Security Council call for humanitarian pauses in Gaza
The United Nations Security Council has come together to back a resolution calling for “urgent extended humanitarian pauses for [a] sufficient number of days to allow aid access” to the besieged territory.  The vote yesterday breaks an impasse of four failed attempts, and calls for humanitarian corridors across the Gaza Strip and urges the release of all hostages held by Hamas. The US and UK abstained on the resolution on the grounds of Hamas not being condemned, and Russia abstained because there was no mention of a ceasefire.  The resolution was passed with 12 votes in favour, and is the first UN resolution on the Israel-Palestine conflict since 2016. It was immediately rejected by the Israeli foreign ministry.  The UN's humanitarian chief, Volker Turk said, "The parties must give immediate effect to what the Security Council has asked them to do, and that was made very clear in the resolution. But there must also be a ceasefire based on humanitarian and human rights grounds." He also requested for his office to visit Israel to further examine the humanitarian crisis, but Israel turned down the request.   The development comes as Israeli Defence Forces continue their second day of raiding the Al-Shifa Hospital which they say houses a Hamas base, something which Hamas denies.  Thousands of hospital patients and doctors have been forced to flee the hospital on foot towards the southern part of the city. (Agencies)