KUALA LUMPUR: United Nations officials have repeatedly warned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel's continuous attacks have killed thousands of innocent civilians, mostly women and children, and left many more displaced.
Yesterday, in an emergency session at the 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), 153 countries voted in favour of a ceasefire.
The United States and Israel are among the 10 members who voted against it. Twenty-three members, including Germany and the United Kingdom, abstained.
However, US President Joe Biden warned Israel that it risked losing global support for its indiscriminate attacks against Hamas.
On Oct 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel, with Israeli reports claiming 1,200 people were killed, and taking around 240 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched its offensive in Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry said has killed at least 18,400 people, mostly women and children.
During a seven-day truce which ended on Dec 1, Hamas released 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis, in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Here are the eight key developments from the past 24 hours:
* Yesterday (Dec 13), Israeli leaders said they intended to press ahead with the war against Hamas despite coming under increasing international pressure, including from its key ally, the United States.
* Biden's administration has begun to publicly air their differences with the Israeli government over the conduct of the war (such as indiscriminate bombings) in Gaza. Although the US continued to express its exasperation, it remains one of Israel's largest supporters.
* Despite the rising casualties, Israeli citizens believed that their army should not back off from its offensive assault on Hamas. This, despite the UNGA endless call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
* A school, serving as a refuge for those displaced by Israel's bombardment, revealed the grim realities of the war as at least 15 bullet-riddled and decomposing bodies were found heaped together in the Al-Faluja area west of the Jabalia refugee camp. News outlet Al Jazeera, having obtained distressing footage of the bodies, reported that witnesses claimed the victims, including women and children, were mercilessly shot at point-blank range by the Israeli military.
* Also, yesterday (Dec 13), according to the Wall Street Journal and ABC News, Israel's military began pumping seawater into Hamas' complex of tunnels. Israel believed that the fighter group was hiding hostages, fighters, and munitions.
* Israel's military suffered one of the deadliest blows on Tuesday when Lieutenant Colonel Tomer Grinberg was reportedly among 10 soldiers killed in northern Gaza amid the Israeli army's ongoing ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
* In a rare split with close ally the US, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced at a press conference in Adelaide that the country supported the UN's call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The Five Eyes alliance, made up of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, along with the US and the UK, released a joint statement backing the ceasefire.
* German sportswear maker Puma said it would end a sponsorship deal with the Israeli national football team in a decision made before the beginning of the war in Gaza.