Latest updates: Follow our full coverage on the UN General Assembly
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday said Israel had almost entirely destroyed the Gaza Strip, rendering it uninhabitable, and called for Israeli allies to stop sending weapons.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mr Abbas said Israel “does not deserve” to be in the UN because it refuses to comply with resolutions and is hostile to the world body.
“Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel,” Mr Abbas said. “This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people in Gaza and the West Bank.”
He criticised the US for blocking three Security Council draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. “The US alone stood and said ‘No, the fighting is going to continue,'” he said. “And this further encouraged Israel to continuous aggression. As long as the US is supporting it, then why not keep going? It furnished Israel with the deadly weapons that it used to kill thousands of innocent civilians, children and women.”
Israel announced on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the US to support its continuing military efforts.
The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defence systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system and an advanced laser system.
“Despite our repeated calls and demands, the world has not succeeded in obliging Israel, this transient state, to stop this war of genocide and its war crimes against innocent civilian residents,” said Mr Abbas.
Outlining his “day-after” plans, Mr Abbas said the Palestinian Authority would take control of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, all currently occupied by Israel, once the war ends.
He accused Israel of rendering Gaza uninhabitable after engaging in widespread destruction. He called for humanitarian aid to be delivered urgently, in an “organised manner and in sufficient quantities, because there's nothing in Gaza and they need everything”.
Mr Abbas also rejected the creation of buffer zones and called for the return of displaced residents to their homes. “Gaza is just 7km by 40km and Israel wants to divide it. It was already fragmented and we will not concede a single centimetre,” he said.
The Palestinian Authority is prepared to hold elections, he added. “We've been ready before but Israel blocked elections in Jerusalem. If permitted, we are prepared to proceed and establish a Palestinian government based on the election results.”
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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What is double taxation?
- Americans living abroad file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service, which can cost hundreds of dollars to complete even though about 60 per cent do not owe taxes, according to the Taxpayer Advocate Service
- Those obligations apply to millions of Americans residing overseas – estimates range from 3.9 million to 5.5 million – including so-called "accidental Americans" who are unaware they hold dual citizenship
- The double taxation policy has been a contentious issue for decades, with many overseas Americans feeling that it punishes them for pursuing opportunities abroad
- Unlike most countries, the US follows a citizenship-based taxation system, meaning that Americans must file taxes annually, even if they do not earn any income in the US.
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
