In a resolution, adopted 30-1 with 15 abstentions, the council Thursday said it was concerned about Israeli attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly the Gaza Strip. The blockade was imposed in response to Qassam rockets being fired into Israel.

Besides demanding that Israel lift its siege, the resolution also seeks restoration of fuel, food and medical supplies and reopening of border crossings. The council urged concerned parties to respect rules of human rights law and international humanitarian law and to refrain from violence against the civilian Palestinian population.

Israel's New York Consulate protested at United Nations headquarters Thursday using 4,200 red balloons, The Jerusalem Post reported. Consulate officials said the balloons represented the number of rockets fired into Israel from Gaza since 2005.