I don’t have a degree to do next term!
Cambridge workloads can be not only excessive but ridiculously unbalanced, argues Omar Burhanuddin, and students will suffer the consequences in the long run
e talk a lot about academic workloads in Cambridge. Much has been said on the issue, be it the unequal divides between STEM and arts courses, the prospect of reading weeks, or the inadequate systems – from welfare resources to intermission – that the university offers to ease the pressure it places on its students. But I think there is another kind of workload problem that is under-discussed. Often, our schedules are not only excessively overburdened – they are also ridiculously unbalanced.
“When your schedule whiplashes you between periods of intensity and inactivity, you will develop some bad habits”
Let me explain. As a first-year History student I am studying the new course that the department rolled out in 2022, which requires first-year students to study their papers in tandem, rather than one followed by the other. Weekly reading lists effectively doubled in length from the older course. However, weeks three and six are set aside – with no supervisions or lectures – for a very light coursework project. The upshot is that in each of the first two terms of the year, you have six weeks of breakneck intensity, and two of relative inactivity. To make matters even stranger, first-year History exams happen at the very beginning of Easter term. That term is essentially spent without any regular lectures or supervisions, but is instead devoted to two coursework essays. In terms of both the length of the assignment and the amount of reading necessary, first-year coursework is comparable to the workload of a weekly supervision essay. As such, my Easter term workload will be laughably low by Cambridge standards. Not only week by week, but term by term, Cambridge workloads can be dramatically uneven – and owing to supervisions and deadlines, it is impossible to spread out work from periods of higher to lower intensity.
Having more free time than other people might seem like a weird thing to make a fuss about. I can already hear the keyboard-warrior NatScis, with their evening supos and Saturday lectures, typing up some piping hot takes for Camfess in response to this article. Hear me out, for I believe that the irregular workloads students like me face will, in the long run, be to our educational detriment.
“This style of working bastardises what academia is meant to be about in the first place”
When your schedule regularly whiplashes you between periods of intensity and inactivity, you will develop some bad habits. During the crunch weeks of Michaelmas and Lent, for example, I learned to speed read. Or to put it another way, ‘raiding, not reading’ academic articles, which was a genuine piece of advice my coursemate received from our DoS. This sounds cynical, but when you have to learn all about both the emerging early modern global economy and the decline of world communism in a week, what choice do you have?
This is not a strategy that, to put it mildly, lends itself to meaningful academic understanding. More often than not, you’ll be left with an imperfect outline of the general debates surrounding a topic – and nothing else. I can’t imagine that this is good preparation for the later parts of my degree, with dissertations and so on, which might actually require me to slow down for a moment and (heaven forbid) think things through. This style of working slices up degrees into segments that do not follow on from one another, and bastardises what academia is meant to be about in the first place.
“Changing the illogical structures of our degrees requires a national cultural shift”
There is a broader point to be made here about the general stupidity of the British education system. If anyone in this economy still cares about degrees preparing students for their future working lives, let me assure you: unbalanced, uneven schedules like this will not fit the bill. Most jobs demand constant, manageable workloads. Obviously, there will be periods of greater intensity – whether running a holiday sale in retail, or closing a deal in the City – but for the rest of the time, steadiness is the name of the game. However, owing to the anachronistic exam-centricity of tripos courses and British schooling more broadly, students are not prepared for this lifestyle. In my view, something like the American GPA system would be far more effective. Students would learn to maintain the regular, yet not insane diligence of working life, instead of cramming and slacking off in rotation – habits that Cambridge workloads do not merely encourage, but necessitate.
Ultimately, this problem is going to be very difficult to solve. It is not simply a question of faculties restructuring degree timetables (a Herculean effort all on its own). For one, with colleges and agencies profiting from programs run during the holidays, there are monied, vested interests obstructing the very possibility of reading weeks and longer terms. But even these institutional challenges are not the end of it. Changing the illogical structures of our degrees requires a national cultural shift, entirely transcending Cambridge, in how we think about education. Beyond fluff platitudes about ‘transferable skills’ and ‘learning how to learn’, what are we really supposed to gain from our degrees? Do they train us with good habits? Are we developing constructive, organised mindsets and skills that will serve us in later life?
Not at the moment. The recent workload forum and discussions between the Student Union and the pro-vice-chancellor for education is a promising development, and shows that change is possible. But we have an awfully long way to go
Source: https://www.varsity.co.uk/comment/27286
Tangguh pendaftaran PADU, masih banyak isu jaminan keselamatan data tidak dijelaskan
Tangguh pendaftaran PADU, masih banyak isu jaminan keselamatan data tidak dijelaskan
Pendaftaran dan kemas kini sistem Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU) perlu dihentikan sementara waktu bagi memberi ruang untuk kerajaan meneliti semula pelaksanaan sistem itu supaya mencapai matlamatnya.
Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Siber Malaysia, Siraj Jalil berkata masih banyak persoalan terutama dalam aspek jaminan keselamatan maklumat orang ramai tidak dijelaskan secara telus sehingga menimbulkan polemik.
“Kita tidak persoalkan atau nafikan kepakaran pasukan keselamatan siber kerajaan seperti Agensi Keselamatan Siber Negara (NACSA), CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) dan sebagainya, tetapi kenapa jaminan keselamatan itu hanya dikeluarkan Kementerian Ekonomi bukan agensi bertanggungjawab ini?
“Menurut kenyataan Menteri Ekonomi, PADU mengambil data dari pelbagai agensi dan jabatan lain, ini membentuk satu tarikan kepada penjenayah siber kerana elemen data terkumpul itu sangat strategik termasuk maklumat perbankan pengguna.
“Sekiranya data ini bocor atau dieksploitasi untuk tujuan yang salah di kemudian hari, siapa yang harus dipertanggungjawabkan kerana Akta Keselamatan Siber baru sahaja dalam proses pembentangan di Parlimen hari ini,” katanya dipetik Harian Metro di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kewajaran kerajaan menangguhkan pendaftaran dan kemas kini PADU sehingga semua isu berbangkit dan persoalan rakyat terjawab.
KUALA LUMPUR — Pendaftaran dan kemas kini sistem Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU) perlu dihentikan sementara waktu bagi memberi ruang untuk kerajaan meneliti semula pelaksanaan sistem itu supaya mencapai matlamatnya.
Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Siber Malaysia, Siraj Jalil berkata masih banyak persoalan terutama dalam aspek jaminan keselamatan maklumat orang ramai tidak dijelaskan secara telus sehingga menimbulkan polemik.
“Kita tidak persoalkan atau nafikan kepakaran pasukan keselamatan siber kerajaan seperti Agensi Keselamatan Siber Negara (NACSA), CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) dan sebagainya, tetapi kenapa jaminan keselamatan itu hanya dikeluarkan Kementerian Ekonomi bukan agensi bertanggungjawab ini?
“Ada banyak faktor selain isu campur tangan politik dan kes penggodaman data agensi kerajaan, jawapan Kementerian Ekonomi juga tidak konsisten terhadap keselamatan data kerajaan sendiri yang memberikan multi persepsi sehingga menimbulkan kekeliruan rakyat.
“Menurut kenyataan Menteri Ekonomi, PADU mengambil data dari pelbagai agensi dan jabatan lain, ini membentuk satu tarikan kepada penjenayah siber kerana elemen data terkumpul itu sangat strategik termasuk maklumat perbankan pengguna.
“Sekiranya data ini bocor atau dieksploitasi untuk tujuan yang salah di kemudian hari, siapa yang harus dipertanggungjawabkan kerana Akta Keselamatan Siber baru sahaja dalam proses pembentangan di Parlimen hari ini,” katanya dipetik Harian Metro di sini hari ini.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kewajaran kerajaan menangguhkan pendaftaran dan kemas kini PADU sehingga semua isu berbangkit dan persoalan rakyat terjawab.
Mengulas lanjut, beliau berkata sudah sampai masa kerajaan duduk semeja pemegang taruh terutama pihak industri bagi meneliti semula dan memperbaiki kelemahan pelaksanaan sistem itu bagi mencapai matlamat subsidi bersasar.
“Sampai dua kerajaan negeri pun memberikan reaksi agak tidak baik sedangkan awal-awal lagi perlu adakan libat urus dengan pemegang taruh dan beri peluang kepada pihak lain yang sepatutnya memberikan pandangan lebih jelas tentang sistem ini.
“Jadi, wajar Kementerian Ekonomi memikirkan semula perkara ini kerana implikasinya akan memberikan impak negatif rakyat secara majoriti terhadap sistem ini dan akhirnya secara tidak langsung kepada kerajaan kita sendiri,” katanya.
Semalam, media melaporkan selepas Sarawak, kini Sabah juga mahu Kementerian Ekonomi menghentikan sementara pendaftaran PADU dan membuat penilaian semula terhadap pelaksanaan program berkenaan.
Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan berkata beliau mengambil berat gesaan Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk pendaftaran menyeluruh sistem PADU, terutama apabila maklumat peribadi menjadi lebih penting berbanding sebelum ini.
“Sebagai negara kelapan di dunia yang paling banyak ‘pelanggaran’ data, saya fikir PADU adalah perkara terakhir yang kerajaan perlu perkenalkan pada masa ini.
