What's In Blue
Latest post: Thu 20 Mar 2025Insights on the work of the UN Security Council
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question: Briefing and Consultations
Tomorrow morning (21 March), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ). Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim Sigrid Kaag will deliver the quarterly update on the implementation of resolution 2334 of 23 December 2016. This resolution demanded that Israel cease all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), including East Jerusalem, and called for immediate steps to prevent violence against civilians, including acts of terror.
Tomorrow’s meeting comes amid significant and rapidly evolving developments in the Israel-Hamas war. On the night between Monday (17 March) and Tuesday (18 March), Israel resumed large-scale military operations in Gaza for the first time since the first phase of the ceasefire between the parties went into effect on 19 January. According to an 18 March update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) citing data from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the initial airstrikes launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed over 400 people, including more than 170 children and 80 women. The airstrikes have continued through the week, reportedly killing dozens more. Yesterday (19 March), the IDF also announced “targeted ground activities” to reassert control over parts of the Netzarim corridor, which separates northern and southern Gaza. Hamas has urged a return to the ceasefire and said that talks to halt the offensive are ongoing with Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators. The group responded militarily today (20 March), however, launching three rockets towards Tel Aviv. One projectile was intercepted by Israeli air defences and the other two landed in “an open area”.
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This afternoon (18 March), Security Council members will convene for closed consultations under the agenda item “Sudan/South Sudan”. The US—supported by the Council’s “A3 plus” members (Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and Guyana)—requested the meeting to discuss the recent outbreak of...
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Tomorrow morning (18 March), the Security Council is expected to hold an open briefing on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Algeria and Somalia—supported by China, France, Guyana, Pakistan, and Slovenia—requested the meeting to receive an update...
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On Monday morning (17 March), the Security Council is expected vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 17 March 2026. The draft resolution renews UNAMA’s mandate for an additional year...
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On Monday morning (17 March), Council members are expected to receive a briefing in closed consultations on the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (S/2025/153), which was circulated to Council members on 11 March. Adopted in 2006,...
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Today (14 March) at 12:30 pm, the Security Council is expected to adopt a presidential statement on the situation in Syria. The statement, co-authored by Russia and the US, is a response to sectarian conflict between 6 and 10 March...
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Tomorrow morning (13 March), the Security Council will hold a briefing on the situation in Sudan. Denmark and the UK (the penholder on the file) requested the meeting to address the protection of civilians and the humanitarian consequences of the...
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Tomorrow afternoon (12 March), the Security Council will hold a private meeting on Iran. France, Greece, Panama, the Republic of Korea (ROK), the UK, and the US requested the meeting, citing Iran’s increased production of highly enriched uranium. Assistant Secretary-General...
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Tomorrow morning (11 March), the Security Council will hold its annual briefing on cooperation between the UN and the European Union (EU) under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace...
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Tomorrow afternoon (11 March), Security Council members will meet in closed consultations to discuss the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). France, the penholder on the file, requested the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix is...
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On Monday afternoon (10 March), the Security Council will convene for an open briefing on Afghanistan. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva and a representative of Afghan civil society...
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Tomorrow morning (7 March), the Security Council will hold an open briefing, followed by closed consultations, on the Syria chemical weapons track. The meeting is the regular meeting on the implementation of resolution 2118 of 27 September 2013, which was adopted unanimously...
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This afternoon (6 March), Security Council members will hold closed consultations on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Russia requested the meeting in light of the BiH state court’s sentencing of Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik. On 26...
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Tomorrow morning (5 March), Security Council members will hold closed consultations on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ). Sigrid Kaag is expected to brief on the implementation of resolution 2720 in her capacity as Senior Humanitarian and...
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Denmark is the president of the Security Council in March. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 March). Denmark is expected to organise one signature event, an open debate on “Advancing adaptability in UN...
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Tomorrow afternoon (3 March), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution extending the 2713 Al-Shabaab sanctions regime and renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) assisting the 2713 Al-Shabaab Sanctions Committee. The draft text,...
