World

Israel confirms deaths of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza Strip

admin 0

Israel launched an offensive against Hamas in Gaza after the October 7 assault on southern Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and some 240 taken hostage.

Published Date – 08:38 AM, Sat – 2 December 23


Israel confirms deaths of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza Strip


Tel Aviv: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, confirmed the deaths of several hostages held by the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip, as reported by The Times of Israel on Saturday.

He said, “We are continuing to invest many intelligence and operational efforts, to bring information on the conditions of the hostages,” The Times of Israel reported that Hagari informed, “In the last few days, the IDF and police notified the families of Eliyahu Margalit, Mia Goren, Ronen Engel, and Aryeh Zalmanovich of their deaths.” “This comes after a team of Health Ministry experts, the [Abu Kabir Forensic Institute], the chief rabbi and Religious Affairs Ministry declared their deaths based on findings that were collected and intelligence,” Hagari said.

He added the four’s deaths were declared “based on findings that were collected, and intelligence.” Friday’s announcement regarding hostages deaths come at a time when IDF resumed its Gaza offensive after the breakdown of a weeklong truce.

During the truce, 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, including 81 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals and 1 Filipino, in exchange for 210 Palestinian prisoners, all of them women or minors. Israel also allowed an influx of humanitarian aid into the Strip, The Times of Israel reported.

Still held hostage by Gaza terror groups when the truce collapsed were 136 people–114 men, 20 women and two children–government spokesperson Eylon Levy said. Ten of the hostages are 75 and older. The vast majority of the hostages, 125, are Israeli. Eleven are foreign nationals, including eight from Thailand.

Israel launched an offensive against Hamas in Gaza after the October 7 assault on southern Israel in which some 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and some 240 taken hostage.

Top News

"The Plan Was…": SKY Reveals Death-Over Strategy Against Aus In 4th T20I

admin 0

India beat Australia in the 4th T20I encounter© AFP

After India’s 20-run victory against Australia in the fourth T20I match at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Friday, the ‘Men in Blue’ skipper Suryakumar Yadav praised his side and said that the players have shown character to seal a win. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar revealed that in the team meeting, he asked the players to be fearless in the game. He also hailed Axar Patel and said that the way he bowled was unbelievable. “Other than toss, everything (went well). Boys showed character and that was most important for us. We spoke in the meeting before the game to go out and express yourself and be fearless. I always love putting Axar under pressure and the way he bowled was unbelievable. The plan (during the death overs) was to go for the yorkers and then see what happens,” he said.

Recapping the match, Rinku Singh (46 runs from 29 balls) and Jitesh Sharma (35 runs from 19 balls) played a solid 66-run partnership in the first inning to help India score 174 runs on the scoreboard.

Ben Dwarshuis led the Aussie bowling attack after he scalped three wickets and gave 40 runs. Meanwhile, Behrendorff and Sangha bagged two wickets each.

In the run chase, Aussie skipper Matthew Wade (36 runs from 23 balls) was the only stand-out batter for the away side but still, he could not help his team to clinch a win in the game.

Axar was named the ‘Player of the Match’ after he bagged three wickets and gave 16 runs. Deepak Chahar also picked up two wickets in the game and helped India to win their third match of the series.

Topics mentioned in this article

Top News

Video: Two Planes Crash At The Same Airport In Tanzania On The Same Day

admin 0

Video: Two Planes Veer Off Runway, Crash At Same Airport In Tanzania On Same Day

No injuries were reported but both aircraft sustained substantial damage.

In a dramatic \event, two planes veered off the same runway in Tanzania in East Africa just hours apart. According to The Independent, the incident took place on Tuesday. The first aircraft, a United Air Zanzibar plane, took off from Zanzibar with 30 passengers and three crew members on board. As it attempted to land on Kikoboga Airstrip, its main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and come to a stop on its nose gear, belly of the fuselage and both wings. No injuries were reported but the plane sustained substantial damage, as per the outlet. 