“Sejarah menunjukkan tiada sistem data yang tidak dapat ditembusi, malah pangkalan data peribadi Biro Penyiasatan Persekutuan (FBI) Amerika Syarikat baru-baru ini digodam,” katanya dipetik Berita Harian.
Universiti sebagai Pusat Pemangkin Pembangunan Komuniti
Oleh Zurina Abd Ghani dan Salina Sa-idul Haj
Universiti merupakan pusat wadah pembentukan moral dan sahsiah warga institusi pendidikan tinggi khususnya untuk para pelajar.
Nilai empati dan kebersamaan bersama masyarakat haruslah diterapkan di dalam diri bakal graduan universiti agar mereka kelak akan berkhidmat dengan jatidiri yang kuat untuk berbudi. Itulah diantara asbab kewujudan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).
Sebagai pentadbir Universiti, salah satu tanggungjawab penting adalah memastikan bahawa institusi pendidikan tidak hanya menjadi tempat pelajaran dan pembelajaran tetapi juga sebuah pemangkin pembangunan yang berterusan bagi masyarakat setempat.
Projek komuniti merupakan satu pendekatan yang berkesan dalam memupuk nilai-nilai kebajikan dan kebersamaan dalam kalangan warga universiti, pensyarah, pentadbir dan juga pelajar, sekaligus memberi kesan positif kepada kemaslahatan warga penduduk sekitar kampus.
Mengukuhkan Hubungan Antara Universiti dan Komuniti Setempat
Projek komuniti yang dijalankan oleh warga universiti merupakan cerminan daripada semangat berbakti dan berbudi kepada masyarakat. Ini tidak hanya memberi manfaat kepada komuniti setempat tetapi juga memperkuatkan hubungan antara universiti dan penduduk tempatan.
Melalui projek-projek seperti program pembangunan kemahiran, khidmat masyarakat, dan inisiatif kelestarian alam, warga universiti dapat memberi sumbangan yang signifikan kepada pembangunan komuniti setempat.
Salah satu dari inisiatif untuk komuniti yang dijalankan oleh IIUM adalah ”IIUM Special Raya 2024 Project”, Projek Khas Raya 2024 yang dikoordinasikan oleh Pejabat Strategi dan Perubahan Institusi, IIUM Gombak, dimana masyarakat IIUM menderma pakaian Raya terpakai untuk masyarakat sekitar gombak termasuk para pelajar yang memerlukan.
Sejumlah 2,000 helai pakaian seperti baju kurung, jubah, kemeja, seluar, tudung dan pelbagai lagi barangan telah didermakan oleh warga Universiti dan masyarakat sekitar untuk diberi kepada mereka yang memerlukan.
Pihak jawatankuasa pengurusan Projek Khas Raya 2024 juga telah memutuskan untuk menyalurkan lebihan sumbangan kepada Masjid Gombak Utara untuk kesinambungan usahasama bersama komuniti.
Selain daripada itu, pihak pentadbir dan pensyarah wanita di UIAM berkolaborasi bersama PUSPANITA IIUM sedang menganjurkan juga projek BAKUL RAYA 4.0. Projek ini telah dijalankan selama empat tahun berturut-turut.
Ia adalah satu projek yang bertujuan untuk memberi keperluan Eidul Fitri kepada para pekerja am khasnya pekerja landskap dan tukang cuci di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia.
Kedua-dua projek yang sedang berlangsung ini adalah bersempena Ramadan 1445. Namun begitu, ini hanya sebahagian kecil sahaja dari projek-projek komuniti yang telah dan sedang dijalankan oleh komuniti IIUM.
Membangunkan Pemimpin yang Bertanggungjawab dan Berbudaya Nilai Tinggi
Komitmen universiti khasnya UIAM terhadap pembangunan komuniti bukanlah kebetulan tetapi hasil daripada budaya yang ditanam oleh pemimpin-pemimpinnya dari dahulu lagi kerana ia merupakan visi dan misi IIUM untuk melahirkan komuniti Universiti dan graduan yang Rahmatan lil ’Alamin.
Pemimpin universiti yang menggalakkan nilai-nilai kebajikan, keberagaman, dan kebertanggungjawaban memainkan peranan penting dalam membentuk sikap warga universiti.
Dengan memperkasa inisiatif projek komuniti, pemimpin universiti turut membina generasi pelajar yang peka dan prihatin terhadap keperluan masyarakat sekitar ke arah Kemaslahatan Bersama sejajar dengan halatuju UIAM iaitu’Humanising Education’ yang melihat kepada pembelajaran ke arah pembentukan manusiawi.
Projek komuniti universiti bukan sekadar satu-satunya cara untuk memberi kepada masyarakat setempat. Ia juga merupakan langkah menuju kepada kemaslahatan bersama di mana universiti dan komuniti setempat bekerjasama untuk mencapai matlamat yang sama.
