Israel presses on with its Gaza offensive after US veto derails Security Council efforts to halt war

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Israel’s offensive in Gaza continues despite the U.S. veto at the U.N. Security Council, which sought to halt the conflict. On Saturday, Israel persisted with its air and ground operations, following the U.S. blocking a resolution for an immediate cease-fire and the approval of a $106 million emergency sale of tank ammunition from the U.S. to Israel.

The people of Gaza, unable to leave the 25 by 7-mile territory, faced intensified attacks even in areas declared safe by Israel. This situation arose amid the announcement of the sale of approximately 14,000 tank ammunition rounds, a decision made after the U.S. vetoed a U.N. resolution backed by widespread international support. This sale, deemed an emergency by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, bypasses congressional review, a rare occurrence.

Allegations of mistreatment emerged from Palestinian men detained by Israel for questioning. Released detainees reported poor treatment, marking the first accounts of detention conditions. Instances of abuse included being bound, beaten, and given minimal water, as described by some detainees, including Osama Oula and Ahmad Nimr Salman.

The conflict, now in its third month, has resulted in over 17,700 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, predominantly women and children, as per the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. Israel attributes civilian casualties to Hamas using civilians as human shields and claims considerable efforts to evacuate civilians. Israel also reports the death of 97 of its soldiers and accuses Hamas of killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel.

Hamas has continued its rocket attacks on Israel. In Gaza, residents report ongoing airstrikes and shelling. In northern Gaza, Israel is securing its military hold amid strong resistance from Hamas. The Israeli military claims to have found weapons in a school in Shujaiyah and alleges militants firing from a U.N.-run school in Beit Hanoun.

Since the collapse of a weeklong truce on Dec. 1, over 2,500 Palestinians have died, with about two-thirds being women and children. The truce led to the release of hostages and prisoners, but Israel reports 137 hostages still in Gaza. Amidst this, the food situation in Gaza has become critical, with severe shortages reported.

International pressure for a cease-fire continues, yet the Biden administration opposes an open-ended cease-fire, arguing it would benefit Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant views a cease-fire as a concession to Hamas.

Global reactions include criticism of the U.S. stance, as expressed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. At the COP28 climate summit, calls for a cease-fire were made despite demonstration restrictions. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen threatened action against ships heading to Israeli ports, demanding free passage of food and medicine into Gaza. The French navy reported drone interceptions near the Red Sea.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for nine attacks on Israel, leading to retaliatory strikes by Israel. Southern Gaza saw thousands fleeing amid intense conflict, with many seeking refuge in a designated safe zone, Muwasi, which is now overcrowded and lacks basic facilities.

The full coverage of these developments can be found at https://bigbignews.net/israel-hamas-war.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israel-Gaza conflict

More about Israel-Gaza conflict

• Israel-Gaza Conflict Escalation
• U.S. Role in Israel-Gaza Situation
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• Palestinian Detainees’ Treatment
• UN Security Council and Gaza Conflict
• Hamas’s Response to Israeli Offensive
• International Reactions to Israel-Gaza Conflict