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UNSC to convene for first talks on Gaza hostages since Oct. 7

The meeting comes at the “urgent request” of Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon.

Danny Danon
Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East on Aug. 22, 2024. Credit: Evan Schneider/U.N. Photo.

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following an “urgent request” by Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon.

According to the envoy, it will mark the first time since the Oct. 7 attack that the Security Council has convened for an official deliberation on the issue.

Hamas currently holds 101 hostages, including 97 of the 251 captured on Oct. 7.

“It is a disgrace that it has taken the Council 11 months and the brutal execution of six hostages by Hamas terrorists to finally convene this discussion,” Danon tweeted on Tuesday morning, referring to the bodies of abductees recovered from a Rafah tunnel on Saturday.

“I extend my gratitude to the representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom and France for calling for this meeting. The Security Council must unequivocally condemn this Nazi-like terrorist organization and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” he continued.

The three countries are among the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with China and Russia. Ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

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