EU Council approves new military aid to Ukraine. Israel, taken control of Al-Shifa hospital

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The conflict between Russia and NATO would lead to a situation that would be one step away from World War III. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated this, according to what Tass reports.

March 18, 2024

A soldier from the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces inside a tank in his frontline position in the Donetsk area, Ukraine, March 16, 2024 (published March 17, 2024). Russian troops entered Ukraine in February 2022, starting a conflict that has caused destruction and a humanitarian crisis. EPA/YAKIV LIASHENKO

• 22:02

  Media: Netanyahu prevented Shin Bet chief from meeting US envoy

  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly prevented two senior Israeli officials from meeting with a Biden administration envoy as a sign of his anger towards the US government. This was reported by Channel 12, citing two Israeli sources, according to which the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and the head of IDF military intelligence, Major General Aharon Haliva were prevented from meeting Barbara Leaf, deputy secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. According to the broadcaster, the move was a signal sent by Netanyahu to the White House to demonstrate his irritation at the increasingly strong criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

• 21:00

  White House confirms Issa killed in Israeli raid

  Marwan Issa, number 2 of the Qassam Brigades and ranking member of Hamas, was killed during an Israeli raid on Gaza. This was confirmed by White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

• 20:38

  Smotrich, new settlements in response to EU sanctions

  Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel will further strengthen its settlements in the West Bank in response to new sanctions announced by the EU once morest extremist settlers. “The false BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign once morest the State of Israel is working. A campaign designed in its entirety to tarnish the State of Israel,” says the leader of the ultra-right Religious Zionism party, as reported by the Times of Israel. “There is a holistic and Zionist response to this (EU) declaration: to strengthen and entrench settlements in all parts of the Land of Israel,” he concludes.