The Israeli military has killed over 40 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including 35 in Gaza City, where a large-scale offensive is ongoing despite growing international pressure and threats of sanctions, Al Jazeera reported. Meanwhile, four more Palestinians have died of acute malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the total deaths from Israel’s starvation policy to 435 among them 147 children. In response, Hamas issued a statement calling for global protests on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to demand an end to what it described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the lifting of the blockade that has triggered famine in the territory. The group urged “all free people” to intensify demonstrations, condemn “genocide, starvation, and forced displacement,” and rally outside Israeli and US embassies. Hamas further appealed to unions, students, and lawmakers to ramp up pressure campaigns for reopening Gaza’s border crossings to allow humanitarian aid. It also voiced support for the upcoming humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, warning Israel against targeting it. The statement stressed that the coming days should mark “a new phase” of international mobilisation to halt the war and end the siege. At the same time, the UN Security Council is preparing to vote on the latest resolution demanding a ceasefire and greater humanitarian access to Gaza, a move backed by most members despite repeated US vetoes. The 10 non-permanent members initiated discussions on the current draft resolution in late August, in response to the UN’s official declaration of famine after nearly two years of Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian territory. An earlier draft primarily demanded lifting barriers to aid, but diplomatic sources told AFP that France, the United Kingdom and Russia are sceptical of the value of a purely humanitarian resolution from a body tasked with maintaining world peace, which the US still could have blocked. The draft that is up for a vote today, which has been reviewed by AFP, calls for opening access to aid but also “demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties” as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.
Israel strikes kill 40 in Gaza ahead of UN ceasefire vote
