193-member assembly likely to adopt text calling for unconditional and permanent ceasefire, days after US vetoed similar effort in security council
Hamas said it has killed 12 Israeli militia members in Gaza, AP reports.
A unit of the Hamas-run police force said it killed 12 members of an Israeli-backed militia after detaining them early today. An Israel-supported aid group, the Gaza. Humanitarian Foundation, said that Hamas had attacked a bus carrying its Palestinian workers, killing at least five of them.
The Israeli militia, led by Yasser Abu Shabab, said its fighters had attacked Hamas and killed five militants, but made no mention of its own casualties. It also accused Hamas of detaining and killing aid workers. It was not immediately possible to verify the competing claims or confirm the identities of those killed.
Israel has accused Hamas of weaponising suffering after reports that at least five aid workers in Gaza were killed by the Islamist group. In a post on X, Israel’s foreign ministry said:
After threats, lies, and disruption, they turned to cold-blooded murder: Last night Hamas brutally killed at least 5 Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid workers, en route to a distribution center to deliver today’s essential aid.
They showed no mercy. Hamas is weaponizing suffering in Gaza – denying food, targeting lifesavers, and forsaking its own people.
Separately, Israel’s military said it fired warning shots at people at aid distribution sites in Gaza. Health officials said 14 people were killed overnight while on their way to collect aid near the southern city of Rafah. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said that seven additional people were killed while on their way to an aid distribution site.US-Iran nuclear talks to take place in Oman this weekend
Oman’s foreign minister said there will be a sixth round of negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program this weekend.
Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement this morning in a post on X. Iran for days has been saying there would be talks, but Oman, serving as the mediator, has not confirmed them until now. There was no immediate comment from the US.
Some more detail on the UN vote, expected later today, from AP.
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote later today on a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and the opening of all Israeli border crossings for deliveries of desperately needed food and other aid.
The resolution, drafted by Spain and seen yesterday by AP, “strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.”
The draft resolution references a 28 March legally binding order by the top United Nations court for Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza for food, water, fuel and other supplies. The International Court of Justice issued the order in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its war in Gaza, charges Israel strongly denies.
