Israel under pressure from allies, as Gaza descends into 'Hell on Earth'

Pressure is intensifying on Israel, as US President Joe Biden warns it risked losing support for its war on Hamas by "indiscriminate" bombing in Gaza and the UN General Assembly has demanded a ceasefire.

Smoke rises after Israeli strikes, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, December 10, 2023 AFP - MOHAMMED ABED

Israeli forces battled Hamas militants and bombed more targets in the Gaza Strip more than two months into the war sparked by the Palestinian group's unprecedented 7 October attack.

But Israel's staunchest ally warned it risked losing backing over the terrible humanitarian toll in Gaza, which the United Nations likened to "hell on earth".

Biden said Israel had "most of the world supporting it" after the 7 October attack, which according to Israeli officials killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 240 hostages.

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But in his most blunt remarks since the war began, Biden said Israel was starting to lose that support "by the indiscriminate bombing that takes place".

Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas has left over 18,000 dead – mostly women and children – according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Biden added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must also "change" his stance on a two-state solution for the Palestinians.

Netanyahu said there was "disagreement" with Biden over how a post-conflict Gaza would be governed, reflecting a rare rift after weeks in which the US leader has strongly backed Israel.

BREAKING: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE IN FAVOUR OF CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

✅ 153 Countries IN FAVOUR
✋ 23 Countries ABSTAINED
❌ 10 Countries AGAINST

The following countries voted against:

❌ Israel 🇮🇱
❌ USA 🇺🇸
❌ Austria 🇦🇹
❌ Czechia 🇨🇿
❌ Guatemala 🇬🇹
❌ Liberia 🇱🇷
❌… pic.twitter.com/QJEyPVspBy

— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) December 12, 2023

'Hell on earth'

Biden's comments came before the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, a call that has so far paralysed the Security Council.

The body, which includes all 193 UN member nations, voted 153 in favour of the resolution, exceeding the 140 or so countries that have routinely backed resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

• Israel bombs Gaza as pressure mounts to protect civilians

Ten countries – including the United States and Israel – voted against, while 23 abstained.

The visiting chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, likened Gaza to "hell on earth" and said of video footage of an UNRWA school being blown up: "It is outrageous."

Israel's air and ground campaign has reduced much of Gaza to rubble.

The United Nations says its satellite analysis agency UNOSAT has determined – based on a November 26 image – that 18 percent of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed.

UN agencies and aid groups fear the territory will soon be overwhelmed by starvation and disease, and are pleading with Israel to boost efforts to protect civilians.

There are no words left to condone these atrocities.

Every day, every minute, the situation becomes worse, becomes more desperate.

Nowhere is safe, no place is protected, #Gaza has become one of the most dangerous places in the world. https://t.co/UPzdfDG2eK

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) December 12, 2023

'Beyond breakdown'

Meanwhile, UN human rights chief Volker Turk has warned the humanitarian situation in Gaza is "beyond breakdown".

The United Nations estimates 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced by the conflict, half of them children.

On Tuesday, Israeli air strikes killed at least 24 people in Rafah, where tens of thousands are seeking shelter.

The Israeli military says it has lost 105 soldiers in the offensive, including 13 killed by "friendly fire" and others in accidents.

Fighting and heavy bombardment in south Gaza – where Israel previously urged civilians to seek safety – have left people with few places to go.

In the occupied West Bank – where violence has escalated since the conflict began – Israeli forces reportedly killed six Palestinians in the city of Jenin.