Arab representative on 15-strong council will seek binding resolution demanding Israel accept humanitarian pause
Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor
Sun 29 Oct 2023 14.43 EDT
Last modified on Sun 29 Oct 2023 16.54 EDT
An emergency meeting of the UN security council requested by the United Arab Emirates will be held on Monday as the council’s Arab representative seeks a binding resolution demanding that Israel accepts a humanitarian pause to the fighting in Gaza.
One hour after Israel launched its expanded operations in Gaza on Friday, the 193-strong UN general assembly voted 120 to 14 with 55 countries abstaining for a humanitarian pause, but the assembly, bringing together all nations recognised by the UN, does not have the power to pass binding resolutions, unlike the 15-strong security council.