Live Updates: UN rights council calls for halt to arms sales to Israel

Friday, April 5, 2024

08:41 GMT —

The UN Human Rights Council demanded a halt to all arms sales to Israel, highlighting warnings of "genocide" in its war in Gaza, which has killed more than 33,000 people, mostly women and children.

The resolution, which passed with 28 of the council's 47 member states voting in favour, six opposed and 13 abstaining, marked the first time the United Nations top rights body has taken a position on the bloodiest-ever war to beset the besieged Palestinian enclave.

08:10 GMT — Video reveals Israeli army deliberately shooting at Palestinians rushing to collect aid in Gaza

An international news broadcaster released a video showing the Israeli army intentionally targeting Palestinians rushing to collect humanitarian airdrop aid in Gaza.

The new footage obtained by Al Jazeera begins with a warplane dropping aid near the northern border fence of Gaza.

In the video, a group of young Palestinians can be seen running to reach a spot to collect humanitarian aid.

07:00 GMT — Colombia expresses solidarity with family of aid workers killed in Gaza

Colombia has expressed solidarity with the families and members of the World Central Kitchen (WCK) whose seven aid workers were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza earlier this week.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry stressed Israel's responsibility to uphold its international commitments in ensuring the protection of non-governmental organisations.

It called for adherence to International Humanitarian Law and called for a thorough and independent investigation into the killing.

05:30 GMT — Muslim Americans hold Iftar event outside White House in solidarity with Gaza

Muslim Americans gathered outside the White House for an Iftar event in solidarity with Gaza, expressing their dissatisfaction with the US's unconditional support for Israel.

Over 100 people congregated in Lafayette Park, just across from the presidential residence.

Attendees broke their fast seated on the ground, sharing the food they had brought. Organizers also provided water and dates to assist in breaking the fast with the evening adhan, or call to prayer.

04:49 GMT — Israel promises to open Gaza aid routes after US arm-twisting

Israel has said it will allow "temporary" aid deliveries via its fence with northern Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced, hours after a warning from US President Joe Biden.

"Israel will allow the temporary delivery of humanitarian aid through Ashdod [Asdood in Arabic] and the Erez checkpoint [Beit Hanoun crossing]," the statement from the prime minister's office said, referring to a port about 40 kilometres north of Gaza and a land crossing.

"This increased aid will prevent a humanitarian crisis and is necessary to ensure the continuation of the fighting and to achieve the goal s of the war," it added.

03:45 GMT — Israel sacks army commanders over killing of WCK staff in Gaza

The Israeli army's chief of general staff has sacked two top army commanders who were linked to a deadly strike on a convoy of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza.

Herzi Halevi dismissed the commander of the tainted Nahal Brigade — one of the army's main infantry brigades — and another senior commander within the same brigade, according to Israel's Channel 14.

Halevi issued an apology on Wednesday for the Israeli strike. He said the incident occurred as a result of a "misidentification" that happened "during a war in very complex conditions."

03:00 GMT — US looking at reports that Israel used AI to mass kill Palestinians

The United States was looking into a media report that Israeli military has designated tens of thousands of people in Gaza as assassination targets, relying on an AI targeting system — Lavender — with minimal human oversight and a lenient approach to casualties, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told CNN in an interview.

The report in +972 Magazine and Local Call was published on Wednesday.

Separately, Kirby was also asked in the interview about an Axios report that Israel will allow "temporary" Gaza aid through Beit Hanoun crossing or Erez crossing point as global pressure mounts on hawkish Netanyahu following the killing of seven WCK aid workers in Israeli "car to car" strikes.

For our live updates from Thursday, April 4, click here.