India warns Pakistan for referring Kashmir on Israel-Gaza Conflict

(CTN News) – India has stated that it will treat any mention of Kashmir by Pakistan at an upcoming Security Council meeting concerning the situation in Israel and Gaza with the utter disdain it merits and will not respond in kind.

After Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram mentioned Kashmir during a Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation on Tuesday, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador R Ravindra, addressed the assembly.

“Before I end, there was a remark of habitual nature by one delegation referring to Union Territories that are integral and inalienable parts of my country,” remarked Ravindra.

“I would treat these remarks with the contempt they deserve and not dignify them with a response in the interest of time,” Ravindra added.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had earlier informed the Security Council meeting that no terrorist attack, whether carried out by the Pakistani terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba or the Israeli group Hamas on civilians in Mumbai or Kibbutz Beeri, can be justified.

The only way to stop this kind of catastrophe from happening again is to support every country’s right to protect itself. Blinken said that no nation represented on the Council would allow the killing of its own citizens.

All acts of terrorism are illegal and cannot be justified, as this Council and the United Nations General Assembly have often stated. Blinken warned the UN Security Council that such attacks are illegitimate and cannot be justified, regardless of whether they are carried out in Nairobi, Bali, Istanbul, Mumbai, New York, or Kibbutz Be’eri.

ISIS, Boko Haram, Al Shabaab, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hamas all commit them, and none of them can be condoned. Whether victims are selected because of their religion, ethnicity, nationality, or anything else, “they are unlawful and unjustifiable,” Blinken said.

He emphasised the importance of the Security Council’s role in condemning states who provide material support to Hamas or “any other terrorist group that carries out such horrific acts.”

Blinken’s comments seemed to allude to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, which were perpetrated by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

ORIGINAL STORY: Hamas And The Ongoing Israel-Gaza Conflict: What You Need To Know

On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out a significant and unprecedented attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people and the taking of more than 220 hostages.

Following this attack, Israel launched a series of retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza, leading to a substantial number of casualties.

The situation is escalating, with the possibility of a ground offensive looming.

What’s Happening In The Gaza Strip?

The United Nations has issued a dire warning about the continuing need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

While approximately 34 trucks containing essential supplies such as food, water, and medical resources were permitted to pass through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt over the weekend, this falls significantly short of Gaza’s usual daily requirement of 400 to 500 trucks.

UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, expressed serious concerns about the limited access to clean water, citing high risks of dehydration and waterborne diseases.

The ongoing conflict has displaced an estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza, with many relocating from the northern areas to the southern parts of the territory as advised by the Israeli military for their safety.

The population of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, which typically numbers around 400,000 people, has now surged to over a million, leading to crowded living conditions with families sharing homes or residing in tents.

Despite the influx of displaced residents, Israel continues its airstrikes on what it claims are Hamas military targets in the southern parts of Gaza.

This situation has prompted some of those who initially fled the northern regions of Gaza to return due to the dire conditions in the south, according to the United Nations.

Additionally, the World Health Organization has issued a warning, stating that evacuating patients from hospitals in northern Gaza has become exceptionally challenging.

Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades.

Israel’s military strategy involves a barrage of strikes on hundreds of targets within Gaza.

These targets include Hamas’s extensive network of underground tunnels, which house bunkers for leaders and serve as operational headquarters.

Hamas has claimed that these tunnels extend over 310 miles, with many entrances concealed within civilian structures like houses, mosques, and schools.

Israeli forces will likely avoid direct tunnel combat unless necessary, opting to use explosives to collapse the tunnels.

The challenge for Israeli troops lies in the urban combat within densely populated areas.

It is expected that Hamas will employ booby traps and improvised explosive devices at key entry points and along narrow streets.

Recently, the Israeli military reported the death of one Israeli soldier and several injuries during a raid into Gaza aimed at locating hostages and clearing the path for a ground assault.

International leaders, including those from the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, and Italy, have expressed their support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism.

They have also emphasized adherence to international humanitarian law, particularly the protection of civilians in the conflict.

What Is Hamas & What Does It Want?

Hamas is a Palestinian militant organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.

The group is openly committed to Israel’s destruction and aims to establish an Islamic state in its place.

Hamas has engaged in multiple conflicts with Israel since it came to power.

It has launched thousands of rockets into Israel or permitted other militant groups to do so, in addition to carrying out various lethal attacks.

In response, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes targeting Hamas.

In 2008 and 2014, Israel also deployed ground forces in Gaza.

Since 2007, Israel, along with Egypt, has imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip, citing security concerns as the reason.

Hamas, or its military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the UK, and several other nations.

Iran provides support to Hamas, including funding, weapons, and training. Read More