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Welcome to our live updates on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza for Saturday, December 9.
Late on Friday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have called for an immediate “humanitarian cease-fire” in Gaza, arguing that such a move would allow Hamas to maintain its control over Gaza.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Eli Cohen thanked the US for its support, while Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called the vote a “disgrace.”
The vote came after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, warning of a“humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. The rarely used power enables a UN chief to raise threats he sees to international peace and security.
The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run enclave put the latest death toll at more than 17,400 people, mostly women and children.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday that two of its soldiers were “severely injured” in a failed attempt to rescue hostages in Gaza.
Israel also defended the widely circulated images of Israeli soldiers detaining stripped and blindfolded Palestinian men in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the detentions were part of efforts to identify people connected to Hamas. London-based news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed said at least one of the detainees was a journalist.
ss/ab (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)
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