Israeli officials insist civilian deaths "are part of" destroying Hamas [???] After 10 weeks of Israeli military operations in Gaza, authorities have counted 20,000 dead Palestinians. An overwhelming number of the dead are innocent civilians with no ties to Hamas. An aid group warns the actual death toll is probably greater since thousands of missing Gazans remain buried under rubble. Israeli officials say civilian deaths are viewed as part of eliminating Hamas. 💬 “As the official death toll in Gaza passes 20,000, Islamic Relief is warning that the actual toll is likely to be even higher – as thousands of people are still missing and buried under the rubble and young children are increasingly suffering severe hunger and disease,” a press release from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said. “To see 20,000 people killed in such a short space of time is a stain on the world’s conscience.” According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the dead include 8,000 children and 6,200 women. At least an additional 50,000 are injured.

■ Israeli journalist says army should have killed 100,000 Palestinians (MEE)
■ Israel bulldozes, 'buries alive' dozens at Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital (The New Arab)
■ 40 Killed in “Israeli” Strikes on Rafah, Jabalia As Gaza Death Toll Nears 20k (Alahed News)
■ Israeli forces execute 15 Palestinians in Gaza City home: Sources (Al Mayadeen)
■ Bodies of 17 Palestinian detainees held by IOF: PPS (Al Mayadeen)

■ 'Israel' using starvation of civilians as warfare method in Gaza: HRW (Al Mayadeen)
■ West Bank: “Israel” Kills Four Palestinians Including Two Teenagers (Alahed News)
■ The Expression of Hatred for Gentiles (Richard Edmondson/Nahida Izzat) (10/04/14)
■ Bloodshed In Gaza and Beyond–Israel’s National Orgasm (Mark Glenn) (01/02/14)

■ Israeli sniper kills in 'cold blood' mother, daughter in Gaza church (PressTV)
■ "Palestinian Terror Operative" Means Anyone Still Alive (Moon of Alabama)
■ Israeli forces bulldoze Palestinian tents, crushing people alive (Middle East Eye)
■ 'Israel' commits new massacre in Jabalia, dozens martyred across Gaza (Al Mayadeen)
■ Watch: Israeli children sing, “We will annihilate everyone” in Gaza (11/21/23)
■ Death and Destruction in Gaza (John J. Mearsheimer)
■ APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (.pdf)(84 pages) Press Release (.pdf)

The Biden administration veto threat is in defense of the Israeli government's desire to continue the conflict for months | The White House threatened to veto a UN Security Council resolution that would call for a ceasefire in Gaza and set up an expedited inspection mechanism for bringing aid into Gaza. The US is demanding that the resolution affirm Israel’s right to self-defense and that the part of the text calling for a ceasefire be changed. The vote was scheduled for Monday but has been delayed three times this week because of the US veto threat. According to the Associated Press, 💬 “The US is seeking to change the text’s references to a cessation of hostilities in the Israel-Hamas war and to putting the United Nations in charge of inspecting trucks to ensure they are actually carrying humanitarian goods, which Israel opposes.” National Security Council spokesman [for Israel] John Kirby said Washington has two additional issues with the resolution. “It’s important for us, if the Security Council is going to speak on this, that there’s a condemnation of Hamas and what they did on the 7th of October, there’s a recognition of the need for Israel to be able to defend itself, and there’s of course, significant commitment by all members on getting humanitarian assistance into the people of Gaza.”