Melalui perkongsian sumber daya, pengetahuan, dan tenaga kerja, dan apa juga sumber yang ada, universiti dan komuniti setempat dapat mengukuhkan infrastruktur sosial dan ekonomi yang memberi manfaat kepada semua pihak.
Projek usahasama sebegini juga mempromosikan kerja berkumpulan yang memecah silo dalam kalangan para pensyarah, pentadbir dan pelajar untuk mencapai hasil maksud dan tujuan yang sama. Pakaian dan pelbagai keperluan yang diberi kepada masyarakat B40 dan yang setaranya amatlah dihargai oleh mereka.
Kesimpulannya, dalam dunia yang semakin kompleks dan perubahan momentum yang sangat cepat, ketidakstabilan ekonomi, kesihatan mental dan pelbagai faktor, peranan universiti tidak hanya terhad kepada bidang pendidikan dan penyelidikan serta wacana keilmuan, tetapi juga sebagai pemangkin pembangunan komuniti yang berterusan.
Melalui projek komuniti seperti Projek Khas Raya 2024 dan BAKUL RAYA 4.0 yang membawa nilai-nilai kebajikan, warga universiti dapat memberi sumbangan yang bermakna kepada kemaslahatan masyarakat setempat dan ia juga memupuk kebersamaan dengan semua pihak.
Dengan adanya pemimpin yang membudayakan nilai-nilai tersebut, universiti akan menjadi pusat yang menggerakkan perubahan positif untuk kebaikan bersama.
UIAM DAN IDFR JALIN KERJASAMA PINTAR
Oleh Muhammad Na’im Mohd Fadil
Gombak – Institut Diplomasi dan Hubungan Luar Negeri (IDFR) menjalin kerjasama strategik menerusi pemeteraian memorandum persefahaman (MoU) dengan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) yang berlangsung di UIAM Kampus Gombak.
Kerjasama strategik ini ianya bertujuan untuk mengukuhkan lagi kolaborasi bagi memperkasa serta membangunkan kerjasama akademik, pintar budaya dan diplomasi serta penerbitan dan penyelidikan bagi manfaat bersama.
Ketua Pengarah IDFR, Dato’ Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman ketika ditemui berkata, IDFR melatih para diplomat serta pegawai-pegawai kanan sebelum mereka di tempatkan bertugas di lapangan. IDFR memerlukan kerjasama dari universiti untuk sama-sama membantu dalam berkongsi kepakaran ilmu bagi berkongsi maklumat terkini dalam ilmu pengetahuan untuk dipraktikkan.
“UIAM mempunyai kepakaran dalam pelbagai aspek bidang di Kulliyyah-kulliyyahnya menjalankan pelbagai inisiatif, dapat memberikan impak kepada komuniti sekitarnya, untuk merealisasikan hala tuju strategiknya dalam “Memanusiawikan Pendidikan untuk Ummah” selaras dengan “Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari (SDGs)”.Katanya.
Menurut Rektor UIAM, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, kerjasama ini dilihat dapat memberi nilai tambah kepada kedua-dua pihak dalam pelbagai aspek.
“MoU ini merupakan komitmen bersama yang akan mewujudkan hubungan akademik dan budaya kerjasama yang akan memperkayakan landskap pendidikan tinggi negara”.Ujarnya.
IDFR merupakan sebuah agensi dibawah Kementerian Luar Negeri (KLN) Malaysia yang mengendalikan program-program latihan bagi pegawai-pegawai diplomatik Malaysia serta pegawai-pegawai dari kementerian-kementerian dan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang lain.
Selain daripada kursus teras yang ditawarkan oleh pihak IDFR iaitu kursus latihan diplomatik, IDFR juga menyediakan latihan kemahiran professional bagi membantu pegawai-pegawai kerajaan yang sedang berkhidmat.
Hadir sama pada majlis MoU ini, Ketua Pengarah IDFR, Dato’ Syed Mohamad Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman, Pengarah Bahagian Perkhidmatan Pengurusan IDFR, Puan Yang Terutama, Sarimah Akbar, Rektor UIAM, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Pengarah Pejabat Strategi dan Perubahan Institusi, Prof. Madya TPr Dr. Muhammad Faris Abdullah, serta jawatankuasa pengurusan universiti (UMC) UIAM serta pegawai-pegawai dari IDFR pada majlis ini.
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Bubur Lambuk bersama Tengku Ampuan Pahang
Iftar with Students from Sekolah Bimbingan Jalinan Kasih
Courtesy visit from Ambassador of Bangladesh and Charge d Affairs of Afghanistan
Milestones of Excellence Our University’s Pride in Seven Alumni-Shaping Government Dynamics
In a resounding affirmation of our university’s dedication to cultivating leaders of exceptional calibre, we stand tall with immense pride as seven
distinguished alumni take centre stage in the political arena.