Just about six hours later, the Kikoboga Airstrip was the site of another dramatic incident. The Independentreported that another plane with the same number of passengers took off from Kikoboga to head to Zanzibar when it suffered a nose gear collapse. Its right wing smashed into a building before the aircraft came to a stop. Like the earlier flight, no injuries were reported but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. 

A video going viral on social media showed the aftermath of the crash and the damage to the planes. “Two EMB-120 Brasilia aircraft (5H-FLM and 5H-MJH) were damaged in separate accidents at Kikoboga Airstrip near Mikumi National Park, Tanzania. 5H-MJH had a gear collapse on landing. 5H-FLM hit a building with a wing and suffered a nose gear collapse,” an X user wrote while sharing the clip. 

Watch the video below: 

The clip showed the first aircraft on the grass and the second plane billowing smoke in the background by a building. The Tanzania Times reported the runway remained open with operations running as normal, but the Aircraft Accident Investigation Branch under the Ministry of Transport would further investigate what happened. 

Also Read | Passenger “Humiliated” After Airline Forces Him To Swap Extra Legroom Seat With Couple

In a statement, Catherine Mbena, Tanzania National Parks senior conservation officer for corporate communications, said, “The pilots worked hard in collaboration with officials of the airstrip to ensure that all passengers on board were safe”. 

Meanwhile, reacting to the video of the incident, a user on X wrote, “What are the odds of two of the same model plane having a landing gear issue on the same day, at the same airport?” Another added, “Strange, very strange,” said another. 

India

Watch: Rinku's Switch-Hit Six Stuns Everyone. SKY's Expression Says It All

admin 0

Rinku Singh in action against Australia in the 4th T20I© AFP

Rinku Singh has made a name for himself as an explosive batter and it was no different as he slammed 46 off just 29 deliveries during India’s victory over Australia in the 4th T20I encounter in Raipur on Friday. While the knock was filled with brilliant shots, the one that caught the eye of the fans was a superb switch-hit off the bowling of Matthew Short. During the 12th over of the India innings, Rinku pulled off a perfect switch-hit to score a massive six over third-man and as celebrations erupted around the stadium, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav‘s expression has gone viral on social media.

Ignored for the upcoming assignment in South Africa, left-arm spinner Axar Patel responded with excellent figures of 3/16 as India got the better of Australia by 20 runs.

This was India’s fifth consecutive T20I series on trot.

Rinku Singh blazed away to a 29-ball 46 while Jitesh Sharma smashed 35 in 19 balls before Australia pulled things back to stop India at 174 for nine after the visitors opted to bowl first.

Cruising at 167 for four in 18.3 overs, India lost five wickets for only seven runs in the last two overs, thanks to Ben Dwarshuis (3/40) and Jason Behrendorff (2/32).

In reply, Australia were restricted to 154 for seven in 20 overs as India took an unassailable 3-1 lead with a match to go. Matthew Wade remained not out on 36 off 23 balls.

Axar Patel (3/16) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/17) were magnificent, bowling eight overs for only 33 runs with four scalps to their credit.

There was no dew and hence the target of 175 became defendable unlike Guwahati. Both spinners hit immaculate lengths and mostly bowled stump to stump which became Australia’s undoing.

(With PTI inputs)

Topics mentioned in this article

World

Lawsuits against Trump over January 6 riot can move forward, appeals court rules

admin 0

Trump has said he can’t be sued over the riot that left dozens of police officers injured, arguing that his words during a rally before the storming of the Capitol addressed “matters of public concern” and fall within the scope of absolute presidential immunity.

Published Date – 08:53 AM, Sat – 2 December 23


Lawsuits against Trump over January 6 riot can move forward, appeals court rules


Washington: Lawsuits against Donald Trump over the U.S. Capitol riot can move forward, a federal appeals court ruled on Friday, rejecting the former president’s bid to dismiss the cases accusing him of inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, 2021.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit court knocked down Trump’s sweeping claims that presidential immunity shields him from liability in the lawsuits brought by Democratic lawmakers and police officers. But the three-judge panel said the 2024 Republican presidential primary frontrunner can continue to fight, as the cases proceed, to try to prove that his actions were taken in his official capacity as president.

