Maldives requests UN emergency session to stop Israeli attacks

Maldives has requested the United Nations (UN) for an emergency special session of the general assembly to stop the continuous attacks by the Israeli military on innocent Palestinian civilians.

The announcement was made by Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid in a post on X on Monday.

“The continuous attacks by the Israeli military on innocent Palestinian civilians, especially children, have gone on for far too long,” wrote Shahid.

He said that the Maldives, under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s guidance, an in collaboration with other countries, are requesting the president of the UNGA to resume the 10th emergency special session of the UNGA in accordance with the ‘Uniting for Peace’ resolution.

“We stand with the people of Palestine and their legitimate pursuit to attain their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination,” he added.

An emergency special session is an unscheduled meeting of the UNGA to make urgent, but non-binding decisions or recommendations regarding a particular issue.

The mechanism of the emergency special session was created in 1950 by the UNGA's adoption of its 'Uniting for Peace' resolution.

The resolution outlines that if the UN Security Council, because of a lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the UNGA shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making appropriate recommendations to members for collective measures.

The 10th emergency special session – pertaining to illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory - was convened for the first time in April 1997 following a request from Qatar.

The session followed a series of Security Council and General Assembly meetings regarding the Israeli decision to build Har Homa, a large illegal Israeli settlement, in the Jabal Abu Ghneim area of Occupied East Jerusalem.

The session was last resumed on June 13, 2013, to consider a draft resolution entitled "Protection of the Palestinian civilian population.”

It is being resumed again this year, after the Security Council failed to pass a resolution calling for an immediate, durable and full ceasefire, and to stop attacks against civilians.

Over two weeks into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israel's bombardment and blockade of Gaza has continued, with over one million people displaced.

The fighting began on October 7, when Hamas initiated Operation Al Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque, and increased violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in Gaza.

Over 5,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Israel’s response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007.

Israel also intensified raids in the occupied West Bank.