The United Nations Security Council will discuss the conflict between Hamas and Israel and the crisis in the Palestinian territories on Wednesday in the wake of the killing of six hostages in Gaza. Even routine bureaucratic questions about the meeting are sparking disagreements between U.N. members. Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon’s wrote on X early Tuesday that, “following my urgent request, the UN Security Council will finally convene on Wednesday for the first time since the October 7 massacre to hold an official discussion on the hostages.”
Quick Read
- The United Nations Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel and the broader crisis in the Palestinian territories.
- The meeting follows the killing of six hostages in Gaza, which has intensified the focus on the conflict.
- Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon requested the meeting, marking the first official discussion on the hostages since the October 7 massacre.
- A disagreement arose on social media between Danon and the U.N. ambassador from Malta, who pointed out that a November 15 resolution had already called for the release of all hostages, and accused Danon of spreading misinformation.
- France, the United Kingdom, and the United States supported Israel’s request for the meeting, with Israel urging the Security Council to condemn Hamas and demand the release of hostages.
- Algeria, another Security Council member, also requested a meeting on the broader Middle East crisis, which will be included in Wednesday’s discussions.
- The Israeli Health Ministry reported that autopsies revealed the hostages were shot at close range, with their bodies found in a tunnel in Rafah, Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
UN Security Council to discuss Israel-Hamas war in the wake of hostage killings
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS — (AP)
The United Nations Security Council will discuss the conflict between Hamas and Israel and the crisis in the Palestinian territories on Wednesday in the wake of the killing of six hostages in Gaza. Even routine bureaucratic questions about the meeting are sparking disagreements between U.N. members. Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon’s wrote on X early Tuesday that, “following my urgent request, the UN Security Council will finally convene on Wednesday for the first time since the October 7 massacre to hold an official discussion on the hostages.”
The U.N. ambassador from Malta, which served as Security Council president in April, wrote back to Danon on X that the council had adopted a Nov. 15 resolution that called for the release of all the hostages during humanitarian pauses in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
“At the time of adoption your representative stated in the Council that Israel will not implement the resolution,” she wrote. “Stop spreading misinformation.”
France, the United Kingdom and the United States backed Israel’s request for a Security Council meeting. Israel wrote in a press release Tuesday that “the Security Council must condemn the terrorist organization Hamas and demand the immediate release of the abductees.”
Algeria, another Security Council member, separately requested a meeting on the Middle East crisis that will be part of Wednesday’s meeting.
The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies had determined the hostages were shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday. The army said the bodies were recovered from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
