An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East and the Palestinian issue will be held on Sunday, following the violence between Israel and Hamas, the United Nations announced in a statement on Saturday.
UN Security CouncilPhoto: Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo / Xinhua News / Profimedia
Brazil, which took over the Council’s rotating presidency this month, had previously indicated it would convene “an emergency UN meeting” to address the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
“The Brazilian government reiterates that there is no justification for resorting to violence, especially against civilians, and calls on all parties to show maximum restraint to prevent an escalation of the situation,” the Brazilian MFA wrote, adding that “the simple management of the conflict is not a viable alternative for the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian problem and the resumption of peace negotiations is urgent”.
- The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched its strongest attack on Israel in years on Saturday, in a surprise assault that combined armed fighters who broke through security barriers and an avalanche of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. The attack took place at dawn on Saturday, during the great Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.
- At least 100 people died and about 1,000 were injured in Israel, according to the authorities. In Gaza, Israeli retaliation killed 198 people and wounded 1,600, according to the local health ministry.
- “We are at war and we will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted. “Our enemy will pay a price he has never seen before,” Netanyahu said in a video address.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Hamas attack and called for “every diplomatic effort to avoid a wider conflagration”.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned for the civilian population and urges maximum restraint,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
“Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times,” he added.
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