UN votes for ceasefire but Gaza bombing goes on
UN security council votes in favour of immediate ceasefire in Gaza Strip but Israeli bombs continue overnight
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Friday, 09, Jan 2009 10:36
The United Nations security council has voted in favour of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli military operation continued into its 14th day.
In New York last night the 15-member body voted 14-0 for adopting a resolution calling for a truce and Israeli withdrawal.
But overnight air-strikes continued, with up to 50 separate strikes reported at positions across Gaza.
At least 758 Palestinians are known to have died in the conflict, sparked by Hamas rocket-fire when a six-month truce ended in December, including 257 children and 56 women.
The security council expressed "grave concern" at civilian casualties and condemned all violence in Gaza; stating that the only route to a comprehensive peace was two democratic states of Israel and Palestine living side by side.
In its resolution, which only the United States did not vote for, the security council called for food, fuel and medical aid to be delivered unimpeded throughout Gaza and for new international efforts to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he was "heartened and relieved" by the resolution, passed despite the US refusing to vote.
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said Washington was abstaining as it wanted to see if Franco-Egyptian diplomatic efforts would bear fruit.
On Friday however there were few signs of peace in Gaza, with Israel launching up to 50 separate strikes.
Hours after the security council vote Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni said: "Israel has acted, is acting and will act only according to its considerations, the security needs of its citizens and its right to self defence."