Live Updates: Hamas slams US veto of Palestine's UN membership bid

Friday, April 19, 2024

05:14 GMT — Hamas slams US veto of Palestine's UN membership bid

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has condemned the US veto that ended a long-shot Palestinian bid for full United Nations membership.

"Hamas condemns the American veto at the Security Council of the draft resolution granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations," Hamas said in a statement, which comes amid growing international concern over the toll inflicted by Israel's carnage in the besieged Gaza.

The veto by Israel's main ally and military backer had been expected ahead of the vote, which took place more than six months into Israel's war on Gaza.

04:30 GMT — Pentagon chief discusses Iran, Gaza with Israel

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has spoken with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss Iran's actions in the Middle East, other regional threats and aid in besieged Gaza, the Pentagon said in a statement.

Austin discussed "the importance of increasing and sustaining" the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, including via a new route from Ashdod Port in Israel, the Pentagon said.

03:50 GMT — S&P cuts Israel's long-term ratings to A+ from AA-

Ratings agency S&P Global has cut Israel's long-term ratings to A-plus from AA-minus after the confrontation with Iran heightened last weekend and amidst the already elevated geopolitical risks for Israel.

"We forecast that Israel's general government deficit will widen to 8 percent of GDP in 2024, mostly as a result of increased defence spending," S&P Global said in its statement.

03:16 GMT — US Congresswoman Tlaib denounces proposed $26B aid package for Israel

US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has strongly criticised a planned House bill that proposes a new aid package worth $26 billion for Israel.

"This week, my colleagues want to vote and send more money to genocidal (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, who absolutely wants no conditions on upholding human rights," Tlaib said during a press briefing outside the Congress building.

"Our country is not just complicit in this genocide — we're actively participating in it," she said.

02:40 GMT — US veto 'unfair, unethical and unjustified': Palestine

The Palestinian presidency has condemned the US veto of a Security Council draft resolution that recommended a full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state.

The presidency said in a statement the US veto was "unfair, unethical and unjustified."

The Palestinian Authority called it an "aggression" that pushes the Middle East towards an "abyss".

02:00 GMT — Many killed and wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza camps

At least six Palestinians have been killed and many others wounded in new Israeli air strikes on camps housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City.

An Israeli warplane targeted a house sheltering displaced people in the Al Shati Camp, killing four civilians and wounding others, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

Another Israeli air strike targeted a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood north of Gaza City, resulting in injuries among civilians, the agency added.

For our live updates from Thursday, April 18, click here.