NEW YORK, Friday, May 10, 2024 (WAFA) – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today convened to vote on a new draft resolution granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations.

President of the UNGA Dennis Francis opened the emergency special session to discuss the ongoing Israeli genocidal offensive against the blockaded Gaza Strip along with the associated crisis as the Israeli occupation forces continue their advance on the southern Strip city of Rafah.

The UNGA session is also set to vote on a draft resolution, co-sponsored by a group of countries, concerning granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations.

The draft resolution follows the veto cast by United States at the Security Council on 18 April, which blocked Palestine’s admission as a full UN Member State. That draft resolution, submitted by non-permanent member Algeria, had received twelve votes in favour, with Switzerland and the United Kingdom abstaining.

Tried before the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, killing at least 34,904 Palestinians and injuring over 78,514 others.

Moreover, at least 7,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead under the rubble of their homes throughout the Strip.

Palestinian and international organizations say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.

The Israeli aggression has also resulted in the forceful displacement of nearly two million people from all over the Gaza Strip, with the vast majority of the displaced forced into the densely crowded southern city of Rafah near the border with Egypt – in what has become Palestine’s largest mass exodus since the 1948 Nakba.

K.F.