This article is published in association with United Nations.

• The General Assembly resumed its tenth Emergency Special Session on the situation in the Middle East.
• Assembly President Philemon Yang emphasized the devastating toll of the conflict, calling for concrete and meaningful action from the international community.
• Meanwhile, the Middle East region remains highly volatile, with renewed fighting in Syria displacing over 175,000 people and resulting in significant civilian casualties.
• In Gaza, the situation remains dire, with severe hunger, constant displacement and relentless conflict pushing families to the brink.

General Assembly debate

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Today 01:01 π.μ.

Meeting adjourns for the day

With the final speaker for this afternoon having delivered their statement, the Acting President of the General Assembly has adjourned the meeting.

The session will resume at 10 AM on Wednesday, 11 December, as nations continue the debate.Today 12:52 π.μ.

Need for immediate and permanent ceasefire: France

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Isis Marie Doriane Jaraud-Darnault of the French Permanent Mission emphasized the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid at scale, given the dire conditions faced by Palestinian civilians, particularly in the northern Gaza Strip, now threatened by famine.

“All of the hostages held in the Gaza strip must be released,” she stated.

“France which still has two hostages in Gaza deplores the fact that the Security Council was unable to make that demand,” she added.

She underscored the necessity of “working towards the establishment of an independent, viable and contiguous State for the Palestinians.” 

“France will continue to work towards these objectives, working together with its partners including in the Security Council,” she said. Today 12:46 π.μ.

Danger of a wider war looms large over the Middle East: Pakistan

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Ambassador Munir Akram of Pakistan said that for over 400 days, the world has witnessed the “indiscriminate slaugher” of the Palestinian population of Gaza.

He recalled the deep concerns expressed by the Secretary-General and heads of several UN and humanitarian organizations, over the situation in Gaza and in the north of the Strip.

“Pakistan welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon, although Israel continues to violate it at will. But the slaughter continues in Gaza, as do strikes in Syria, and the danger of a wider war continues to loom large over the entire Middle East,” he warned.

Ambassador Akram expressed his country’s “deep dismay” that on 20 November, the resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire – sponsored by the ten elected members of the Security Council, and supported by four others ¬– could not be adopted due to the veto exercised by one permanent member.

“There is no rationale that can justify blocking a decision designed to stop the slaughter of helpless civilian populations,” he said.Today 12:30 π.μ.

Qatar reiterates support for the ‘just’ Palestinian cause 

Ambassador Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani of Qatar told the General Assembly that the delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Gaza is necessary to control the “humanitarian catastrophe”.

“Since the outset of Israel’s attack on Gaza, my country has undertaken mediation efforts in partition with the United States and Egypt with the view to put an end to the ongoing violence as well as the suffering of all parties,” she said. 

She added that Qatar stands ready to support all efforts to bring peace in the region. 

Welcoming the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, she expressed hope that a similar agreement will be achieved to put an end to the ongoing in Gaza.Today 12:07 π.μ.

All laws of war violated in Gaza: Egypt

Egyptian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud stated that all laws governing the conduct of war have been violated in Gaza, “in full view” of the world.

“Israel has violated all laws, having destroyed the Gaza Strip and having killed more than 44,000 people – more than 70 per cent of them women and children,” he said.

He asked UN Member States if they had ever witnessed an army killing women and children at such a frequency in any other conflict.

“Do you know of any army that imposes starvation on besieged civilians in any conflict other than the one in northern Gaza,” he said, adding that Israeli forces are launching “unparalleled brutal attacks” and is establishing military bases in the Strip.

“It is painful and highly regrettable that the Security Council – entrusted with stopping the war and protecting civilians – remains paralyzed, unable to fulfil its responsibilities,” he said.Today 12:07 π.μ.

Palestinian civilians face untold threats: Lebanon

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Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, Hadi Hashim, Deputy Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN, said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has become “catastrophic”.

“Palestinian civilians face untold threats this winter, while the policy of genocide and collective punishment pursued by Israel against defenseless civilians continue coupled with a stifling embargo and weaponisation of starvation,” he said. 

“We saw a diplomatic opportunity of hope in Lebanon with the entry into force of the agreement on the cessation of hostilities on 27 November,” he said, as he conveyed the Arab Group’s welcoming of the practical steps to implement Security Council resolution 1701.

“We stress the need for Israel to honor its commitment including the withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory,” he noted, comemnding the efforts of the United States and France. 

“We hope that the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon will be the prelude of a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said.4 Δεκ 2024  11:42 μ.μ.

On behalf of E10, Malta calls for immediate cessation of hostilities

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Ambassador Vanessa Frazier of Malta, speaking on behalf of the ten elected members of the Security Council (E10), highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including inadequate healthcare services and the risk of famine—particularly in the north—as underscoring the urgent need for the Council to shoulder its responsibilities and take decisive action.

She said that the draft resolution tabled by the E10 on 19 November was the result of weeks of intensive consultations and negotiations and had the support of 14 Council members.

“It adopted, the Security Council would have unequivocally demanded the cessation of hostilities through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire,” she said.

“It would also have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups since the attack on 7 October [last year]. It would have further deplored all acts of terrorism,” she added, expressing the E10’s deep regret that draft was vetoed.

Ambassador Frazier reiterated the E10’s call for all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian and human rights laws.

“We once again stress the need to ensure full, rapid, safe, and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into and throughout the Gaza Strip, including for those civilians in besieged North Gaza,” she added.

“Even though our text was not adopted, the E10 will maintain our positions calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the provision of humanitarian aid,” she said. 4 Δεκ 2024  11:39 μ.μ.

EU underscores ‘collective responsibility’

Hedda Samson, Ambassador and Deputy Head of European Union (EU) Delegation told the General Assembly, that her bloc “ending the civilian suffering and preventing further loss of life in Gaza is an absolute priority.”

“The EU unequivocally condemns Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack of October 7,” she said.

“The EU also deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties especially women and children in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the catastrophic levels of hunger and imminent risk of famine,” she added. 

She also underscored the importance of the work of UNRWA, stating that the EU together with its member States is the largest contributor to UNRWA.

“EU is committed to continuing its support to the agency both politically and financially,” she stated. 4 Δεκ 2024  11:25 μ.μ.

No reprieve to situation in Gaza: Uganda

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Godfrey Kwoba Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda also spoke on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

He said that since the resumption of the tenth Emergency Special Session last December and the adoption of the resolution on protecting civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations, “there have been no reprieve to the situation in Gaza and the conflict has intensified”.

He also referred to the situation in Lebanon, stating that the Movement welcomed the arrangement for cessation of hostilities.

“In this regard, NAM calls on Israel to withdraw from all Lebanese territories and calls for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.”