Israel’s air force continued its strikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, while Hamas fighters continued their attacks on Israeli soldiers. This further indicates that a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire earlier this week did not persuade either side, as attempts for an agreement seemed to fail.
Since the U.N. resolution passed on Monday, Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, has stated that they are still carrying out attacks on Israeli soldiers. The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that they had targeted numerous sites in the past day, including tunnels, military compounds, and militants.
Israel strongly criticized the Security Council resolution, which called for a cease-fire during the remaining weeks of Ramadan and the release of all hostages held by militants in Gaza. The United States abstained from voting, allowing the resolution to pass.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a meeting with Senator Rick Scott, continued to defy the U.S. decision, arguing that it emboldened Hamas. Israel and Hamas still seem far from reaching a negotiation for a cease-fire.
Three Palestinian human rights groups reported an increase in Israeli airstrikes on Rafah, resulting in dozens of casualties. Hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans are seeking shelter in the area. Some strikes occurred after the Security Council resolution, while others happened earlier.
Gazan authorities reported rescuing Palestinians from rubble in the Jabaliya neighborhood, with casualties also reported in Nuseirat. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to these reports.
Hamas claimed to have targeted Israeli forces in various locations, including around Al-Shifa Hospital and the Khan Younis area. Israeli forces have been targeting Al-Shifa to crackdown on Hamas, causing concern among humanitarian organizations.
The Qassam Brigades released videos showing militants firing on Israeli forces, but the timing of these videos was unclear.
