The war in the Gaza Strip continues with unabated intensity, with strikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the West Bank as well, multiplying the number of civilian casualties.
At the same time, the "confrontation" between the UN Secretary General and Israel is taking on great proportions, especially after the US veto of a Security Council (SC) resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
UN General Assembly passes non-binding resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza
The UN General Assembly is set to vote later today on a non-binding resolution calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza, according to an Israeli media outlet that has been following developments in the war too closely at the civil-military level, noting
"The United States, one of only five permanent members of the Security Council, used its veto on Friday to stop a draft text calling for a ceasefire.
In an attempt to increase the pressure, Arab countries called for a new special session of the General Assembly after a visit to the Rafah border by more than a dozen Security Council ambassadors this week.
There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, but unlike the Security Council, its resolutions are not legally binding.
The draft text, seen by Agence France-Presse, largely replicates the resolution blocked in the Council on Friday by the US.
Friday's resolution called for a ceasefire, but did not condemn the October 7 Hamas massacres in Israel, in which terrorists killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 240 hostages ,or recognize Israel's right to defend itself.
The temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired on 1 December after the Gaza terrorist group violated it."
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Να το ακούσουν όλοι: Υπάρχουν Έλληνες στην καταγωγή στην Μικρά Ασία - Επιστολή 'Ελλήνων Τουρκίας! Στην 100η επέτειο της ανταλλαγής πληθυσμών!
Israeli soldiers' losses increase
For its part, the Israeli Army announces the death of a reserve soldier in Gaza, bringing the death toll to 105.
The reservist in question, who was wounded last month during fighting in the Gaza Strip and succumbed to his injuries yesterday, bringing the troop death toll in the ground offensive against Hamas to 105.
Also, three more Israeli soldiers, including two reservists from the 7th Armoured Brigade, were seriously wounded during fighting in southern Gaza yesterday.
Despite heavy fire and heavy casualties, Hamas continues to launch rockets at Israeli cities, including the capital Tel Aviv, with Iron Dome taking action
Bloodbath of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank as well
An IDF drone also carried out an airstrike on a group of Palestinian terrorists during an army raid on the West Bank town of Jenin, killing several civilians as well, Palestinian and Jewish media reported.
Israeli forces conducting an arrest raid came under fire and several explosive devices were detonated against them.
An Israeli security source told the Walla news website that a Hamas cell firing on Israeli Forces was attacked from the air.
Both Walla and the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that several of the gunmen were killed.
Video from the scene appears to show ambulances taking away several bodies and wounded.
Where the situation is heading
From the above we understand that from a military point of view the Israelis are far from "walking" despite their overwhelming superiority over Hamas, which despite multiple strikes and heavy losses continues to launch rockets against Israeli cities, a sign of its thorough preparation.
All indications are that we have entered the final phase of military operations, with casualties mounting in both war dead and Palestinian civilians, especially after the "US ultimatum to Israel that said "End military operations in the Gaza Strip by the end of the year", and the international pressure intensifying to end the war.
The UN General Assembly resolution, though non-binding, is expected to be overwhelmingly in favor of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, in an attempt by the UN Secretary General and Arab states to diplomatically marginalize the US for vetoing a similar resolution at the UN Security Council, thus intensifying pressure to end the war.
