The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will meet on Friday afternoon to discuss the crisis in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
According to diplomats, the council has not yet determined whether the meeting will be open to the public. The 15-member body convened behind closed doors on Sunday, a day after Hamas rampaged across Israeli towns and villages, killing 1,200 people, capturing dozens of hostages, and transporting them back to Gaza.
In a statement from the Brazilian Ministry, the meeting was convened by Brazil, the current holder of the rotating presidency of the UNSC. The meeting is aimed at discussing the situation in the Gaza Strip.
During a meeting on Sunday, the UNSC members disagreed on policy regarding Israel and the Palestinians.
In an appeal to Hamas to release child prisoners and to Israel to stop its airstrikes, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called for immediate international action to safeguard children and civilians in the Israel-Gaza conflict on Wednesday.
On Twitter, President Luiz wrote, “Children must never be held hostage, anywhere in the world”.
“Hamas needs to free the Israeli children who were kidnapped from their families. Israel needs to stop its bombing so Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza strip via the Egyptian border,” he added.
He further emphasised the necessity of incorporating a fundamental level of humanity within the context of the insanity that characterises conflict.