By Suleman Chitera
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene an emergency session this Saturday evening to address the Israeli regime’s latest military escalation aimed at occupying Gaza City.
The meeting, urgently requested by several Council members, comes amid what diplomats have described as an “unprecedented intensification” of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since October 2023. The densely populated enclave has been the epicenter of heavy bombardments, mass displacement, and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
According to diplomatic sources who spoke to Qatar’s Al Jazeera television network, Russia, China, Somalia, and Algeria have fully backed the call for the urgent session. The countries argue that the situation in Gaza has reached a critical stage that requires immediate international intervention.
In sharp contrast, the United States — Israel’s closest ally — is reportedly opposing the move. Washington is said to be pressuring other Council members to avoid discussions on what it views as Tel Aviv’s “security operations,” despite growing global criticism of Israel’s tactics.
The latest Israeli military push into Gaza City has triggered fears of further mass casualties, with humanitarian organizations warning that the already devastated health system in the territory is on the brink of total collapse. UN officials have repeatedly stressed that any escalation will worsen the suffering of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, most of whom have been displaced multiple times in less than a year.
Saturday’s UNSC session is expected to be tense, with deep divisions among members over how to address the crisis. While some nations are calling for an immediate ceasefire and renewed diplomatic efforts, others — led by the United States — continue to shield Israel from binding resolutions.
The outcome of the meeting could shape the next phase of international engagement in the conflict, as pressure mounts on world powers to halt the bloodshed and prevent further atrocities in Gaza.
