António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN:
"The Security Council just approved a long-awaited resolution on Gaza, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
This resolution must be implemented. Failure would be unforgivable." #UNSecurityCouncil#Ceasefire#UnitedNations#UN
In continuation of its diplomatic cover for its biggest ally "Israel", the #UnitedStates blocked on Thursday a #UNSecurityCouncil statement that would have condemned the massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces against #Palestinians waiting in line for aid in the al-Rashid Street west of #Gaza City.
Algeria's UN draft resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Palestine was vetoed by United States during UN Security Council's 9552nd meeting on 20 February 2024....
“For the first time, the US is proposing the word ceasefire. … That is significant because Israel did not want the word ceasefire in any resolution, and now it is the US which is proposing it,” Bays said.
"South Africa makes urgent request to ICJ on Israel’s Rafah offensive"
South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel's plan "requires that the court uses its power to prevent further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza”.
“This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court’s Order of 26 January 2024."
@DrALJONES
Israel’s 1-month compliance/progress report should be due soon. Anyone paying attention knows they failed miserably at complying with the provisional measures. What next then? Can #ICJ refer to #UNSecurityCouncil? If so, will US veto, abstain, or actually stand up for rule of law? The last option, sadly, is doubtful imo.
#Israel has said it has informed the families of 31 people held in the territory since 7 October that their relatives are dead. The news came as the Qatari prime minister said #Hamas had given a “generally positive” response to proposals for a deal trading a break in the fighting and release of #Palestinian prisoners for the return of more #hostages.
#US Secretary of State #AntonyBlinken landed in #Israel Friday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu, ahead of a #UNSecurityCouncil vote on a US draft resolution noting the need for an "immediate" #ceasefire that would allow in more aid.
#UNSecurityCouncil meeting on #Gaza has been adjourned at 12:06 EDT, where members will continue thought consultation. I guess they'll be voting some hours later this afternoon or in the early evening (local time).
The constant, massive protests in London were enough to pressure the British government to abstain on the UN Security Council ceasefire vote.
That might not seem like a big deal, but the UK is one of Israel's biggest supporters and allies, and they were forced to pull their support for the war because of massive pressure from their own people.
Protest matters. Our voices matter.
"We are constantly working to renew (the truce) & to alleviate the burden of our people in the #GazaStrip, but truces are not an alternative for a comprehensive #ceasefire," Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani said in a speech to Gulf leaders gathered in the #Qatari capital #Doha.
“It is shameful for the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue for nearly two months, during which the systematic and deliberate killing of innocent civilians continues, including women and children,”
#China has been attempting to play an active role in finding a solution to the conflict as it seeks to expand its position as a major #GlobalPower.
#Beijing dispatched a #PeaceEnvoy for a multi-country tour of the region last month and has acted as a strong voice pushing for an immediate #ceasefire at the #UnitedNations, including the #UNSecurityCouncil, where China now holds the rotating presidency.
Several hundred people gathered in central #Ljubljana on Thursday evening in support of the #civilians under attack in #Gaza calling for an end to the #violence in the #MiddleEast .
Algeria's UN draft resolution on "the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question", S/2024/173 (20 February 2024) (documents.un.org)
Algeria's UN draft resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Palestine was vetoed by United States during UN Security Council's 9552nd meeting on 20 February 2024....