The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday, 9, to address Israel’s plan to take control of the city of Gaza. The Palestinian representative in the United Nations, Ryad Mansour, said several countries requested the meeting after the decision of the Israeli government.
Panama, which occupies the presidency of the Council this month, said that the request to the plenary, made up of 15 members, was made by the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia. The request was supported by Algeria, Russia, China, Somalia, Guyana, Pakistan, South Korea and Sierra Leone. The US, the closest ally in Israel, were against. Meetings of the Security Council, however, do not usually produce practical results.
Mansour made consultations yesterday with the member countries and met with the Arab Ambassador Council. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “alarmed” with Israel’s decision and said it represents a dangerous climb that threatens to deepen the already catastrophic consequences of war for the Palestinians. “It can endanger more lives including the remaining Israeli hostages,” Guterres said in a statement released by his spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay.
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The secretary general reiterated his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, as well as access to the delivery of unrestricted humanitarian aid throughout Gaza and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Obligations
The UN again charged that Israel fulfills its obligations, according to international law. The statement recalls that, in an advisory opinion of 19 July, the International Court of Justice (CIJ) determined that Israel must “immediately cease all new settlement activities, remove all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory and end their illegal presence” in the region, including Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem.
According to the statement of Guterres, there will be no sustainable solution to this conflict without the end of Israeli occupation and the creation of a viable Palestinian state. He emphasized that “Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian state.” (With international agencies)