Trump has said he can’t be sued over the riot that left dozens of police officers injured, arguing that his words during a rally before the storming of the Capitol addressed “matters of public concern” and fall within the scope of absolute presidential immunity.

The decision comes as Trump’s lawyers are arguing he is also immune from prosecution in the separate criminal case brought by special counsel Jack Smith that accuses Trump of illegally plotting to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden. Smith’s team has signaled that it will make the case at trial that Trump is responsible for the violence at the Capitol and point to Trump’s continued embrace of the Jan. 6 rioters on the campaign trail to argue that he intended for the chaos that day.

Friday’s ruling underscores the challenges facing Trump as he tries to persuade courts, and potentially juries, that the actions he took in the run-up to the riot were part of his official duties as president. The judge presiding over his election subversion criminal trial, Tanya Chutkan, also rejected that claim in an order released Friday night.

While courts have afforded presidents broad immunity for their official acts, the judges made clear that that protection does not cover just any act or speech undertaken by a president. A president running for a second term, for example, is not carrying out the official duties of the presidency when he is speaking at a rally funded by his reelection campaign or attends a private fundraiser, the appeals court said.

“He is acting as office-seeker, not office-holder — no less than are the persons running against him when they take precisely the same actions in their competing campaigns to attain precisely the same office,” Judge Sri Srinivasan wrote for the court.

But the court said its decision is not necessarily the final word on the issue of presidential immunity, leaving the door open for Trump to keep fighting the issue. And it took pains to note that it was not being asked to evaluate whether Trump was responsible for the riot or should be held to account in court. It also said Trump could still seek to argue that his actions were protected by the First Amendment — a claim he’s also made in his pending criminal case — or covered by other privileges.

“When these cases move forward in the district court, he must be afforded the opportunity to develop his own facts on the immunity question if he desires to show that he took the actions alleged in the complaints in his official capacity as president rather than in his unofficial capacity as a candidate,” the court said.

Trump could ask the full appeals court to take up the matter or go to the U.S. Supreme Court. A lawyer for Trump, Jesse Binnall, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment on the ruling. A Trump campaign spokesperson called the decision “limited, narrow and procedural.” “The facts fully show that on January 6 President Trump was acting on behalf of the American people, carrying out his duties as president of the United States.

Moreover, his admonition that his supporters peacefully and patriotically make (their) voices heard,’ along with a myriad other statements prove that these Democrat Hoaxes are completely meritless,” spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement.

The lawsuits seek civil damages for harms they say they endured when rioters descended on the Capitol as Congress met to certify Biden’s election victory, smashing windows, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police officers and sending lawmakers running into hiding. One of the lawsuits, filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, alleges that Trump directly incited the violence at the Capitol “and then watched approvingly as the building was overrun.” Two other lawsuits were also filed, one by other House Democrats and another by officers James Blassingame and Sidney Hemby, who were both injured in the riot. Blassingame said Friday that he “couldn’t be more committed to pursuing accountability” in the case.

“More than two years later, it is unnerving to hear the same fabrications and dangerous rhetoric that put my life as well as the lives of my fellow officers in danger on January 6, 2021,” he said in a statement. He added: “I hope our case will assist with helping put our democracy back on the right track; making it crystal clear that no person, regardless of title or position of stature, is above the rule of law.” Lawyers in the Justice Department’s civil division urged the court earlier this year to let the cases proceed, arguing that a president wouldn’t be protected by absolute immunity if his words were found to have been an “incitement of imminent private violence.” The current appeal was decided by a unanimous three-court panel that included Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee to the bench who authored his own concurring opinion.

