A summary of today’s developments
UN warns Gaza faces ‘starvation, pure and simple’ as child deaths mount. The body’s humanitarian office OCHA said 98 children had died from acute malnutrition since the start of the conflict in October 2023, with 37 of those deaths since July, according to Gaza’s authorities. (see post 18.46)
The US defends Israel at security council meeting, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.The US has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there. (see post 17.23)
Chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis criticises UK decision to recognise Palestine at a march in central London calling for release of Israeli hostages.
Meanwhile, at least 61,430 Palestinian people have been killed and 153,213 others injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Sunday. At least 61 Palestinian people were killed and 363 others injured in the last 24 hours alone, the ministry said.
“The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers,” Italy’s foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, has said in an interview with daily Il Messaggero. Senior Israeli military officers and former senior commanders have warned that Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza City risks further international isolation of Israel.
Gaza’s Government Media Office say only 14% of the aid Gaza’s population needs entered the Strip over the last fortnight.
Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants a ‘civilian administration’ to be established in Gaza after Hamas is defeated.
The Israeli prime minister defended his Gaza city plan and said on Sunday he was talking to the US about ‘additional aid measures’ and claims he has ‘directed’ the military to bring in foreign reporters to Gaza.
The UN security council debated the seizure of Gaza in a rare emergency meeting, you can watch the video below:
Helena Smith is the Guardian’s Athens-based correspondent
Back to those protests in Greece where demonstrators far and wide have kicked off a “day of rage” with more than 100 “stop the war” rallies planned nationwide this evening.
In remote Astypalaia in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, a motley group of protesters, including tourists and locals unfurled banners and placards proclaiming “free Palestine, stop the genocide, not in our name” and “victory to Palestine” at the foot of the island’s fortress-topped town.
The mass rallies – the biggest coordinated wave of protest seen in Greece since the onset of the Gaza war – come on the back of rising anger over the increasingly close ties Athens enjoys with Tel Aviv. Tessa Charta joined the mass rally outside the Greek parliament this evening in Athens’ Syntagma square.
We are disgusted with our government’s blind support for a country so obviously violating every human right. Other countries with close ties have criticised Israel and have promised to recognise Palestine but not Greece. That is why the slogan tonight is not in our name. We don’t want to be complicit
Updated