Their recent appointments to pivotal government positions not only underscore the quality of education our institution provides but also reflect the enduring impact our graduates make on the national stage.
Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement as our university basks in the glory of its accomplished alumni ascending to crucial roles in public service.
These seven outstanding individuals serve as a living testament to the rich legacy of leadership and excellence fostered by our university. It is a source of
immense pride to witness our alumni stepping into roles that demand vision, integrity, and a profound commitment to the welfare of our society.
As our university revels in this collective achievement, we acknowledge that the success of these alumni serves as a guiding light for current and future
generations of students.
Their journeys exemplify the transformative power of education, demonstrating the limitless possibilities that unfold when knowledge is coupled with passion and dedication.
In the archives of our university’s history, this moment stands as a beacon of accomplishment and a source of inspiration for all who pass through our hallowed halls.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Dato’ Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Na’im Haji Mokhtar, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Fadhlina Dato’ Sidek, Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Wong Kah Who and Mohamad Alamin.
May their journey in public service continue to reflect the values of our alma mater and inspire generations to come.
As they embark on their respective journeys to shape the nation’s future, our university stands proud, knowing that its legacy of producing visionary leaders continues to make a lasting impact on the fabric of society.
Source : Alumni Relations Division
UN Security Council demands immediate Gaza ceasefire as US abstains
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) demands an immediate ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages as the United States abstains from the vote.
The remaining 14 council members voted in favour of the resolution, which was proposed by the 10 elected members of the council. There was a round of applause in the council chamber after the vote on Monday.
The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends in two weeks, and also demands the release of all hostages seized in the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7.
“The bloodbath has continued for far too long,” said Amar Bendjama, the ambassador from Algeria, the Arab bloc’s current Security Council member and a sponsor of the resolution. “Finally, the Security Council is shouldering its responsibility.”
The US had repeatedly blocked Security Council resolutions that put pressure on Israel but has increasingly shown frustration with its ally as civilian casualties mount and the UN warns of impending famine in Gaza.
Speaking after the vote, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield blamed Hamas for the delay in passing a ceasefire resolution.
“We did not agree with everything with the resolution,” which she said was the reason why the US abstained.
“Certain key edits were ignored, including our request to add a condemnation of Hamas,” Thomas-Greenfield said. She stressed that the release of Israeli captives would lead to an increase in humanitarian aid supplies going into the besieged coastal enclave.
Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour addresses the UN Security Council [Andrew Kelly/Reuters]
The White House said the final resolution did not have language the US considers essential and its abstention does not represent a shift in policy.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the US failure to veto the resolution is a “clear retreat” from its previous position and would hurt war efforts against Hamas as well as efforts to release Israeli captives held in Gaza.
His office also said Netanyahu will not be sending a high-level delegation to Washington, DC, in light of the new US position.
US President Joe Biden had requested to meet Israeli officials to discuss Israeli plans for a ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
White House spokesperson John Kirby said the US was “disappointed” by Netanyahu’s decision.
“We’re very disappointed that they won’t be coming to Washington, DC, to allow us to have a fulsome conversation with them about viable alternatives to them going in on the ground in Rafah,” Kirby told reporters.
He said senior US officials would still meet for separate talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who is currently in Washington, on issues including the captives, humanitarian aid and protecting civilians in Rafah.
Last week, Netanyahu promised to defy US appeals and expand Israel’s military campaign to Rafah even without its ally’s support.
‘Crisis not over’
Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays said the vote is still a “very, very significant” development.
“After almost six months, … the vote, almost unanimous,” has demanded a lasting and immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
“The US has used its veto three times,” Bays said. “This time, the US let this pass.”
“Resolutions of the Security Council are international law. They are always seen as binding on all the member states of the United Nations,” he added.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a post on X that the resolution “must be implemented”, adding that “failure would be unforgivable”.
The vote came amid international calls to bring the nearly six-month-long conflict to an end as Israeli forces pummel Gaza and humanitarian conditions in the besieged strip reach critical levels.
More than 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and conditions under Israeli siege and bombardment have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, the UN said.
More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli assault since October 7, mostly women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people, mostly civilians, and seizing about 250 others as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Palestinian leaders welcomed the adoption of the resolution, saying it was a step in the right direction.
“This must be a turning point,” Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told the UNSC, holding back tears. “This must signal the end of this assault, of atrocities against our people.”
In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on UNSC member states to fulfill their legal responsibilities to implement the resolution immediately.
‘Vote in favour of peace’
The ministry also stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire that extends beyond Ramadan, secure the entry of aid, work on the release Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and prevent forced displacement of Palestinians.
