Al-Quds operation
Palestinian fighters in the occupied territories have conducted two retaliatory operations amid growing anti-Israeli sentiment in the region. A shooting operation involving two Palestinians at the entrance of al-Quds left at least three Israelis dead and over a dozen injured. Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition. Both Palestinians were shot dead by the regime forces. The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas claimed responsibility for the shooting attack. Hamas said the operation came as a natural response to unprecedented crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and against prisoners in the regime jails. The Islamic Jihad has also reacted to the operation, saying it confirms that the options for resistance are "open and multiple", and the enemy’s obstacles will not protect its security. Elsewhere in a car ramming operation in Jordan Valley, a Palestinian seriously injured two Israeli soldiers. The fighter was killed during the operation. Tensions are running high in the occupied territories since Israel launched its war on Gaza on the seventh of October.
Call for recognition of Palestine
Divisions seem to be growing among European countries over their support for Israel’s deadly war on the besieged Gaza Strip. Spain’s prime minster says he has serious doubts that Israel is abiding by international humanitarian law in the war. Pedro Sanchez expressed concern about the high number of casualties among civilians in Gaza, in particular children. He said the situation in the strip was unacceptable. The Spanish prime minister also referred to Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank. Sanchez said Israel has systematically occupied the Palestinian territory. He also called on the European Union to recognize Palestine as a state.
Slamming UNSC over Gaza war
The Iranian foreign minister has lashed out at the UN Security Council, saying the 15-member body has failed to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities toward Palestinians and their cause. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, the US should be largely blamed for such a failure because of Washington’s all-out support for Israel and attempts to prevent measures to hold the regime accountable. The top Iranian diplomat reiterated that more than 17 years of Israeli blockade on Gaza and the killing of thousands of innocent people constitute a threat to international peace and security. Amir-Abdollahian said indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza using banned weapons such as phosphorous bombs amounts to war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. He said, the Israeli occupation which was institutionalized in 1948 caused the forced displacement of one million Palestinians. Amir-Abdollahian made the comments in a letter addressing a UN Security Council session, which he was unable to attend due to a delay in visa delivery.