Top News

As Cyclone Michaung Nears, Thunderstorm Likely In 12 Tamil Nadu Districts

admin 0

As Cyclone Michaung Nears, Thunderstorm Likely In 12 Tamil Nadu Districts

The weather department forecast rain and thunderstorm in 12 districts of Tamil Nadu. (Representational)

Chennai:

The Chennai Meteorological Centre has predicted moderate thunderstorms, lightning and rainfall in 12 districts of Tamil Nadu today as cyclone Michaung intensifies in the Bay of Bengal.

The regional weather department also forecast light rain in another 11 districts of the state.

“Moderate thunderstorms and lightning with moderate rain are very likely at isolated places over Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur, Ramanathapuram, Thiruppur, Dindigul, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Thirunelveli Kanyakumari and Karaikal districts of Tamil Nadu,” the weather department said in a bulletin late on Friday night.

“Light rain is likely at isolated places over Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Chennai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Sivagangai, Nilgiris, Theni and Puducherry in the next three hours,” it added.

The weather department also issued an advisory and mentioned the impacts of the weather forecast.

The advisory included the impact of waterlogging, slippery roads, traffic and minor damage to loose and unsecured structures in some areas.

Meanwhile, amid the looming fear of a cyclone over Tamil Nadu, the Indian Meteorological Department on Friday warned that the sea will be rougher than usual in the coastal areas.

The sea has gone 100 metres backwards, where the shore’s breadth has increased at Velankanni Beach in Nagapattinam district due to the cyclone effect.

The northeast monsoon is intensifying and heavy rain is taking place in various districts of Tamil Nadu.

Authorities have hoisted ‘cyclone warning cage-No-1’ in five ports, including Nagapattinam port.

With the India Meteorological Department’s prediction of a cyclonic storm in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday instructed all concerned officials to take precautionary measures, including evacuating people from the places likely to be hit by the cyclone.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Top News

Raymond Directors Vow To Safeguard Shareholders' Interest Amid Family Feud

admin 0

Raymond Directors Vow To Safeguard Shareholders' Interest Amid Family Feud

Billionaire Gautam Singhania announced separation from wife Nawaz Modi.

New Delhi:

Independent directors of Raymond Ltd on Friday said they are monitoring the situation arising out of the matrimonial dispute of company’s Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Singhania to ensure it does not affect his capacity to manage the affairs and business of the firm.

In a joint communication shared on BSE by the company, the independent directors also said they have decided to retain Berjis Desai, a senior independent legal counsel, who has no links with promoters or the company, for advising them.

“The independent directors (IDs), over the last few weeks, have been meeting and monitoring the situation so far as it affects the company and the minority shareholders; and reiterate their commitment to protect, at all times, the interests of non-promoter minority shareholders, employees and other stakeholders,” the communication said.

It further said, “The IDs are alert to ensure that the matrimonial disputes between the two promoter directors do not in any manner affect the capacity of the Chairman & Managing Director to manage the affairs and business of the company.” However, they asserted that “neither any law nor any corporate governance standard requires IDs to enquire into, investigate, or delve into the merits or otherwise, of such matrimonial disputes, which lie beyond the remit of the ID.” The independent directors shall continue to exercise utmost vigilance in watching the evolving situation and shall not hesitate to proactively initiate measures, the moment required, to protect the interests of all stakeholders.

Further, they said, “The IDs have decided to retain Berjis Desai, senior independent legal counsel, who has no links with the promoters or the company, for advising the IDs.” The development follows proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) asking the IDs to consider appointing an interim CEO and investigate the allegations of assault by Singhania on his wife and daughter, and use of company funds for personal benefit.

In an open letter to the company’s five independent directors, IiAS had suggested that they ask both Mr Singhania and his estranged wife Nawaz Modi, also a board member, to take time off from their responsibilities as board members.

The five independent directors to whom the letter was addressed are Mukeeta Jhaveri, Ashish Kapadia, Dinesh Lal, K Narsimha Murthy and Shiv Surinder Kumar.

IiAS, in its open letter on Tuesday, had also suggested to the independent directors that “to protect yourselves and delineate yourselves from the allegations, you may wish to retain independent legal counsel”.

