(CTN News) – Israel continued its offensive against Hamas fighters in Gaza on Saturday, while the United States blocked a UN attempt to call for a ceasefire in the ongoing two-month war.
The US veto was promptly condemned by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the death toll in Gaza has now reached 17,487, with the majority being women and children.
On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis resulted in the deaths of six people, while another attack in Rafah claimed the lives of five individuals, as reported by the health ministry.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with large areas destroyed and approximately 80 percent of the population displaced, according to the UN. There are severe shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine.
Displaced individuals like Mahmud Abu Rayan, who was forced to leave Beit Lahia in the north, are struggling to cope with the harsh conditions. He expressed, “It’s extremely cold, and the tent is too small. I only have the clothes on my back, and I have no idea what the next step will be.”
On Friday, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that aimed to secure an immediate ceasefire. US envoy Robert Wood justified the decision by stating that the resolution was unrealistic and would not have made any significant progress on the ground.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned that if the ceasefire is implemented, it would allow Hamas to maintain control over the Gaza Strip, despite their involvement in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Hamas criticized the US for rejecting the ceasefire proposal, accusing them of supporting the killing and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh expressed disappointment, calling it a disgrace and endorsement of mass killings and destruction.
Humanitarian groups, including Doctors Without Borders, condemned the veto, accusing the Security Council of being complicit in the ongoing violence.
Israel’s military targeted 450 locations in Gaza within 24 hours, with footage showing naval strikes in the Mediterranean. The Hamas health ministry reported 40 casualties in Gaza City, as well as others in Jabalia and Khan Yunis.
After enduring two months of conflict and relentless bombing, UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed on Friday that the people of Gaza are on the brink of a dire situation. Guterres emphasized the residents’ desperation, fear, and anger.
The ongoing crisis has led to a catastrophic humanitarian nightmare, with a significant number of Gazans displaced and seeking refuge in Rafah.
The escalating death toll of medical workers has prompted over a dozen member states of the World Health Organization to submit a draft resolution urging Israel to protect humanitarian workers in Gaza.
Specifically, the resolution calls for Israel to support medical and humanitarian personnel, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities. Only 14 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are currently operational.
The United States National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, stated that Washington believes Israel must do more to protect civilians during the conflict.
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