Gaza: Security Council passes resolution demanding ‘an immediate ceasefire’ during Ramadan

Gaza: Security Council passes resolution demanding ‘an immediate ceasefire’ during Ramadan

HIGHLIGHTS The UN Security Council adopts a resolution tabled by its 10 non-permanent members (E-10) demanding a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with one abstention (United States) Resolution 2728 also calls for the immediate release of hostages and for ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza The…

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UN Security Council demands ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza, ending months-long deadlock

UN Security Council demands ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza, ending months-long deadlock

This was the Council’s first explicit call for an immediate ceasefire since Israel began a military offensive in the Gaza Strip following last October’s brutal attack by Hamas and other Palestinian groups against settlements in southern Israel, in which over 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage. Israel’s military operation has since…

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Conflict driving hunger crisis in Sudan, UN officials tell Security Council

Conflict driving hunger crisis in Sudan, UN officials tell Security Council

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the conflict, we cannot make clearer the desperation that civilians are facing in Sudan,” said Edem Wosornu of the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA – one of three senior officials who briefed ambassadors. The meeting was convened following OCHA’s submission of a white paper on food insecurity in…

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Hong Kong: Rushed adoption of new security law a ‘regressive step’ - UN rights chief

Hong Kong: Rushed adoption of new security law a ‘regressive step’ – UN rights chief

“It is alarming that such consequential legislation was rushed through the legislature through an accelerated process, in spite of serious concerns raised about the incompatibility of many of its provisions with international human rights law,” Volker Türk said in a statement deploring the move in the former British colony which has been a Special Administrative…

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Security Council: ‘Risky military adventurism’ could push Yemen into new cycle of war

Security Council: ‘Risky military adventurism’ could push Yemen into new cycle of war

Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Hans Grundberg voiced his disappointment at the failure to achieve key milestones that ordinary Yemenis have been demanding, by Ramadan. “As I briefed last month, the mediation space has grown more complex. This continues to be the case,” he said. “Although we have tried to shield the peace…

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Diplomacy and national leadership crucial in preventing war, Security Council hears

Diplomacy and national leadership crucial in preventing war, Security Council hears

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told ambassadors at the Security Council that conflict prevention is a cornerstone of the UN’s mission. “Prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains. It is cost effective,” she said. Recalling the Secretary-General’s policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace, Ms. DiCarlo said prevention needed to be…

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Waves of violence hit Haiti hard, as Security Council condemns gang attacks

Waves of violence hit Haiti hard, as Security Council condemns gang attacks

Council members urged the armed gangs to “immediately cease their destabilizing actions” and reiterated the call for the “perpetrators of these abhorrent acts to be brought to justice”, according to a statement issued following a closed-door briefing last week by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). In…

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Ukraine war: Alarm raised in Security Council over civilian attacks

Ukraine war: Alarm raised in Security Council over civilian attacks

“We condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. “They are prohibited under international law; they are unacceptable and must stop now.” “Regrettably, our repeated calls for protection of civilians appear to fall on deaf ears,” he said,…

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