The Security Council has so far failed to agree on a resolution concerning the war, but a number of states — including Jordan on behalf of an Arab group of nations, Russia, Syria, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia — formally requested General Assembly President Dennis Francis to schedule the meeting.
Last week, the UN Security Council, regularly divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, rejected a Russian draft resolution calling for a “humanitarian pause.”
Only five of the 15 member states had supported the text, which condemned all violence against civilians and all terrorist acts, but did not name Hamas, an unacceptable omission to the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
Washington then vetoed a second resolution put forward by Brazil as the text did not mention Israel’s right to defend itself.
Twelve out of 15 Council members voted in favor of that resolution, which also condemned the “heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas,” while Russia and the United Kingdom abstained.
The United States was the only vote against, but as one of the body’s five permanent members its vote counts as a veto.
The Security Council will meet to discuss the issue Tuesday ahead of the General Assembly’s gathering Thursday at 10:00 am (1400 GMT).
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken planned on Tuesday to attend a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East, though it was unclear what action, if any, might be taken by the council, whose five veto-wielding powers appear divided.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has allowed China and Russia to burnish their credentials as the champions of the developing world, in contrast with the United States, which has squarely supported Israel. All three big powers hold Council vetoes.
On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people had been killed in bombardments over the previous 24 hours, most in the south of the coastal enclave next to which Israeli troops and tanks have massed for a possible ground invasion.
The Israeli military said it had struck more than 320 targets in Gaza over 24 hours, including a tunnel housing Hamas fighters, dozens of command and lookout posts, and mortar and anti-tank missile launcher positions.
The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas target in Gaza’s Al-Shati refugee camp that the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said killed or wounded dozens of people late on Monday.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports.
At least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of strikes, including 2,055 children, the health ministry said.
With Gaza’s 2.3 million people running short of basics, European leaders looked set to follow the United Nations and Arab nations in calling for a “humanitarian pause” in hostilities so aid could reach them.
A convoy of humanitarian aid trucks delivered water, food and medicine to the Gaza Strip on Monday — the third since aid began flowing on Saturday — but the United Nations said fuel was not included and reserves will run out within two days.
The UN said desperate Gazans also lacked places to shelter from the unrelenting pounding that has flattened swathes of the Hamas-ruled enclave.
Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has allowed China and Russia to burnish their credentials as the champions of the developing world, in contrast with the United States, which has squarely supported Israel. All three big powers hold Council vetoes.
On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said 436 people had been killed in bombardments over the previous 24 hours, most in the south of the coastal enclave next to which Israeli troops and tanks have massed for a possible ground invasion.
The Israeli military said it had struck more than 320 targets in Gaza over 24 hours, including a tunnel housing Hamas fighters, dozens of command and lookout posts, and mortar and anti-tank missile launcher positions.
The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas target in Gaza’s Al-Shati refugee camp that the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry said killed or wounded dozens of people late on Monday.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports.
At least 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in two weeks of strikes, including 2,055 children, the health ministry said.
With Gaza’s 2.3 million people running short of basics, European leaders looked set to follow the United Nations and Arab nations in calling for a “humanitarian pause” in hostilities so aid could reach them.
A convoy of humanitarian aid trucks delivered water, food and medicine to the Gaza Strip on Monday — the third since aid began flowing on Saturday — but the United Nations said fuel was not included and reserves will run out within two days.
The UN said desperate Gazans also lacked places to shelter from the unrelenting pounding that has flattened swathes of the Hamas-ruled enclave.
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