Israel has announced that it will continue its Gaza war “with or without international support,” despite rising pressure from even its most ardent supporter, the United States.
According to an AFP report carried by Barron’s, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told a visiting ambassador on Wednesday that a truce at this point is a gift to the terrorist organization.
“Israel will continue the war against Hamas with or without international support,” said Cohen.
“A ceasefire at the current stage is a gift to the terrorist organisation Hamas, and will allow it to return and threaten the residents of Israel,” Cohen told a visiting diplomat, quoted by his ministry.
Now in its third month, the war was launched in response to the unprecedented attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7 that Israeli officials say killed 1,200 people.
It has left Gaza in ruins, killing more than 18,600 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the Hamas-run health ministry, and causing “unparallelled” damage to its roads, schools and hospitals.
The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a non-binding resolution for a ceasefire on Tuesday.
But more air strikes hit Gaza and gun battles raged, especially in Gaza City, the biggest urban centre, and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, AFP correspondents said.
The UN General Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday demanding a ceasefire, backed by 153 of 193 nations — surpassing the 140 or so that have routinely condemned Russia for invading Ukraine.
While the United States voted against the resolution, it was supported by allies Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who, in a rare joint statement, said they were “alarmed at the diminishing safe space for civilians in Gaza”.
Biden told a campaign event that Israel had “most of the world supporting it” immediately after the October 7 attack, but that “they’re starting to lose that support by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place”.
The US leader, who toned down his comments later, on Wednesday met with families of American hostages from among those the militants seized on October 7.
Despite the criticism from its main ally, Israel vowed to press on with its war on Hamas.
Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, will travel to Israel on Thursday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said there is “disagreement” with Washington over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed.
Israel Vows To Continue Gaza War ‘With Or Without International Support’