Hamas welcomed the resolution and said in a statement it “affirms readiness to engage in immediate prisoner swaps on both sides”.
France called for more work on securing a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“This crisis is not over. Our council will have to remain mobilised and immediately get back to work. After Ramadan, which ends in two weeks, it will have to establish a permanent ceasefire,” French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said.
The latest vote was held after Russia and China vetoed a US-sponsored resolution on Friday that would have supported “an immediate and sustained ceasefire”.
Russian Ambassador Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya said his country hopes Monday’s resolution will be used in the “interests of peace” rather than advancing the “inhumane Israeli operation against Palestinians”.
“It is of fundamental importance that the UN Security Council, for the first time, is demanding the parties observe an immediate ceasefire, even if it is limited to the month of Ramadan,” he said. “Unfortunately, what happens after that ends remains unclear.”
Russia tried to push for the use of the word “permanent” in regards to the ceasefire. It had complained that dropping the word could allow Israel “to resume its military operation in the Gaza Strip at any moment” after Ramadan, which ends on April 9.
“We are disappointed that it did not make it through,” Nebenzya said.
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
Progressive US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers impassioned speech condemning abuses against Palestinians.
‘The time is now … to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government,’ US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says [File: Kevin Wurm/Reuters]
By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 22 Mar 202422 Mar 2024Save articles to read later and create your own reading list.
Washington, DC – Describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a genocide, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the United States to suspend weapons transfers to Israel.
In an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations says has put the territory on the verge of famine.
This is a mass starvation of people, engineered and orchestrated following the killing of another 30,000, 70 percent of whom were women and children killed. There is hardly a single hospital left. And this was all accomplished, much of this accomplished, with US resources and weapons,” Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative from New York, said.
“If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes. It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents. It looks like thousands of children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.
“It looks like good and decent people who do nothing, or too little, too late.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811010Play Video
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
Progressive US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers impassioned speech condemning abuses against Palestinians.
‘The time is now … to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government,’ US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says [File: Kevin Wurm/Reuters]
By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 22 Mar 202422 Mar 2024Save articles to read later and create your own reading list.
Washington, DC – Describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a genocide, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the United States to suspend weapons transfers to Israel.
In an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations says has put the territory on the verge of famine.
KEEP READING
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3
‘Moral failure’: US House approves bill that would ban UNRWA funding
list 2 of 3
Tor Wennesland: Gaza talks in Doha key for Palestinians and Israelis
list 3 of 3
US top diplomat holds talks in Israel as Netanyahu vows Rafah invasion
end of list
“This is a mass starvation of people, engineered and orchestrated following the killing of another 30,000, 70 percent of whom were women and children killed. There is hardly a single hospital left. And this was all accomplished, much of this accomplished, with US resources and weapons,” Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative from New York, said.
“If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes. It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents. It looks like thousands of children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.
“It looks like good and decent people who do nothing, or too little, too late.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811010Play VideoVideo Duration 28 minutes 20 seconds28:20
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most recognised names in Congress and a rising star in President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, had previously faced criticism from the left for failing to join many of her fellow progressive in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The Biden administration rejects allegations that Israel is systematically committing human rights violations in Gaza. Earlier this year, it called South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide unfounded.
Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday that the US cannot continue to “facilitate” mass killings in Gaza in the name of honouring its alliance with Israel.
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
Progressive US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers impassioned speech condemning abuses against Palestinians.
‘The time is now … to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government,’ US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says [File: Kevin Wurm/Reuters]
By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 22 Mar 202422 Mar 2024Save articles to read later and create your own reading list.
Washington, DC – Describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a genocide, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the United States to suspend weapons transfers to Israel.
In an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations says has put the territory on the verge of famine.
KEEP READING
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3
‘Moral failure’: US House approves bill that would ban UNRWA funding
list 2 of 3
Tor Wennesland: Gaza talks in Doha key for Palestinians and Israelis
list 3 of 3
US top diplomat holds talks in Israel as Netanyahu vows Rafah invasion
end of list
“This is a mass starvation of people, engineered and orchestrated following the killing of another 30,000, 70 percent of whom were women and children killed. There is hardly a single hospital left. And this was all accomplished, much of this accomplished, with US resources and weapons,” Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative from New York, said.
“If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes. It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents. It looks like thousands of children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.
“It looks like good and decent people who do nothing, or too little, too late.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811010Play VideoVideo Duration 28 minutes 20 seconds28:20
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most recognised names in Congress and a rising star in President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, had previously faced criticism from the left for failing to join many of her fellow progressive in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The Biden administration rejects allegations that Israel is systematically committing human rights violations in Gaza. Earlier this year, it called South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide unfounded.
