According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of at least 10 individuals in the already devastated Palestinian territory today, as the military continues its intensified offensive.
“So far, we have ten martyrs resulting from Israeli strikes since dawn,” stated agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal.
Mr. Bassal further noted that the strikes targeted an area in the southern city of Khan Yunis, where displaced civilians were taking shelter, as well as houses in Gaza City and the central town of Deir el-Balah.
The Israeli military has yet to respond to a request for comment.
The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reports that at least 4,335 individuals have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, raising the total toll of the ongoing conflict to 54,607, predominantly civilians.
UN Criticizes US After Ceasefire Veto
Members of the UN Security Council have criticized the United States following its veto of a resolution that called for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, which the US claimed undermined ongoing diplomatic efforts.
This was the first vote on the situation by the 15-member body since November, when the United States, a key ally of Israel, also blocked a resolution that called for an end to hostilities.
“This resolution would undermine diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire reflecting the realities on the ground and embolden Hamas,” said US UN envoy Dorothy Shea ahead of yesterday’s 14 to 1 vote, where the US cast the only opposing vote.
“This resolution also creates a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas,” she added.
The draft resolution had called for “an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties.” It further demanded the “immediate, dignified, and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.”
Highlighting the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in the Palestinian territory, the resolution, had it passed, would have called for lifting all restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
“This will remain not just a moral stain on the conscience of this council but a fateful moment of political application that will echo for generations,” remarked Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Asim Ahmad.
China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, stated that “today’s vote result once again exposes that the root cause of the council’s failure to quell the conflict in Gaza is the repeated obstruction by the US.”
President Michael D. Higgins emphasized the importance of the international community’s efforts to end the violence, secure the release of all remaining hostages, and allow adequate aid into Gaza.
“Now is the time for an immediate call to action and support from the international community to ensure no further loss of life occurs as individuals face the impossible choice between risking their lives for aid or starving,” he stated.
This veto represents the United States’ first such action since President Donald Trump took office in January.
Israel has been under increasing international pressure to cease its military operations in Gaza, sparked by the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
Scrutiny has intensified regarding the hampered distribution of aid in Gaza, which Israel blocked for more than two months before permitting a limited number of UN vehicles to enter in mid-May.
The United Nations stated that this amount is insufficient to meet the humanitarian needs.
US-Backed Foundation to Open Aid Distribution Centers
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has announced it will establish two aid distribution centers.
Earlier, GHF indicated that its sites would not open at their usual time due to maintenance and repairs, but it did not specify when aid distribution would resume.
This group has faced strong criticism from humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, and began its aid distribution last week.
However, it closed its facilities yesterday after the Israeli army warned that the roads leading to distribution sites were “considered combat zones.”
Many Palestinians are seen waiting in line to receive hot meals distributed by charity organizations.
The decision followed a series of deadly incidents near its distribution sites that drew sharp condemnation from the United Nations.
The UN has cautioned that a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is at risk of famine following an 11-week blockade imposed by Israel on the enclave.
The civil defence agency reported that Israeli bombardment resulted in at least 48 deaths across the Gaza Strip, including 14 individuals killed in a single strike on a tent that was sheltering displaced persons.
On the previous day, the civil defence and the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that 27 individuals lost their lives when Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF site in southern Gaza, while the military stated that the incident is under investigation.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN, indicated he would seek a vote on the resolution calling for a ceasefire at the General Assembly following the Security Council vote.
“We are thankful for your demonstrations and determination in the Security Council demanding action, and we also encourage you to continue advocating for the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities,” he expressed, expressing gratitude to the 14 countries that supported the resolution.
In a response, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, dismissed the Palestinian initiative to submit the resolution for a vote in the General Assembly, where no country can veto it, advising them that “this resolution fails to advance humanitarian relief and undermines it. It favors political agendas over a workable system,” he added.
