Adedokun Waliyu 
The UN Security Council meets again within the next few minutes at UN Headquarters in New York for what was a scheduled quarterly meeting on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, now given greater urgency by the Hamas attacks of 7 October and the deepening humanitarian crisis as the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues.
It marks the fourth time the 15 ambassadors of the UN’s premier peace and security body will convene since the intense cycle of violence began.
So far, there has no agreement on any action, to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught up in the spiralling conflict between Hamas militants, who control the enclave of over two million Palestinians.
The Council failed to adopt two previous draft resolutions addressing the escalation. The first from Russia calling for an immediate ceasefire, failed to get enough votes, while a Brazilian draft was vetoed by the United States. Although it called for humanitarian pauses for aid access, the US determined objected to the fact it did not mention Israel’s right to self defence.
The UN chief António Guterres is due to brief today along with relief chief Martin Griffiths, and the UN Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings is also down to brief.
Foreign ministers from several countries are also due to take part.
So far, 92 different countries have signed up to speak.
