The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution Friday to give Palestine more “rights and privileges” and called on the Security Council to favorably reconsider Palestine’s request to become the 194th U.N. member.
In Gaza, heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the southern city of Rafah has left aid crossings inaccessible, a U.N. humanitarian official said Friday. The World Food Program will run out of food for distribution in southern Gaza by Saturday unless more aid arrives.
About 110,000 people have fled Rafah for other parts of the besieged territory, the U.N. estimates. Some 1.4 million Palestinians — over half Gaza’s population — had sought refuge in the city.
Israel says Rafah is the last stronghold of the Hamas militant group and vowed to launch a full-scale invasion of the city. The U.S. says a Rafah offensive would jeopardize cease-fire talks and threatened to halt more military aid to Israel.
The death toll from the war in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people, most of them women and children, according to local health officials. Israeli bombardments and ground assaults have caused vast destruction to apartments, hospitals, schools and refugee centers across several cities.
The war began Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
Currently:
— A West Bank village feels helpless after Israeli settlers attack with fire and bullets.
— U.N. General Assembly grants Palestine new rights and revives its U.N. membership bid.
— Biden administration won’t conclude Israel violated terms of U.S. weapons agreements, news agencies sources say
— The Biden-Netanyahu relationship is strained like never before. Can the two leaders move forward?
— What are the latest obstacles to bringing aid into Gaza, where hunger is worsening?
— Pro-Palestinian protesters demand endowment transparency. But it’s proving not to be simple.
Follow news agencies’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here’s the latest:
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council wants investigators to have unimpeded access to mass graves in Gaza and accountability for any violations of international law.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate