The UNSC convened yesterday in New York, USA, with 15 member states with the Israeli-Palestinian agenda. Representatives of the member states made statements on the latest situation in the region. Robert Wood, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, stated that Hamas attacks were condemned by many members at the meeting, but not all council members supported this condemnation. Wood stated that the focus of the US at the meeting was the condemnation of Hamas and emphasised that Hamas must 'stop its terrorist attacks against the people of Israel'. Asked whether a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine was important, Wood said: "Right now we have to deal with hostage-taking and Hamas attacks."

"TIME TO STOP THE VIOLENCE AND BLOODSHED"

Israel's permanent representative to the UN, Gilad Erdan, said in his statement that Hamas committed war crimes. Erdan compared the attacks to 11 September and said, "Israel's 11 September".

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Representative of Palestine to the UN, stated that Israel's blockade and continuous attacks on Gaza have failed to achieve its goal of destroying Hamas' military capability and said, "Now is the time to stop the violence and the bloodshed."

CALL TO PROTECT CIVILIANS

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised the Hamas attack on Israeli towns.

He stated that he condemned 'in the strongest terms' and called for restraint. Guterres stated that all diplomatic efforts were being made to prevent a wider conflict. "Civilians must always be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law," Guterres said in a statement. In addition, the UN announced that 64 schools in all areas of the Gaza Strip are sheltering 73,538 internally displaced persons.