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Latest post: Wed 24 Apr 2024Insights on the work of the UN Security Council
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question: Briefing and Consultations
This afternoon (24 April), following the vote on a draft resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space, the Security Council will hold a briefing, followed by closed consultations, on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator (SHRC) for Gaza Sigrid Kaag is expected to brief.
Following the 7 October 2023 large-scale attacks against Israel led by Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out massive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. On 27 October 2023, the IDF also launched a ground operation initially focused on northern Gaza and later extended to most other areas of the Gaza Strip. Figures provided by Palestinian officials in Gaza cited by OCHA indicate that, as at 22 April, at least 34,151 Palestinians had been killed. Large areas of Gaza have been bombed to the ground, with up to 1.7 million people estimated to be displaced across the Gaza Strip, most of them multiple times. Figures provided by Israeli authorities cited by OCHA indicate that more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on 7 October 2023. As at 17 April, an estimated 133 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza. (For more background, see the brief on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” in our April 2024 Monthly Forecast.)
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Tomorrow afternoon (24 April), the Security Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution on weapons of mass destruction in outer space, which was prepared by Japan and the US. Russia has proposed an amendment to the text. In...
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Tomorrow morning (24 April), the Security Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Great Lakes Region. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia will brief on the Secretary-General’s latest semi-annual report on the...
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Tomorrow (23 April), the Security Council will convene for its annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), which this year is titled “Preventing conflict-related sexual violence through demilitarization and gender-responsive arms control”. The meeting will be chaired by Maltese...
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This afternoon (22 April), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Haiti. Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) María Isabel Salvador is expected to brief on recent developments in...
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Tomorrow morning (22 April), the Security Council will convene for its first regular briefing this year on the situation in Kosovo. Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Caroline Ziadeh is expected to brief on...
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This afternoon (19 April), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing to discuss the situation in Sudan, at the request of the UK, the penholder on the file. The anticipated briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary...
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Tomorrow (18 April), the Security Council will hold its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg will chair the meeting, which is one of the signature events of Malta’s...
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Tomorrow afternoon (17 April), the Security Council is expected to hold an open briefing on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the...
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Tomorrow morning (17 April), the Security Council will hold a ministerial-level debate on “The role of young persons in addressing security challenges in the Mediterranean” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Ian Borg, Malta’s Minister for...
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Tomorrow morning (16 April), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the situation in Libya. Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily will brief on the latest political,...
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This afternoon (14 April) at 4 pm EST, the Security Council will convene for an emergency meeting on the airborne attack that Iran launched against Israel yesterday (13 April). Israel requested the meeting, which will be held under the agenda...
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On Monday afternoon (15 April), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Slovenia and the US—the co-penholders on political issues in Ukraine—supported by France, requested the meeting, which...
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On Monday morning (15 April), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Edem Wosornu are expected to brief. The...
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Tomorrow morning (12 April), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item. Russia requested the meeting to discuss the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine. Chief of the Conventional Arms Branch...
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This afternoon (9 April), the Security Council will convene for a private meeting under the “Threats to international peace and security” agenda item to discuss recent developments regarding a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region in...
