Former UN envoy writes 'finish them' on Israeli shell amid 36,000 Palestinian civilian deaths

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon on Tuesday shared some photos on his social media account regarding former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley's visit to sites in Israel, near the northern border with Lebanon.

Haley, also a former Republican candidate for the 2024 US presidential race, signed an Israeli shell by writing "finish them" on it during her visit on Monday, noting her support for Tel Aviv.

Haley had previously withdrawn from the presidential race due to insufficient support against former US President Donald Trump.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

Nearly 36,100 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

The country stands accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in its latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah.

Despite international outcry, along with a plea from the ICJ on May 24 to halt attacks on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Israel continues its attacks on the city, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6. It bombed the tents of displaced Palestinians in a Rafah camp on Sunday, killing at least 45 Palestinians, including 23 women, children, and the elderly, and injuring 249.

Tensions have escalated also along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip.

It was reported that 320 Hezbollah members, 63 Lebanese civilians, 19 Amal Movement members, 13 Hamas members, 15 Islamic Jihad members, 14 Israeli soldiers, and 10 Israeli civilians have been killed in clashes.