Mid East

CNN - The US has proposed a "temporary ceasefire" in Gaza in a draft UN resolution and has warned against an Israeli ground incursion into Rafah, where many displaced Palestinians have fled during the conflict. The US draft comes after it had vowed to veto an Algerian draft proposal calling for an immediate ceasefire. The UN Security Council will vote on the Algerian draft today. The US, which has traditionally protected its ally Israel from UN actions, has repeatedly resisted calls for a "ceasefire," emphasizing what it claims is Israel's right to defend itself following Hamas' attack on October 7. It has also voted against at least two Council resolutions on the war. The US draft, which also calls for the release of Israeli hostages, will be privately discussed today.

NPR -  Egypt is clearing land and building a walled-off security zone that could take in up to 150,000 Palestinians on its side of the border with Gaza, Egyptian security officials tell NPR. This comes ahead of a planned Israeli invasion into the border city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians were told to flee.  Relations between Egypt and Israel are tense, NPR's Aya Batrawy reports. Egypt is "very concerned" that any displacement of Palestinians over the border would be permanent and drag the country into the war. Mediators are pushing for a truce before the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, which begins March 10. Still, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz says fighting would continue if all hostages aren't freed by Ramadan. "There was hope Rafah would be a safe zone, but it's not," Batrawy says. "There's no safe place in Gaza for civilians."

Guardian - WHO accuses Israel of hindering medical rescue missions to Nasser hospital, says destruction is 'indescribable'  The World Health Organization has issued a lengthy statement on social media this morning describing a mission to transfer patients within the Gaza Strip, and reporting that its staff said “the destruction around Nasser hospital was ‘indescribable’”. It accused Israel of hindering and refusing its attempts to provide medical services to Gaza’s population.