UN Security Council to Hold Rare Sunday Meeting Over Israel’s Plan to Occupy Gaza

Rabat – The UN Security Council will hold a rare weekend meeting on Sunday to discuss Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City. 

The meeting, first planned for Saturday, will now take place on Sunday at 10 a.m. in New York (14:00 GMT), according to Anadolu news agency, citing diplomatic sources.

The emergency session was requested by the UK, Denmark, France, Greece, and Slovenia. All 15 Council members, except for the current chair Panama, and the United States, agreed to the meeting.

The decision comes after Israel’s security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take total military “control” of Gaza City.

Several countries, including Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the UK, have issued a joint statement rejecting the move. They warned it would worsen the already severe humanitarian crisis, put hostage lives at risk, and displace more civilians. 

The statement also said the plan could violate international law. The countries urged Hamas to release all captives and called on Israel to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

Palestinians in Gaza are living in fear and uncertainty. Many did not sleep last night, worrying about what would happen if Israel goes ahead with the plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, starting with Gaza City. 

“All of these questions are coupled with frustration, and with desperation dominating every conversation between family members,” reports Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud from Deir el-Balah, Gaza.

He added that near a displacement camp, people could be heard in the night discussing where to go next. 

The new development adds to Palestinians already harrowing reality, with Israel’s relentless attacks and starvation tactics that claimed the lives of dozens of people, particularly children and newborns.