"Israel ignores UN and world condemnation"

Israeli forces have killed five Palestinians in Rafah as Israel threatens to continue demolitions despite a sharp rebuke from the UN Security Council.

Reacting to Wednesday's Security Council resolution that criticised it for the death and destruction in Gaza, Israel vowed to continue to do whatever it considers appropriate. Passed overwhelmingly after a US abstention, the UN Security Council resolution had earlier condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians in the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp of Rafah.

It also called on Israel to halt house demolitions, which are in violation of international humanitarian law. "Israel cannot continue to flout its authority and norms of international law with impunity," said Abd Allah Baali, Algeria's UN ambassador. "After today's butchery, Israel would be well counselled to heed the voice of reason," Baali told the council after the vote. english.aljazeera.net