The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened a closed-door emergencysession during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with theobjective of reaching a consensus on a joint statement.
This session did not succeed in achieving the unanimity in a statement infavour of Israel due to divisions among the council members. Specifically,Russia’s stance differed from that of the other UNSC members, as Russiacalled upon the forum to prioritize the implementation of a previousresolution concerning the Palestinian situation.
Since the initiation of hostilities, the conflict has inflicted adevastating toll, with over 1,100 lives already lost. This crisis wassparked when Hamas, the Palestinian group controlling the blockaded GazaStrip, launched a fierce assault on Israeli towns, leading to the abductionof hundreds of individuals. Israel, in response, declared a state of warand unleashed a barrage of attacks on densely-populated areas in Gaza,resulting in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives.
Following the UNSC session, a senior US diplomat addressed the media andnoted that while a considerable number of nations denounced the actions ofHamas, a unanimous stance remained elusive.The Russian representative at the UN expressed Moscow’s commitment toimmediately halt the conflict and establish a ceasefire, emphasizing theimportance of meaningful negotiations to resolve underlying issues.
Read Top Stories
In parallel, U.S. President Joe Biden responded by ordering additionalsupport for Israel to confront what he termed an “unprecedented terroristassault by Hamas.” Tragically, this conflict has already claimed the livesof at least four U.S. citizens, as confirmed by U.S. Senate Majority LeaderChuck Schumer, who acknowledged that the death toll was likely to risefurther. This dire situation underscores the complexity and gravity of theongoing crisis in the region.