The United States’ veto of the proposal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations Security Council further stirs the waters of conflict in the Middle East. Israel thanked the US, calling its decision “correct”. Because, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed, “other countries must also understand that it is impossible to support the elimination of Hamas, on the one hand, and on the other, call for an end to the war.” Therefore, Israel “will continue its justified war aimed at eliminating Hamas and achieving the rest of the objectives we set for ourselves.”
The Arab world, however, condemned the American decision. The president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, spoke of an “aggressive and immoral movement”, which makes the United States “accomplices in the crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinians of Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem ». Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also clear, stating that the UN Security Council has become “a Council to protect Israel” and its reform is now “a necessity”. Iran raised the possibility of an explosion of the situation in the region, while Moscow defined the United States’ choice as “cynical” and a “death sentence for tens of thousands of civilians in Palestine”, including “women and children, and even UN officials trying to help them.”
Meanwhile, Israel continued military operations in Gaza, focusing in particular on the area of Khan Younis, the second city in the Strip, where a new evacuation was ordered for some neighborhoods. The Israel Defense Forces also revealed that they found weapons in a school in Gaza. Some were reportedly hidden in bags belonging to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, while others, in particular a rifle and ammunition, were inside a large teddy bear.
Israel also accused Hamas of launching rockets from the designated Al-Masawi humanitarian zone in the south of the Strip and stealing humanitarian aid intended for the civilian population. The Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, meeting with the troops said that there are signs of “disintegration of the system” of Hamas control in the Strip and that is why at this moment it is necessary to “press more” with military operations . Skirmishes also continue on the border with Lebanon. The Israeli military said it struck a Hezbollah “command center” in Lebanese territory in response to rocket fire. As in the Red Sea, the situation remains very tense. The Yemeni Houthi rebels have warned that “all ships bound for Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality”, will become a possible “target”. The death toll continues to rise. Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said 17,700 people have died and 48,780 have been injured in the Strip since October 7.
Israel, however, made official the death of a hostage at the hands of Palestinian militiamen, Sahar Baruch, aged 25, and four other soldiers, bringing the total to 97. Among them also Maor Cohen Eisenkot, aged 19, nephew of minister Gadi Eisenkot, member of the war cabinet. In recent days, Eisenkot had already lost a son during an operation in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
