UN Security Council discusses Israeli attack in Gaza
Members of the United Nations Security Council discussed the airstrikes that Israel carried out in Gaza on Tuesday. Many called for the ceasefire to be reestablished. However, the United States pushed back on the idea.
Health authorities in Gaza say the attacks killed at least 404 people. The Palestinian Permanent Observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said, "Palestinians are being killed indiscriminately, are being denied humanitarian aid indiscriminately, are being maimed and detained indiscriminately."
Envoys from the UK, France and Russia joined Mansour in urging an immediate end to the fighting.
But the acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Shea, blamed the attacks on Hamas. She said, "It is well known that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure as launching pads, and the United States condemns this practice, as should others."
Israel's envoy said the attack was necessary because the militants have refused to release Israeli hostages.
Basem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, told NHK his group will not give in. He said: "If Israel and the US believe that putting pressure on Hamas will lead to the release of the hostages, that's an illusion. We do not want to fight. But if it is necessary, we will defend ourselves by all means."
Naim added that the hostages will be released only when Israeli forces make a complete withdrawal from Gaza and when negotiators join talks on efforts to rebuild.
Source: NHK World