raising its military death toll since the war began to 235.

Qatari leader warns that cease-fire talks are 'not very promising'

Qatari's prime minister criticized Netanyahu for asking Qatar officials to pressure Hamas into freeing Israeli hostages. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani added that talks toward a cease-fire and long-term peace deal were "not very promising."

Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. have spearheaded the talks, and authorities in the three nations have generally kept public comments on the talks positive. But on Monday, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari described Netanyahu's request as "nothing but a new attempt by him to delay and prolong the war for reasons that have become clear to everyone.” Ansari accused Netanyahu of acting solely for the purpose of escaping his "personal political crises" in Israel, where he's the subject of a long-running corruption trial.

"We ask him to focus on the course of negotiations in a way that serves the security of the region and ends the ongoing tragedy of continuing war, instead of issuing such statements whenever that suits his narrow political agenda," Ansari said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war live updates: US might make case for cease-fire at UN