The Gaza truce has been a short lived one. The Israel Hamas war has resumed in full fury. Meanwhile, America has vetoed the Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. The US ambassador said that a permanent ceasefire without dismantling Hamas would sow the seeds of a future conflict.

Britain abstained but 13 other members voted in favour of an immediate halt. The US sided with the view of Israel that without eradicating Hamas, lasting peace is not possible. Israel had international sympathy when it launched the campaign to annihilate Hamas, whose fighters stormed across the border on 7 October and killed 1200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and seized 240 hostages. In retaliation, Israel relentlessly bombed Gaza causing death of more than 20,000 Palestinians and injuries to more than 50,000.

Many thousands more are feared lost in rubble or beyond the reach of ambulances. There is an international outcry at this fury of Israel and brutal punishment of the civilians for the terrorist attacks by Hamas. But Israel remains undaunted and determined to carry on the war despite international pressures. Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will carry on the war until Hamas is annihilated and Israel’s decisions will be based on operational considerations. No doubt, dismantling of Hamas is going to be a tough and long drawn out affair and Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant has repeatedly said that Israel will not be........

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