The UN General Assembly has voted by a wide margin to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine and called on the Security Council to reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations.
The world body approved the resolution by a vote of 143-9 with 25 abstentions. Palestine is a non-member observer state.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 refugees have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah this week, the United Nations reported, as Israel prepares to carry out a sweeping offensive in the region.
The UN has warned that food and fuel are running out in Rafah, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants moves towards the centre of Gaza’s border city.
Despite calls from Israel’s allies to refrain from conducting an offensive in the area and instead agree to a ceasefire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netnyahu said they have “no choice” but to carry out the attack. Otherwise, he says, Hamas will carry out more assaults of their own against Israel.