Security Council

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Samuel Žbogar (Slovenia):

Against the backdrop of the recent killing of six Israeli hostages, a mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza and increasing settler violence in the occupied West Bank, speakers in the Security Council today urged Israel and Hamas to reach a deal that includes a ceasefire and unconditional release of those still held captive.

The Security Council’s programme of work for September — a “special challenge” due to its intersection with both the General Assembly’s High-level Week and the Summit of the Future — will focus on reinforcing weakening trust between nations and respect for international law, its President for the month told reporters at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the sixth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Somalia (S/2022/397), agreed to address the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group.

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the sixth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Central African Republic (S/2024/93), agreed to address the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group.

Escalating attacks in recent weeks on Ukraine have cause civilian deaths and destruction to surge, a senior United Nations disarmament official said today, as he briefed the Security Council on the rise in military assistance and transfers of arms and ammunition to that country, stressing that such activity must adhere to international law.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone):

As the United Nations and its humanitarian partners prepare for a vaccination campaign in Gaza to deal with the polio outbreak, speakers in the Security Council urged Israel to refrain from military operations and evacuation orders to ensure that those delivering and receiving services can do so safely.

Violence this last month in Syria and the surrounding region has not only taken a toll on civilians but has also presented new threats to international peace and security, United Nations officials warned the Security Council today as they expressed deep concern about the ongoing tense situation across many fronts in that country.

Amidst a recent escalation in hostilities, the casualty count in Ukraine continues to grow — with July being the deadliest month for civilians in almost two years — a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as speakers condemned Moscow’s massive aerial attacks.