DAY TWO: Emergency meeting of General Assembly moves towards vote on Gaza crisis

The United Nations General Assembly is due to vote on Friday afternoon at 3pm New York time on the Israel-Palestine crisis, as an emergency session continues amid deadlock in the Security Council and with conditions in the besieged enclave of Gaza growing increasingly dire. **10:50 AM** ### Qatar condemns targetting of civilians **Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Qatar** to UN, said the crisis threatens the security of the region and the world, and voiced regret over the failure of the Security Council to act. She called on all parties to deescalate and move towards a full ceasefire; immediate release of all prisoners, particularly civilians; delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip; and opening of safe humanitarian corridors. Ms. Al-Thani reaffirmed her country's condemnation of targeting civilians, particularly women and children, as well as "our unequivocal rejection of the siege imposed by Israel, the occupying power", depriving 2.3 million people - half of them children - of their basic needs. She urged all Member States to support the Jordanian-led draft resolution and to send a "message of hope". In conclusion, she said "Qatar continues to contribute to the ongoing diplomatic efforts to find a way out, that will stop the bloodshed of our Palestinian brothers and ensure a sustainable political solution in accordance to the well known terms of reference and steer the region away from spiralling into chaos and violence." **10:30 AM** ### **Venezuela: End 'inflammatory rhetoric'** Taking the floor first on Friday, **Joaquín Alberto Pérez Ayestarán, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Venezuela** , also spoke on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. He called for an immediate ceasefire and end to all hostilities directed towards civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, refugee centres and food warehouses. "We also call for restraint and urge an end to all inflammatory rhetoric and dehumanizing language, which in no way serves ongoing political and diplomatic efforts to deescalate...and on the contrary only further stokes tension and violence endangering thousands of innocent lives," he said. On behalf of the Group, he called on the Security Council to urge Israel to heed the latest calls by the UN Secretary-General including sticking to the principles of the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and relevant international law. **10:25 AM** There's no objection to holding a vote at 3 PM. Venezuela is now taking its turn to speak at the podium. The Assembly also decided by general consent that for the adoption of any draft resolution, and any amendments to it, a two-thirds majority will be required. **10:20 AM** : The President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis has taken his seat and gavelled the special session to order. The Jordanian ambassador is making a point of order. He's calling for the suspension of the debate at 3 PM today, to initiate "immediate action" on their resolution. **10:06 AM** Delegates are gathering in the gilded General Assembly Hall for a long day ahead. A dozen of the 110 speakers due to take the floor spoke on Thursday and **we'll continue coverage here on Friday for day two from 10 AM New York time**. The emergency session is expected to vote on a Jordanian-backed draft resolution on the crisis, which among others calls for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce", all parties comply with international law, and continuous and unhindered aid into the Gaza Strip. Venezuela is expected to take the floor first first on Friday, followed by Jamaica. Qatar, Egypt and the United States are also expected to be among the early speakers. ## DAY 2 **09:00 AM** ### The draft resolution The Jordanian-led draft resolution on the crisis is expected to be put to a vote at the end of the emergency session which may extend beyond Friday. It has the backing of over 40 Member States, including Egypt, Oman and UAE. Key issues in the draft include calls for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce", as well as "demands" that all parties comply with international humanitarian law and for "continuous, sufficient and unhindered" provision of essential supplies and services into the Gaza Strip. It also calls the "immediate and unconditional release" of all civilians held captive as well as demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law. An amendment has been proposed by Canada that "unequivocally rejects and condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas" in Israel starting 7 October and the taking of hostages. Draft resolutions do not represent the official position of the General Assembly until adopted. ### Voting at the UN General Assembly At the General Assembly, the 193 Member States each have one vote, and in contrast with the Security Council, there are no vetoes. Decisions of the Assembly on important questions are made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. These questions include: recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, or other subjects defined under rule 83 of the General Assembly Rules of Procedures. Decisions on questions other than those provided for in rule 83, including the determination of additional categories of questions to be decided by a two- thirds majority, are made by a majority of the members present and voting. The phrase "members present and voting" means members casting an affirmative or negative vote. Members which abstain from voting are considered as not voting. Permanent Observers of the UN, the Holy See and the State of Palestine do not have a say in decisions of the General Assembly. , * * * ## DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS * The session convened under the "Uniting for Peace" mandate, empowering the Assembly to act when the Security Council is deadlocked over a critical matter of international peace and security * Assembly President Dennis Francis called for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire and the opening of aid corridors to save lives * The State of Palestine spoke first, making a powerful appeal to stop the killing for the sake of "all those who can be saved" * Israel spoke next in another powerful address, describing the brutality of Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and others, stressing that its siege of Gaza and war against the militant group is to ensure that such "depravity and atrocity never occurs again" * Jordan, on behalf of the Arab Group, said it will table a resolution to "make a stand for peace", after Security Council's repeated failure