Sign up for Al Jazeera
Americas Coverage Newsletter
US politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter.Subscribe
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policyprotected by reCAPTCHA
Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday that the US cannot continue to “facilitate” mass killings in Gaza in the name of honouring its alliance with Israel.Advertisement
“The time is now to force compliance with US law and the standards of humanity, and fulfill our obligations to the American people to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government in order to stop and prevent further atrocity,” the congresswoman said.
The US is Israel’s top weapons supplier.
Washington provides at least $3.8bn in aid to Israel annually, and Biden is working with Congress to secure $14bn in additional aid to the US ally.
Public opinion polls, however, show that the Biden administration’s steadfast support for Israel may cost the president votes as the election season gets under way, and Biden and key Democrats have in recent weeks been more forceful in their criticism of the Israeli government siege of Gaza.
US officials have repeatedly warned Israel against invading Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than one million displaced Palestinians have taken shelter.
But White House national security spokesperson John Kirby suggested on Friday that Washington will not halt its weapon transfers to Israel. US officials have said that they share Israel’s goals of eliminating Hamas in Gaza.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811011Play Video
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
Progressive US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers impassioned speech condemning abuses against Palestinians.
‘The time is now … to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government,’ US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says [File: Kevin Wurm/Reuters]
By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 22 Mar 202422 Mar 2024Save articles to read later and create your own reading list.
Washington, DC – Describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a genocide, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the United States to suspend weapons transfers to Israel.
In an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations says has put the territory on the verge of famine.
KEEP READING
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3
‘Moral failure’: US House approves bill that would ban UNRWA funding
list 2 of 3
Tor Wennesland: Gaza talks in Doha key for Palestinians and Israelis
list 3 of 3
US top diplomat holds talks in Israel as Netanyahu vows Rafah invasion
end of list
“This is a mass starvation of people, engineered and orchestrated following the killing of another 30,000, 70 percent of whom were women and children killed. There is hardly a single hospital left. And this was all accomplished, much of this accomplished, with US resources and weapons,” Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative from New York, said.
“If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes. It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents. It looks like thousands of children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.
“It looks like good and decent people who do nothing, or too little, too late.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811010Play VideoVideo Duration 28 minutes 20 seconds28:20
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most recognised names in Congress and a rising star in President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, had previously faced criticism from the left for failing to join many of her fellow progressive in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The Biden administration rejects allegations that Israel is systematically committing human rights violations in Gaza. Earlier this year, it called South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide unfounded.
Sign up for Al Jazeera
Americas Coverage Newsletter
US politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter.Subscribe
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policyprotected by reCAPTCHA
Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday that the US cannot continue to “facilitate” mass killings in Gaza in the name of honouring its alliance with Israel.Advertisement
“The time is now to force compliance with US law and the standards of humanity, and fulfill our obligations to the American people to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government in order to stop and prevent further atrocity,” the congresswoman said.
The US is Israel’s top weapons supplier.
Washington provides at least $3.8bn in aid to Israel annually, and Biden is working with Congress to secure $14bn in additional aid to the US ally.
Public opinion polls, however, show that the Biden administration’s steadfast support for Israel may cost the president votes as the election season gets under way, and Biden and key Democrats have in recent weeks been more forceful in their criticism of the Israeli government siege of Gaza.
US officials have repeatedly warned Israel against invading Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than one million displaced Palestinians have taken shelter.Advertisement
But White House national security spokesperson John Kirby suggested on Friday that Washington will not halt its weapon transfers to Israel. US officials have said that they share Israel’s goals of eliminating Hamas in Gaza.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811011Play VideoVideo Duration 02 minutes 00 seconds02:00
Asked whether the US will use its “leverage” to dissuade Israel from launching a major ground operation in Rafah, Kirby said, “We’re going to continue to approach this with Israel as we have in the past, which is to make sure that they have the tools they need to defend themselves against a still-viable threat.”
Kirby added that, at the same time, the US will use its ties with Israel and the relationship between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “urge them to minimise civilian casualties” and allow more humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a US-authored proposal around a ceasefire in Gaza. The measure backed the “imperative” for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides” but fell short of explicitly demanding an end to the war.
Kirby said the draft resolution signals no change in the Biden administration’s position, which has been to push for a temporary cessation of hostilities as part of a deal that would see the release of Israeli captives in Gaza.
“It is in line with our longstanding calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza over a period of at least six weeks as part of our hostage deal – nothing new there,” he said.
The White House spokesperson added that progress is being made in the talks to reach a truce agreement. “Nothing is negotiated until it’s all negotiated. But we do believe that the gaps are narrowing and we are getting closer,” he told reporters.
