UN Security Council convenes emergency session on Israeli strikes on Gaza hospitals
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold an emergency session today to tackle the intensifying crisis in the Middle East, with a primary focus on the Palestinian issue.
The meeting, called at Algeria’s request, marks the nation’s inaugural action as it assumes the UNSC presidency for January 2024.
Central to the discussion will be Israeli strikes on healthcare facilities in Gaza, including the recent attack on Al-Shahid Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza.
In a press briefing at the UN headquarters on Thursday, Algeria’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, underscored that the Palestinian cause would dominate Algeria’s presidency agenda.
He revealed plans for a ministerial-level open session on Palestine scheduled for January 20, to be chaired by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf. Another significant meeting later in the month will address continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
“We aim for consensus to ensure UNRWA’s critical work persists,” Bendjama stated, emphasizing Algeria’s dedication to the agency’s mandate.
Quoting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, he reaffirmed Algeria’s steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause: “Algeria will not abandon Palestine until it establishes its independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Highlighting Algeria’s broader vision, Bendjama added, “We stand with Palestine and all oppressed peoples worldwide. The suffering in Gaza remains Algeria’s top priority.”
The session coincides with the induction of five new non-permanent Security Council members—Somalia, Pakistan, Greece, Denmark, and Panama—who began their two-year terms on January 1, 2024.