Zionists face heat as UN demands Gaza ceasefire

Gaza [Palestine], December 14: The Zionist entity declared on Wednesday its determination to continue its Gaza war "with or without international support", after it came under mounting pressure, with even key backer the United States criticizing the "indiscriminate" bombing. Now in its third month, the war has left Gaza in ruins, killing more than 18,600 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the health ministry, and causing "unparalleled" damage to its roads, schools and hospitals.
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution Tuesday demanding a ceasefire, backed by 153 of 193 nations - surpassing the 140 or so that have routinely condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. While the United States voted against the resolution, it was supported by allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who, in a rare joint statement, said they were "alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza".
The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said the vote marked "a historic day in terms of the powerful message that was sent from the General Assembly". The vote came after the Security Council - responsible for global peace and security - has repeatedly failed to make such a call.
Biden told a campaign event that the Zionist entity had "most of the world supporting it" immediately after Oct 7, but that "they're starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place". Toning down his comments at a later news conference, the US president reiterated support for the Zionist entity and said only that "the safety of innocent Palestinians is still of great concern".
Despite the criticism from its main ally, the Zionist entity vowed to press on with its war on Hamas. "(The Zionist entity) will continue the war against Hamas with or without international support," said Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. "A ceasefire at the current stage is a gift to the terrorist organization Hamas, and will allow it to return and threaten the residents of (the Zionist entity)," Cohen told a visiting diplomat, quoted by his ministry.
Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, will travel to the Zionist entity on Thursday to meet Zionist premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said there is "disagreement" with Washington over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed.
The UN vote came after Philippe Lazzarini, head of its Palestinian refugee agency, described the situation in Gaza as "hell on earth". The UN estimates 1.9 million of the territory's 2.4 million people have been displaced and are receiving goods from only around 100 aid trucks per day. Its hospital system is in ruins, and Hamas authorities said Wednesday that vaccines for children had run out, warning of "catastrophic health repercussions".
UN satellite analysis agency UNOSAT said 18 percent of Gaza's infrastructure had been destroyed based on an image that was already more than two weeks old. The World Bank in a new analysis warned that "the loss of life, speed and extent of damage... are unparalleled". Already by mid-November, almost half of all roads and around 60 percent of communication infrastructure, health and education facilities had been damaged or destroyed, it said.
More air strikes hit Gaza and gun battles raged through the night, especially in Gaza City, the biggest urban center, and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, AFP correspondents said. Cold autumn rains lashed the territory, where millions have been displaced and many are living in makeshift plastic tents, as vital supplies of food, drinking water, medicines and fuel have run low in more than two months of siege and war.
Air raid sirens wailed in Sderot and other southern Zionist communities near Gaza as Palestinian fighters kept firing rockets, most of which have been intercepted by air defenses. In Khan Yunis, a center of heavy urban combat in recent days, a family gathered to mourn the death in a strike of Fayez Al-Taramsi, a father of seven. "How are we going to live after him?" one of his daughters said, crying and clutching his bloodied shirt. "He brought us to life."
The Zionist entity says it has lost 115 soldiers, including 10 in northern Gaza on Tuesday, its deadliest day since launching the ground assault on Oct 27. Hamas said Zionist forces raided a hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday. UN humanitarian agency OCHA had earlier reported fighting nearby and said about 3,000 displaced people were trapped inside. The UN World Health Organization's chief TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus said he was "extremely worried" by reports of the raid, adding that his agency "urgently calls for the protection of all persons inside the hospital". - Agencies
Source: Kuwait Times