On Monday, Mr Singhania, however, assured employees and board members that it is “business as usual” in the company and he is fully committed towards its smooth functioning.

In an internal mail to the employees and the board members of Raymond, Mr Singhania, who announced separation from his wife Nawaz earlier this month, said he has chosen not to comment on the reports in media “about matters pertaining to my personal life”, saying “maintaining the dignity of my family is paramount to me”.

“However, I remain resolute as Chairman & Managing Director and am fully committed towards the smooth functioning of the company and its business. Even in these difficult times for me, I assure you that at Raymond it is business as usual,” he said in his mail.

Earlier this month, Mr Singhania announced that he has separated from his wife Nawaz, in an announcement that comes amid speculation over the future of their 32-year relationship.

The billionaire industrialist, whose net worth is reported to be over Rs 11,000 crore, made the announcement over microblogging platform X, saying it was not the same Diwali as in the past.

The industrialist is helming the multi-decade old group having roots in textiles, which branched out into newer ones like real estate. The couple has two children. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Top News

Judge Rejects Donald Trump Immunity Claim In Federal 2020 Election Case

admin 0

Judge Rejects Donald Trump Immunity Claim In Federal 2020 Election Case

Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty and accused prosecutors of attempting to damage his campaign

WASHINGTON:

A U.S. judge on Friday said Donald Trump does not have immunity from criminal charges for actions he took as president, rejecting a bid by the Republican to toss out the case accusing him of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington found there was no legal basis for concluding that U.S. presidents cannot face criminal charges once they are no longer in office.

Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, can immediately appeal the ruling, which could delay the trial while an appeals court and potentially the Supreme Court weigh the issue. The trial is currently scheduled to begin in March.

Chutkan’s ruling brings Trump a step closer to facing a jury on charges that he plotted to interfere in the counting of votes and obstruct Congress’ certification of his election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and accused prosecutors of attempting to damage his campaign. The case is one of four criminal prosecutions facing Trump as he seeks to retake the White House.

Trump has other pending legal motions to dismiss the case based on claims that it violates his free speech rights and is legally flawed.

Because Trump is the first current or former U.S. president to face criminal charges, Chutkan’s ruling is the first by a U.S. court affirming that presidents can be charged with crimes like any other citizen.

The U.S. Justice Department has long had an internal policy not to indict a sitting president, but prosecutors said no such restrictions exist once a president leaves the White House.

Trump’s lawyers made a sweeping claim that Trump is “absolutely immune” from charges arising from official actions he took as president, arguing that political opponents could use the threat of criminal prosecution to interfere with a president’s responsibilities.

His defense team argued that the immunity U.S. presidents enjoy from civil lawsuits should extend to criminal charges.

Prosecutors contended that Trump’s argument would essentially put the U.S. president above the law, violating foundational principles of the U.S. Constitution.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis)

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Top News

Dating app explores niche dating and other popular GenZ and Millennial trends

admin 0

The two-day online audience analysis saw 14,000 participants, primarily from Tier 1 and 2 cities. Individuals ranging between 18 to 35, 56% male and 44% female, joined the poll and answered a carefully drafted questionnaire.

Updated On – 12:59 PM, Thu – 30 November 23


Dating app explores niche dating and other popular GenZ and Millennial trends

Representational Image

New Delhi: The rise of digital dating platforms, artificial intelligence, and changing social norms have significantly influenced how Gen Z and Millennials perceive and experience love and relationships. The Indian dating app QuackQuack, inching close to 30 Million users, gathered data from users across India to delve deeper into the fascinating trends and intricacies of modern romance.

The two-day online audience analysis saw 14,000 participants, primarily from Tier 1 and 2 cities. Individuals ranging between 18 to 35, 56% male and 44% female, joined the poll and answered a carefully drafted questionnaire. QuackQuack’s Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, “We are very close to bagging 30 Million users, and there couldn’t be a better time to get a clearer picture of the current dating trends.

