UN Security Council calls for ceasefire in Gaza
Following the Israeli army's attack on Islamist Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip, the UN Security Council has called for a ceasefire lasting several days. A resolution introduced by Council member Malta calls for, among other things, "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days" in order to ensure humanitarian aid in accordance with international law.
The USA abstained from the vote on Wednesday and abstained, as did Russia and the UK. 12 of the 15 Council members voted in favor of the draft, which had been debated for a long time. Israel immediately rejected the call for longer ceasefires in view of the hostages taken to the Gaza Strip. Security Council resolutions are binding under international law and can therefore have an international impact.
Israel: No humanitarian ceasefires without hostage release
Israel rejects longer humanitarian ceasefires in the Gaza war as long as 239 hostages are still being held by the Islamist Hamas. "Israel calls on the UN Security Council and the international community to resolutely demand the release of all Israeli hostages, as stipulated in the resolution," the Foreign Ministry statement said. "Israel expects the Security Council to unequivocally condemn Hamas and speak out on the need to create a new security situation in Gaza."
Biden: Am "slightly hopeful" on release of Gaza hostages
With regard to the release of the hostages held by Hamas, US President Joe Biden was cautiously optimistic. "I am slightly hopeful," said Biden at a press conference. There had been great cooperation with the Gulf state of Qatar on this issue. "I'm working to see how I can help get the hostages released and that there's a period of time where there's a pause long enough to make that happen," Biden said, referring to ceasefires in Gaza.
Asked whether Biden had set Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu some kind of deadline for the attacks in Gaza, the US president said: "I think it will stop when Hamas no longer has the ability to murder, abuse and just do horrible things to Israelis."
US ambassador to UN: Don't want fighting in Gaza clinics
Following the adoption of the Gaza resolution in the UN Security Council, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized Israel's responsibility in the war. "I want to be clear: The United States does not want firefights in hospitals when innocent people, helpless people, sick people are trying to get medical care," Thomas-Greenfield said.
Patients must be protected. The ambassador recalled that the parties to the conflict must respect international law, including Israel. "Hamas' actions do not diminish Israel's responsibility to protect innocent people in Gaza. At the end of the day, it all boils down to one clear, urgent goal: saving innocent lives."
Israeli military fires on Hezbollah post in Lebanon after attack
The Israeli armed forces reportedly fired on a Hezbollah target in the northern neighboring country following an attack from Lebanon. After an anti-tank missile was fired at the village of Shlomi in northern Israel, the military attacked the launching pad of the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah from which the missile was fired, the Israeli army announced. In addition, the armed forces attacked several observation posts, other launching pads, a weapons depot and Hezbollah facilities.
Israeli military operation in Gaza's largest hospital
During an operation in the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, Israeli ground troops reportedly discovered a command center with communications equipment. The intelligence service is now to evaluate the material. In addition, weapons, intelligence material, military technology and military equipment belonging to the Islamist Hamas were found in the Shifa Hospital, according to a statement from the armed forces.
According to media reports, soldiers killed at least five armed Hamas members in a battle outside the hospital. The Israeli military is convinced that a Hamas command center is located under the hospital. Hamas denies this. The information could not be independently verified.
Israel: Hostage gives birth to baby in Hamas captivity
A hostage held by the Islamist Hamas has given birth to a baby in captivity, according to Israeli sources. Sara Netanyahu, the wife of the Israeli Prime Minister, wrote this in a letter to the American First Lady Jill Biden.
According to the letter, there were 32 children among the hostages. One of them was ten months old. "One of the kidnapped women was pregnant," she also wrote. "She gave birth to her baby in Hamas captivity. One can only imagine what is going through this young mother's mind while she is being held with her newborn by these murderers."
What is important today
The Israeli military operation around the Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip is likely to continue. Among other things, the armed forces hoped to at least find information in the hospital complex about the whereabouts of the hostages taken from Israel during the Hamas terror attack on October 7.
- Regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza, President Joe Biden expressed some hope for the release of the hostages being held by Hamas, stating that there has been significant cooperation with Qatar on this issue and expressing his desire to facilitate a ceasefire that allows for the safe release of the hostages.
- In response to the UN Security Council's call for a ceasefire, Israel has made it clear that it will not agree to longer humanitarian ceasefires until the release of the 239 hostages being held by Hamas, with the Foreign Ministry issuing a statement urging the UN and the international community to demand the release of all Israeli hostages.
- Following the adoption of the Gaza resolution in the UN Security Council, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the importance of protecting innocent lives in the conflict and criticized Hamas' actions, stating that the parties to the conflict must adhere to international law, including Israel.
Source: www.dpa.com
