UN calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Biden warns Israel is losing support
The United Nations has demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as President Joe Biden warns Israel it is losing international support due to its indiscriminate bombing of civilians in its war against Hamas militants.
U.N. General Assembly passes resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 153 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 23 abstained. The United States and Israel, along with eight other countries, voted against the measure, arguing that a ceasefire only benefits Hamas. Although the resolution is not binding, it carries political weight and reflects the global view on the war. A similar call for a ceasefire was vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week.
The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the resolution and called on countries to pressure Israel to adopt the ceasefire. Hamas also expressed support for the resolution, urging Israel to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people. However, before the resolution passed, President Biden stated that Israel now has support from most of the world, including the United States and the European Union. However, he warned that Israel is starting to lose that support due to its indiscriminate bombing of civilians.
Israel declares 19 of 134 people in captivity in Gaza dead in absentia
Israel has declared 19 of the 134 people still in captivity in Gaza dead in absentia. This announcement comes as Israel's assault on Gaza to root out Hamas militants continues. The conflict, which started after a cross-border raid by Hamas fighters, has resulted in the deaths of at least 18,205 Palestinians and the wounding of nearly 50,000, according to the Gaza health ministry. The situation has been described as a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Residents of Khan Younis, southern Gaza's main city, have reported increased Israeli tank shelling in the city center. Israeli air strikes have also targeted areas in Khan Younis and Rafah, resulting in the deaths of Palestinians, including children. The Gaza health ministry has reported the spread of diseases and illnesses due to the dire conditions in Gaza, including diarrhea, food poisoning, and respiratory infections.
Biden warns Israel is losing international support
President Biden has warned Israel that it is losing international support due to its bombing of Gaza. He stated that Israel now has support from most of the world, including the United States and the European Union. However, he emphasized that indiscriminate bombing of civilians is causing Israel to lose that support. Biden also called for a change in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-line government and stated that Israel ultimately cannot reject an independent Palestinian state, going against the views of Israeli hardliners.
The conduct of the conflict has prompted concern from various countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The leaders of these countries expressed support for international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire and voiced alarm at the suffering of civilians in Gaza. They stated that defeating Hamas cannot come at the cost of continuous suffering for all Palestinian civilians. However, they also emphasized that Hamas should have no role in the future governance of Gaza.
