Israel Continues Gaza Bombardment Despite UN Ceasefire Call
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Israel has persisted with its military offensive in Gaza, disregarding a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.
The resolution, aimed at halting the Israeli war during the final weeks of Ramadan, was passed after the US abstained from voting, a departure from its previous veto stance on similar resolutions.
The Israeli regime, disappointed by the US stance, has canceled a planned delegation visit to Washington, DC, which was to discuss potential military operations in Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, said that the resolution does not mean anything for them and are reportedly advocating for a land offensive in Rafah City, despite US opposition.
Air strikes have continued in Rafah City and other parts of Gaza, resulting in civilian casualties, including children and babies.
The attacks have transformed health facilities into graveyards, with many now out of service. The recent bombing of a house in Rafah claimed the lives of eighteen people, including nine children. Despite the UN resolution, which Palestinians hoped would halt the bombings, the Israeli violence persists.
The UNSC resolution, passed with a 14-0 vote, demands an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan and the release of captives. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for its swift implementation, stressing the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
China has supported the UN resolution, emphasizing the need for swift implementation to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
While the US decision to abstain from the vote has been welcomed by Palestinian rights advocates, they remain skeptical about whether it will translate into concrete actions to pressure Israel to end its atrocities in Gaza. Tariq Kenney-Shawa, a US policy fellow at Al-Shabaka, a Palestinian think tank, criticized the Biden administration for facilitating Israel's "war crimes and genocide" despite public gestures suggesting otherwise.
“The Biden administration is taking what it sees as the necessary public steps to make it look like they’re doing everything they can to hold Israel’s feet to the fire, when in reality they’re facilitating and enabling Israel to no end. Israel has yet to face any concrete consequences from the US for its war crimes and genocide.”
The urgency of implementing the resolution is paramount, with only two weeks remaining until the end of Ramadan. However, this timeframe is insufficient to address the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel's intense bombing campaign. Despite being international law, Israel has a very long history of disregarding UN resolutions.