AOC decries ‘unfolding genocide’ in Gaza, urges halting weapons to Israel
Progressive US legislator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivers impassioned speech condemning abuses against Palestinians.
‘The time is now … to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government,’ US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says [File: Kevin Wurm/Reuters]
By Al Jazeera StaffPublished On 22 Mar 202422 Mar 2024Save articles to read later and create your own reading list.
Washington, DC – Describing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as a genocide, progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on the United States to suspend weapons transfers to Israel.
In an impassioned speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which the United Nations says has put the territory on the verge of famine.
KEEP READING
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3
‘Moral failure’: US House approves bill that would ban UNRWA funding
list 2 of 3
Tor Wennesland: Gaza talks in Doha key for Palestinians and Israelis
list 3 of 3
US top diplomat holds talks in Israel as Netanyahu vows Rafah invasion
end of list
“This is a mass starvation of people, engineered and orchestrated following the killing of another 30,000, 70 percent of whom were women and children killed. There is hardly a single hospital left. And this was all accomplished, much of this accomplished, with US resources and weapons,” Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative from New York, said.
“If you want to know what an unfolding genocide looks like, open your eyes. It looks like the forced famine of 1.1 million innocents. It looks like thousands of children eating grass as their bodies consume themselves, while trucks of food are slowed and halted just miles away.
“It looks like good and decent people who do nothing, or too little, too late.”https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811010Play VideoVideo Duration 28 minutes 20 seconds28:20
Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most recognised names in Congress and a rising star in President Joe Biden’s Democratic Party, had previously faced criticism from the left for failing to join many of her fellow progressive in accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
The Biden administration rejects allegations that Israel is systematically committing human rights violations in Gaza. Earlier this year, it called South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide unfounded.
Sign up for Al Jazeera
Americas Coverage Newsletter
US politics, Canada’s multiculturalism, South America’s geopolitical rise—we bring you the stories that matter.Subscribe
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policyprotected by reCAPTCHA
Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday that the US cannot continue to “facilitate” mass killings in Gaza in the name of honouring its alliance with Israel.Advertisement
“The time is now to force compliance with US law and the standards of humanity, and fulfill our obligations to the American people to suspend the transfer of US weapons to the Israeli government in order to stop and prevent further atrocity,” the congresswoman said.
The US is Israel’s top weapons supplier.
Washington provides at least $3.8bn in aid to Israel annually, and Biden is working with Congress to secure $14bn in additional aid to the US ally.
Public opinion polls, however, show that the Biden administration’s steadfast support for Israel may cost the president votes as the election season gets under way, and Biden and key Democrats have in recent weeks been more forceful in their criticism of the Israeli government siege of Gaza.
US officials have repeatedly warned Israel against invading Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than one million displaced Palestinians have taken shelter.Advertisement
But White House national security spokesperson John Kirby suggested on Friday that Washington will not halt its weapon transfers to Israel. US officials have said that they share Israel’s goals of eliminating Hamas in Gaza.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.629.1_en.html#goog_262811011Play VideoVideo Duration 02 minutes 00 seconds02:00
Asked whether the US will use its “leverage” to dissuade Israel from launching a major ground operation in Rafah, Kirby said, “We’re going to continue to approach this with Israel as we have in the past, which is to make sure that they have the tools they need to defend themselves against a still-viable threat.”
Kirby added that, at the same time, the US will use its ties with Israel and the relationship between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “urge them to minimise civilian casualties” and allow more humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, the UN Security Council failed to adopt a US-authored proposal around a ceasefire in Gaza. The measure backed the “imperative” for “an immediate and sustained ceasefire to protect civilians on all sides” but fell short of explicitly demanding an end to the war.
Kirby said the draft resolution signals no change in the Biden administration’s position, which has been to push for a temporary cessation of hostilities as part of a deal that would see the release of Israeli captives in Gaza.
“It is in line with our longstanding calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza over a period of at least six weeks as part of our hostage deal – nothing new there,” he said.
The White House spokesperson added that progress is being made in the talks to reach a truce agreement. “Nothing is negotiated until it’s all negotiated. But we do believe that the gaps are narrowing and we are getting closer,” he told reporters.https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1771238247449899285&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aljazeera.com%2Fnews%2F2024%2F3%2F22%2Faoc-decries-unfolding-genocide-in-gaza-urges-halting-weapons-to-israel&sessionId=6272551d1ecc2ab536f81a32760b75163b18965a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px
However, US progressives have long argued that a temporary halt in fighting is not sufficient, calling on Washington to revise its unconditional support for Israel.
“This is not just about Israel or Gaza. This is about us. The world will never be the same,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday of the mounting death toll and hunger in the Palestinian territory.
“Our story must be not that we were good men who did nothing, but that we were a committed democracy that did something.”