The U.N. General Assembly has scheduled an emergency meeting on Tuesday to vote on a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. Assembly President Dennis Francis sent a letter to the 193 U.N. member states saying the meeting had been requested by the 22-member Arab Group and 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told The Associated Press that the draft resolution to be voted on Tuesday afternoon is similar to the Security Council resolution the United States vetoed on Friday.
Quick Read
- Israel’s Extended Military Campaign: Israel is prepared for a prolonged battle to defeat Hamas, intensifying its ground offensive in Gaza.
- Mediation Efforts by Qatar: Qatar continues to mediate, but prospects for a ceasefire are diminishing.
- Casualties and Displacement in Gaza: The conflict has resulted in over 17,700 Palestinian deaths and the displacement of approximately 90% of Gaza’s population.
- U.S. Support for Israel: The United States vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution for a ceasefire and approved an emergency sale of tank ammunition to Israel.
- U.N. General Assembly Vote: The U.N. General Assembly is set to vote on a resolution similar to the one vetoed by the U.S.
- Israeli Casualties: Israel reports the deaths of 97 soldiers following a Hamas raid that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in about 240 hostages.
- Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Gaza faces severe shortages of essentials due to limited humanitarian aid.
- Emergency Meeting of U.N. General Assembly: An emergency meeting is scheduled to vote on a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
- Allegations of Abuse by Israeli Troops: Detainees in Gaza have alleged abuse by Israeli troops, including beatings and deprivation of basic needs.
- Interrogations and Detentions: The Israeli military has been rounding up individuals for interrogation to ascertain potential ties to Hamas militants.
The Associated Press has the story:
UN General Assembly to vote Tues. on resolution demanding Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (AP)
Israel said it is prepared to fight for months or longer to defeat Gaza’s Hamas rulers, as its ground offense intensifies with more airstrikes and artillery fire.
Qatar, which has played a key mediating role, says efforts to stop the war and have all hostages released will continue, but a willingness to discuss a cease-fire is fading.
Israel faces international outrage after its military offensive has killed more than 17,700 Palestinians in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. About 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where U.N. agencies say there is no safe place to flee.
The United States has provided vital support to Israel in recent days by vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire and pushing through an emergency sale of over $100 million worth of tank ammunition to Israel. The U.N. General Assembly plans to vote Tuesday on a similar resolution.
Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 hostages.
With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods. Some observers worry that Palestinians will be forced out of Gaza altogether.
The U.N. General Assembly has scheduled an emergency meeting on Tuesday to vote on a draft resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.
Assembly President Dennis Francis sent a letter to the 193 U.N. member states saying the meeting had been requested by the 22-member Arab Group and 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, told The Associated Press that the draft resolution to be voted on Tuesday afternoon is similar to the Security Council resolution the United States vetoed on Friday.
Mansour said that resolution was cosponsored by 103 countries and he is hoping for more cosponsors and a high vote for the General Assembly resolution when it is put to a vote.
There are no vetoes in the General Assembly, but unlike the Security Council its resolutions are not legally binding. They are important nonetheless as a barometer of global opinion.
MEN AND BOYS IN GAZA SAY THEY WERE BEATEN BY ISRAELI TROOPS
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Several men and a teenage boy released from five days of detention and interrogation by Israeli troops said that they were beaten, given only minimal water and often prevented from using the toilet.
They spoke to The Associated Press at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah. Several had bruises on their bodies or deep cuts from zip ties.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment when asked about the alleged abuse.
The detainees shed more light on what appears to be a widening army practice of rounding up teenage boys and men as troops sweep through neighborhoods. Earlier this week, photos emerged of soldiers guarding dozens of men who were kneeling or sitting in the streets, stripped down to their underwear, with hands tied behind their backs.
A government spokesperson said Friday that those being rounded up were being interrogated to determine if they had ties to Hamas militants.
The detainees released Saturday said they had been pulled out of a building in the Shujaiyah area of Gaza City, a site of intense battles in recent days.