to reach any consensus **1:03 PM** The President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis brought Thursday's emergency session to a close saying it would reconvene at 10 am on Friday. For a full story tying together all the highlights of the first day of the session, visit our Meetings Coverage page here. Many key countries with a stake in the region have yet to take the iconic podium in the Assembly Hall, and tomorrow's speakers' list will likely see the session last through the entire day. For an explainer on how the Security Council and General Assembly work in times of acute international crisis and what happens when no agreement on action can be reached, check out our piece here. **12:47 PM** ### Mauritania bemoans lack of consensus  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf of Mauritania addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. **Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, Ambassador of Mauritania to UN** , spoke on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation saying the absence of any moral, legal, or political consensus has only emboldened the occupying power to carry on with impunity its illegal policy of colonial settlement and annexation. He pointed to Israel's years-long blockade, forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, systematic ethnic cleansing, organized acts of terrorism, and desecration of holy places, including Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque. He added that Israel was persisting with its denial of the violation of the inalienable right of people to self-determination and independence. This unacceptable situation must be brought to an end, he said. **11:51 AM** ### Iran slams 'genocide' **Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran** , said that it has been three weeks that the international community has been a witness to the "war crime and genocide of the occupying Israeli regime in Gaza and the West Bank of Palestine."  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian of Iran addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. He said that the US and several European countries sided with Israel and they refer to the Palestinian liberation movement as "terrorists". "Unfortunately this is the state of our world today. This is the situation of the Security Council, which was supposed to try to establish world peace and security," he said. Mr. Amir-Abdollahian called on the US to work for peace and security and not war against people, women and children, stating "instead of sending rockets, tanks and bombs, to be used against Gaza, the United States should stop supporting genocide in Gaza and Palestine." ### Hamas ready to release civilian hostages "I say frankly to the American statesmen who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do not welcome the expansion of war in the region, but I warn if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire," he stressed. "It is our home and West Asia is our region, we do not compromise with any party and any side, and we have no reservation when it comes to our homes' security." He also noted that according to Iranian negotiations, Hamas is ready to release civilian prisoners, on the other hand the international community should support the release of 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. **11:28 AM** ### We must stand for peace: Jordan On behalf of the Arab Group, **Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister Ayman Safadi** said "there is no room for grey areas".  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi of Jordan addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. "We must stand for peace, our human values and the UN Charter," he said. "History will judge us. Say no to war. Say no to the killing. Call out war crimes." As the killing continues, he said the Israeli Government have cabinet members that call for "wiping out Palestinians from the face of this Earth". "Israel is making Gaza a hell on Earth," he said. "The trauma will haunt generations to come." Israel must uphold values, he said. "The right to self-defence is not a right to impunity; Israel cannot remain above the law," he said. "Let the guns go silent and let the will to live and let live prevail. Let's restore faith in the peace process as the only path to ending this conflict once and for all." Mr. Safadi said Jordan, on behalf of the Arab Group, will table a draft resolution after the UN Security Council failed to do so again on Wednesday. "Vote for it; make a stand," he said. "Let's make a collective cry, a cry out against more bloodletting," he said. "Let's unite for peace." "Make a stand for peace, make a stand for life, make it clear, make it firm," he said, calling for a moment of silence for all the civilians and innocents who have perished during this war. **10:58 AM** ### At war with Hamas: Israel **Gilad Erdan, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Israel** to UN, said that the 7 October massacre and what ensued "has nothing" to do with the Palestinians, the Arab-Israeli conflict or the Palestinian question.  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Ambassador Gilad Erdan of Israel addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. "This is not a war with the Palestinians, he said. "Israel is at war with the genocidal jihadist Hamas terror organization. It is the law abiding democracy of Israel against modern day Nazis." He went on to note that Hamas does not care about Palestinian people, peace or dialogue. Its only goal is to "annihilate Israel and murder every single Jew on the face of the Earth." Mr. Erdan spoke of the brutal killings of innocent Israeli civilians and intentional targeting of Israeli medical teams that were trying to help the injured during the terror attack. He questioned the "hypocrisy" that there is not a single condemnation of the barbarity against Israelis. "The hypocrisy is beyond belief," he stressed.  © Magen David Adom Israel Emergency workers in Israel respond to missile attacks. From the podium of the General Assembly Hall, Ambassador UN Erdan presented a video on a tablet, turning the screen towards the delegates, that he said depicted a brutal decapitation with a garden tool against a helpless agricultural worker from Thailand. ### 'No words' for evil of Hamas "There are no words in any language to describe the evil we just witnessed," at the hands of a Hamas militant, he said, adding that it is not describable because it has no place in humankind. "ISIS was the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and Hamas is the Islamic State of Gaza. Just as was done with ISIS, Hamas must be no more," he declared, stating that the goal of Israel is to "completely eradicate Hamas' capabilities and we will use every means at our disposal to accomplish this." "Not for revenge, not for retaliation. But to ensure such depravity and atrocity never occurs again," said the Israeli ambassador. **10:32 AM** ### Meeting amidst death in Gaza: Palestine "We are meeting here while Palestinians in Gaza are under the bombs," **Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine** , said, speaking first.  