Arab group and Palestinian envoy urge immediate Gaza ceasefire and lifting of blockade at U.N. session

The chair of the Arab group for the month of May called on the U.N. Security Council to “take immediate action to bring an end to this horrific war and Israel's inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip,” and demanded “the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid and its distribution based on humanitarian principles.”

Ambassador Majid Bamia of the State of Palestine told the same briefing that an immediate, unconditional ceasefire is needed and repeated calls for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the release of detainees.” He said the humanitarian situation in Gaza — including displacement, starvation and bombardment — constitutes a human tragedy and that statements of outrage alone are not enough.

The Arab group and the Palestinian envoy pressed the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution that they said would end the bloodshed, secure the release of hostages and prisoners, allow “the massive entry…