New information from a letter from Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly, indicates that the General Assembly meeting is slated for January 9 following the United States’ veto of a proposed change to the Gaza decision in the Security Council. This account is reported by TASS.
The Security Council had adopted the decision on December 22 with the aim of broadening the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Russia proposed an amendment calling for an immediate end to hostilities in the area, but it was opposed by the United States, with four other countries abstaining from the vote.
With ten members voting to amend the resolution, Francis announced plans for plenary discussions at the UN General Assembly to address the matter.
The Middle East situation has deteriorated since October 7, when thousands of Hamas fighters crossed from Gaza into Israel, and more than two hundred hostages were seized.
On that day, Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel and declared the start of Operation Al Aqsa Flood. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel was at war.
Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah declared its support for Hamas. Rocket exchanges began between Israel and Lebanon, with bombardments spreading toward Israel’s border areas. In the afternoon of October 19, the Israeli army reported fire from Lebanese territory directed at Kibbutz Manara, among other targets.
Experts and observers note that Hezbollah’s presence in the region could influence transport and interaction dynamics as the conflict unfolds. Bloomberg cites analysts who warn that if a broader regional flare-up occurs, Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system could be challenged in certain scenarios.
Earlier in the year, there was discussion in the United States about reforming the UN Security Council, highlighting ongoing debates over representation and decision-making within the body.