UN Photo/Manuel Elías Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. "You are speaking while families are being killed, while hospitals are coming to a halt, while neighbourhoods are being destroyed, while people are fleeing from one place to another with no safe place to go." "There is no time to mourn," he said tearfully, pointing to the rising death toll. "If you do not stop it for all those who have been killed, stop it for all those who can be saved." Citing personal accounts of life on the ground, he said humanitarian aid is badly needed. Hospitals are operating without anaesthetics, with doctors and patients alike wondering if help is on the way. "This time, it's just too much," he said. Mr. Mansour, recalling Israel's recent comments in the UN Security Council about how its people are suffering, said Palestinians are suffering too. Israel's representative had called to "release the hostages, then takes two million Palestinians hostage", he added. There are 1,000 Palestinians killed every day, he said, adding that nothing can justify war crimes and crimes against humanity. "Why not feel a sense of urgency to ending the killing," he said. "You are setting us back 80 years by trying to justify what Israel is doing now."  © UNICEF/Mohammad Ajjour The Al Shati refugee camp in Gaza has been hit by air strikes. ### Decades of occupation Palestinians have survived decades of occupation, 16 years of a blockade and five wars in Gaza, he said. The answer to the killing of Israelis and Palestinians is not more killing, he said, asking the UN membership to uphold UN principles and keep future generations from the scourge of war. "The only path forward is justice for the Palestinian people," he said. "Vote to stop the killing, vote to stop this madness," he said. "Choose justice, not vengeance. Choose peace, not more wars. Vote to put an end to almost three weeks of the worst double standards we have seen in decades. Do not miss this chance. Lives are hanging in the balance. Please, save lives, save lives, save lives." **10:17 AM** ### Protect and save lives: Assembly President **Mr. Francis** said he was "deeply disturbed and distraught" at the events unfolding in Israel and Palestine. "Yet again, we gather amidst the gravest escalation of violence and hostility in the Middle East in decades." **The violence "must end now", he declared, calling for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire** and the opening of aid corridors. He voiced his condemnation of the attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 October, stating "the brutality of the Hamas assault is shocking and unacceptable and has no place in our world." He also condemned the indiscriminate targeting of innocent civilians in Gaza and the destruction of critical infrastructure by Israel, he said, adding that "the ceaseless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israel and its consequences are deeply alarming." Assembly President Francis underscored that the preeminent priority of the collective UN membership "must be to protect and to save civilian lives." "All parties to this conflict must abide by international humanitarian law, and immediately create the necessary conditions to allow for an opening of humanitarian corridor to the Gaza Strip," he said, emphasizing that urgently needed lifesaving assistance must reach those in need. He also praised the work of UN personnel in Gaza, offering condolences to the families of the 35 UNRWA staff members who were killed since the start of the crisis.  UN Photo/Manuel Elías General Assembly President Dennis Francis addresses the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. **10:10 AM** ### Session starts The **President of the General Assembly Dennis Francis** gavelled the session open shortly after 10 but he will make the first address in the ornate General Assembly Hall. He reminded delegates that the emergency session is reconvening following a request by Member States and letters signed by Jordan, Mauritania, Nicaragua and Russia, together with Syria. Members who have not paid their dues aren't allowed to vote in General Assembly meetings like this, but Mr. Francis agreed by general consent to allow those in arrears a waiver so they can take part. **09:00 AM (New York)** The tenth Emergency Special Session of the Assembly is expected to start at 10 AM, New York time, and as of now, 110 speakers are inscribed on the list. The State of Palestine is expected to address Member States first, with Israel expected to go second. Tweet URL > UN_PGA ### Emergency Special Session Under the "Uniting for Peace" landmark resolution, adopted by the General Assembly in 1950, the body can convene an "emergency special session" within 24 hours, should the Security Council "fail to exercise its primary responsibility" for the maintenance of international peace and security. This tenth Emergency Special Session was convened for the first time in April 1997, following a request from Qatar. It followed a series of Security Council and General Assembly meetings regarding the Israeli decision to build a large housing project in an area of East Jerusalem. The Session last came together on 13 June 2018 to consider a draft resolution entitled "Protection of the Palestinian civilian population". At the end of that session, the Assembly decided to adjourn "temporarily and to authorize the President of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from Member States." ### Ongoing crisis According to several UN agencies on the ground, critical lifesaving supplies, fuels to keep hospitals running and drinking water is running out. Meanwhile on Wednesday, the Security Council failed to adopt two resolutions on addressing the humanitarian crisis. China and Russia vetoed a United States-led draft resolution and a second Russian-backed resolution failed to secure sufficient votes in favour. This followed failures for unity at the Council, last week. A Russian-led draft resolution calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" was voted down last Monday and the following Wednesday, the US vetoed a Brazilian-led text that urged "humanitarian pauses" to deliver aid to millions in the Gaza Strip.

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