THE decision of the United States to veto the United Nations Security Council draft resolution that would have recognized Palestine as a full UN member was shocking and painful. This after 12 members of the Security Council approved the recommendation that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership to the 193-member UN General Assembly for approval; only the conservative United Kingdom and neutral Switzerland abstained. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the veto, calling it unfair, unethical and unjustified.
The path to the April 1 attack started months ago, as aid groups desperately looked for ways to feed millions cut off from regular food deliveries. Gaza was sealed off by Israeli forces within hours of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants that ignited the war. Since then, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 80% of the enclave’s 2.3 million people displaced.