The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says the death toll in the territory has now passed 8,000.
Israel has been bombing Gaza following the Oct 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,400 people and saw 229 people kidnapped as hostages.
121 countries back Arab resolution calling for an end to Gaza conflict
In a vote at the UN General Assembly in New York on Friday, more than 121 countries supported an Arab resolution calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected region.
Only 14 countries, including the US, voted against the resolution. Canada, with the support of the US and some European nations, proposed an amendment to the resolution condemning Hamas, but it didn't receive enough votes to be adopted.
Before the vote, Pakistan's UN representative criticized Canada for not condemning both Hamas and Israel, emphasizing that the Israeli occupation was at the root of the crisis. Palestine's UN observer expressed gratitude for the countries that supported the resolution, while also stating that this was just the beginning of their efforts to halt the conflict in Gaza.
The Arab resolution, titled "Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations," condemns violence against both Palestinian and Israeli civilians. It calls for an immediate humanitarian truce, the release of captives, and the unhindered flow of aid to Gaza. The resolution also rejects forced population transfers and urges Israel to rescind evacuation orders for Gazans.
After two weeks of intense Israeli shelling, Gaza is facing a dire situation with widespread destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and homes. This has led to critical shortages of water and sanitation, raising concerns about disease outbreaks and increased mortality rates. The resolution was sponsored by more than 47 countries, including various Arab states, Russia, and several African and Latin American nations.
Israel-Hamas conflict: Hundreds arrested from anti-war protest in New York
Numerous demonstrators were taken into custody following a peaceful gathering at New York's Grand Central Station, a significant transportation hub in the cit
Their protest called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Participants donned black T-shirts with messages advocating a ceasefire and disapproving of the Gaza bombardment. Banners were also displayed, emphasizing the need for Palestinian freedom and an end to the ongoing violence.
“No more weapons. No more war. Ceasefire is what we’re fighting for,” they chanted, punching the air.
Banners were hung from the concourse’s sweeping staircase, and across the departure board.
“Mourn the dead, and fight like hell for the living,” read one.
The New York Police Department reported the apprehension of over 200 demonstrators during the rally, prompting a temporary shutdown of the station.
The anti-war organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), responsible for coordinating the protest, claimed that the number of arrests exceeded 300. Images and footage depicted law enforcement officers within the station alongside numerous protesters with their hands bound behind their backs. JVP stated that thousands participated in what they characterized as an "urgent sit-in."
“HUNDREDS OF JEWS AND ALLIES ARE GETTING ARRESTED IN WHAT IS LIKELY THE BIGGEST MASS CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE NYC HAS SEEN IN TWO DECADES,” the group wrote in a post on Instagram.
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