The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Denis Francis, informed member states early this Friday that a general session will be held on Tuesday, January 9, concerning Palestine.
A statement from the Presidency of the Assembly mentioned that the meeting, to be held in the General Assembly Hall, is due to the use of the veto right by one of the permanent members of the Security Council on December 22 last year.
The statement added that the General Assembly will discuss the situation in which the veto right was exercised during session number (9520) of the Security Council under the agenda item titled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”
It should be noted that on that day, the Security Council adopted a resolution concerning aid to Gaza, with the United States and the Russian Federation abstaining, not vetoing. However, what occurred during that session was the United States’ veto of an amendment proposed by the Russian Federation to the draft resolution, which had received ten supporting votes.
The recent situation in Gaza has been marked by intensified hostilities and significant humanitarian challenges. Israeli forces have continued heavy bombardment in Gaza, particularly targeting areas like the Maghazi and Jabalia refugee camps. This has led to significant destruction and displacement of civilians. There have been reports of Israeli ground forces entering central areas of Gaza and clashing with Hamas fighters. The number of Palestinians killed since the outbreak of violence on October 7 has risen to over 22,000, with at least 57,000 injured.
The UN Secretary-General has expressed grave concerns over the conflict’s spillover effects, which could destabilize the wider region. The Security Council has discussed the crisis and adopted a resolution demanding immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and ensuring humanitarian access. The resolution also calls for adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties involved. There have been calls for action towards a ceasefire in Gaza from various international groups.
