Israel is losing international support for its war against the terrorist organization Hamas. At the UN General Assembly, more than 150 countries called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which Israel angrily rejected.
The Israeli Prime Minister
Given the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, Israel is facing a lot of international backlash for its war against the terrorist organization Hamas. However, the ceasefire called for by the UN General Assembly is out of the question for Israel.
Even US President Joe Biden pointed out the crumbling international support. Israel is beginning to lose support due to its “indiscriminate bombing.” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan is expected in Israel on Thursday and will also meet Netanyahu there. He is likely to call again for protecting the lives of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and enabling more humanitarian aid.
UN General Assembly votes for ceasefire
Against the background of the emergency in the Gaza Strip, Egypt brought the demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to the United Nations General Assembly. The approval for the – non-binding resolution – was significantly greater on Tuesday evening than in a similar vote a few weeks ago.
153 countries voted in favor. 10 voted against it – in addition to Israel, the USA, Austria and the Czech Republic, Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Guatemala and Liberia. 23 countries abstained, including Germany, Great Britain and Italy.
According to the Foreign Office, Germany did not agree because the resolution does not explicitly mention the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7th. However, Israel was informed that “the suffering of civilians in Gaza is unbearable.”
Israel’s reaction to the UN decision was clear. “Hamas has committed terrible crimes and those who support a ceasefire enable Hamas to continue to survive and commit more atrocities,” Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said.
Hamas chief calls Gaza’s future without his organization an “illusion”
The head of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas has described a future for the Gaza Strip without his organization’s involvement as an “illusion.” “Any agreement in Gaza or regarding the Palestinian cause without Hamas or the resistance movements is an illusion,” Ismail Haniya said in a televised address on Wednesday.
The Hamas leader emphasized that he was ready to discuss “an end to the attacks in Gaza.” His organization is open to discussions that lead to a “political path” that secures “the right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Israeli unit is ambushed
Israel’s army reported on Wednesday that it had attacked more than 250 positions in the Gaza Strip the day before alone. Soldiers carried out “precise attacks on terrorist targets” from the air, on the ground and from the sea. Extremist Palestinians attacked Israel again with rockets. According to the army, there were rocket alarms in border towns near the Gaza Strip.
According to the army, 115 military personnel have been killed on the Israeli side so far. Nine Israeli soldiers died when their unit was ambushed in northern Gaza, the army said on Wednesday. It was the army’s heaviest loss in a single battle since the ground offensive began.
Germany resumes development aid for Palestinians
From the perspective of UN organizations, the situation for civilians in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. Helpers warn that people can hardly receive care or medical treatment. The federal government announced that it would resume development cooperation with the Palestinian territories that was suspended after the Hamas attack. This is an important signal, among other things, to alleviate the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip, it said.
According to dpa information, the Bundeswehr also wants to fly several tons of medical equipment and supplies to Egypt to help patients from the Gaza Strip. Among other things, ventilators and incubators for infants would be brought, it said.
Concern for Hamas hostages
At home, Netanyahu is under pressure to do more to release the hostages kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on October 7th. Hundreds of people demonstrated in Jerusalem for a new agreement with Hamas, Israeli media reported. In an initial deal with Hamas, 105 hostages were recently released. According to the Israeli army, 135 people kidnapped from Israel are still being held in the Gaza Strip.
The fate of the hostages is also likely to play a role in Israel’s consideration of flooding Hamas’ extensive tunnels under the Gaza Strip with seawater and thus destroying them. The army believes hostages are being held in the tunnels.
Nevertheless, according to US media reports, the armed forces are now testing this option. Seawater is being pumped into some tunnels to find out whether the method is suitable for destroying the underground system, reported the US television channel CNN and the newspaper “The Wall Street Journal”.
Söder on a trip to Israel
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) wants to set an example with a two-day visit to Israel. “We show solidarity with Israel. We show solidarity with Jewish life,” said Söder in Munich. “Of course we also have sympathy for the people in the Gaza Strip, for the civilian victims,” he added. “Nevertheless, we believe that Israel has a right to self-defense and that it is necessary to prioritize security now.” That should show his journey. (dpa/AFP/cgo)
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