For instance, niche dating is huge today. 44% of our daters prefer tailored matches based on their specific preferences over traditional trial and error dating.” Niche dating QuackQuack’s survey indicated a rise in the trend of niche dating. 44% of daters, male and female, remarked it is more effective to find tailored matches based on their specific interests, lifestyles, or communities. The traditional way of online dating, the “trial and error method,” as the GenZ daters called it, takes more time and effort; the chances of error can take an emotional toll, too. Niche dating focuses on compatibility beyond the surface level. For instance, an avid reader would scope through profiles and find one that mentions reading or anything that indicates a potential match’s love for reading, and based on this shared interest, connect.

These individuals mentioned that a dog-lover would not have to date a cat-lover and fight about what’s better, or a movie buff does not have to explain how it is the best form of media to their match; people can shift their focus from explanations to what’s more important, building a connection. Personalized Matchmaker The survey shows that a substantial 34% of QuackQuack users from metropolitan areas and smaller cities rely significantly on the app’s newly introduced personalized matchmaker feature. This tool offers invaluable advice on enhancing user profiles, thereby attracting higher-quality matches.

Interestingly, 23% of male users below the age of 28 find the suggestions on profile improvement, such as strategically mentioning details in the BIO section and crafting an effective first message, to be the most beneficial aspect of this feature. Whereas 21% of female users appreciate the safety tips provided by the feature, considering them as the most valuable component.

This diversity in user preferences showcases the app’s ability to cater to a wide range of needs. AI-Generated Response According to the survey results, more than 13% of men and 8% of women use AI tools to craft the perfect first message or even respond to their match to impress them with wit and humor. It has refined the way people communicate. While 21% of daters find it harmless, the vast majority think AI-generated responses take away from the authenticity of the interaction.

The wit used to impress a match is not their own, says the individuals against it. You will be evaluating your match based on how they speak, but the voice is not quite their own. Delving deeper into the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in fostering relationships, these daters think such a practice can corrupt genuine intimacy.

Love-Bombing The study has highlighted a concerning but not typically toxic trend- love bombing. 28% of Tier 1 and 2 women in the dating age group expressed concerns about this phenomenon, which involves individuals showering their romantic interests with intense love and attention on their match during the initial stages, only for the affection to significantly diminish once the pursuit or the chase is over.

Love-bombing, while not new, has found new avenues in the digital realm, making it difficult to distinguish genuine affection from manipulation. This blurring of emotional authenticity poses a challenge for modern daters, raising questions about the sincerity of affectionate gestures in relationships.

Middle East

'This is a war on children,' UNICEF warns after Israel resumes bombing Gaza

admin 0

UNICEF has sounded a strong warning about the toll being exacted on children in the Gaza Strip, which has come under a renewed and genocidal Israeli war.

“We cannot see more children with the wounds of war, with the burns, with the shrapnel littering their bodies, with the broken bones,” James Elder, spokesman for the United Nations children’s agency, said on Friday.

“Inaction by those with influence is allowing the killing of children. This is a war on children,” he added.

The regime launched the war against Gaza on October 7 following an operation staged by the territory’s resistance movements.

The war killed more than 15,500 people, most of them women and children, across the coastal sliver until last week when an Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated truce took effect. Israel restarted the military campaign earlier on Friday, following the truce, killing nearly 200 more people.

Thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

Speaking earlier this month, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the besieged Palestinian territory was turning into “a graveyard for children.”

“The health system here is overwhelmed,” Elder said.

“I cannot overstate how the capacity has been reduced of hospitals in the last seven weeks,” he added.

“Clearly words, clearly pleas from the world do not make a difference on those who have the power to stop the killing, the maiming of children.”

The remarks came amid untrammeled military and political support for the war on the part of the United States, Israel’s biggest and oldest ally.

The US has provided the regime with thousands of arms consignments since the initiation of the war.

Washington, which has backed Tel Aviv’s ferocious attacks on Gaza as a means of “self-defense,” has also been casting its veto against the UN Security Council resolutions that would call on the occupying regime to cease its aggression.