UNITED NATIONS, December 22. /TASS/. Israel's main goal within the conflict in the Gaza Strip is the destruction of the Palestinian people and their expulsion, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN Riyad Mansour said at a UN Security Council meeting.
"We are dealing with an attempt to destroy our people and expel them forever from their land. This is Israel's goal <...>. That is why it [Israel] bombs everyone and everything. That's why it targets homes, hospitals, schools, bakeries, agricultural fields, water and sewage networks," the diplomat said.
"This resolution [of the SC] is a step in the right direction — it must be implemented and must be accompanied by massive pressure for an immediate ceasefire. I repeat, immediate ceasefire," Mansour said, commenting on the Security Council's adoption of the resolution.
Earlier, the UN Security Council adopted a draft resolution prepared by Arab countries, which aims to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Thirteen countries voted in favor of the resolution, Russia and the US abstained. For the resolution to pass, it had to receive nine votes from the Security Council members, with none of the permanent members of the UNSC opposing it. Russia proposed an amendment that would have returned a call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to the text of the document, but it was blocked by the US.