Tenth Emergency Special Session

Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The tenth Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly was convened for the first time in April 1997, following a request from the Permanent Representative of Qatar. The session followed a series of Security Council and General Assembly meetings regarding the Israeli decision to build Har Homa, a 6,500 unit housing project, in the Jabal Abu Ghneim area of East Jerusalem.

Sessions Coverage

11 December 2024

• Resolutions
  • Demand for ceasefire in Gaza: draft resolution (A/ES-10/L.33), adopted on 11 December 2024
  • Support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East: draft resolution (A/ES-10/L.32), adopted on 11 December 2024
• Videos
  • 59th plenary meeting [3 hours and 19 minutes]
  • 58th plenary meeting [3 hours and 31 minutes]
• Statements
  • Statements of 11 December 2024 (morning session)
  • Statements of 11 December 2024 (afternoon session)
• Press release
  • General Assembly Adopts Resolutions Demanding Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza, Israel to Allow UN Palestine Refugee Agency to Carry Out Aid Operations Unrestricted (11 December 2024)

4 December 2024

• Video
  • 57th plenary meeting [2 hours and 52 minutes]
• Statements
  • Statements of 4 December 2024 (afternoon session)
• Press release
  • Delegates Stress Urgent Need to End Suffering in Gaza, as General Assembly Resumes Special Session on Illegal Israeli Actions in Occupied Palestinian Territory (4 December 2024)
• UN News
  • Middle East crisis: Live updates for 4 December

17 - 18 September 2024

• Resolution
  • Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: draft resolution (A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1), adopted on 18 September 2024
• Videos
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 53rd plenary meeting [3 hours and 24 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 54th plenary meeting [3 hours 17 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 55th plenary meeting [3 hours 16 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 56th plenary meeting [41 minutes]
• Statements
  • Statements of 17 September 2024 (morning session)
  • Statements of 17 September 2024 (afternoon session)
  • Statements of 18 September 2024 (morning session)
  • Statements of 18 September 2024 (afternoon session)
• Press releases
  • General Assembly Mulls Over Resolution Demanding End of Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Land within 12 Months (17 September 2024)
  • General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Historic Text Demanding Israel End Its Unlawful Presence, Policies in Occupied Palestinian Territory within One Year (18 September 2024)
• UN News
  • General Assembly resumes emergency special session on Palestine (17 September 2024)
  • UN General Assembly demands Israel end ‘unlawful presence’ in Occupied Palestinian Territory (18 September 2024)

10 - 13 May 2024

• Resolution
  • Resolution A/RES/ES-10/23 titled “Admission of new Members to the United Nations” (draft document A/ES-10/L.30/Rev.1)
• Videos
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 49th plenary meeting [2 hours and 54 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 50th plenary meeting [3 hours 01 minute]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 51st plenary meeting [2 hours 55 minute]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 52nd plenary meeting [31 minute]
• Statements
  • Statements of 10 May 2024 (Morning session)
  • Statements of 10 May 2024 (Afternoon session)
  • Statements of 13 May 2024 (Morning session)
  • Statements of 13 May 2024 (Afternoon session)
  • Remarks from the President of the 78th Session of the General Assembly
• Press releases
  • At Emergency Special Session, General Assembly Overwhelmingly Backs Membership of Palestine to United Nations, Urges Security Council Support Bid (10 May 2024)
  • General Assembly Concludes Debate on United Nations Membership for State of Palestine (13 May 2024)
• UN News
  • UN General Assembly presses Security Council to give ‘favourable consideration’ to full Palestinian membership (10 May 2024)

12 - 20 December 2023

• Resolution
  • resolution A/RES/ES-10/22 entitled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" (draft document A/ES-10/L.27)
• Videos
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 45th plenary meeting [2 hours 30 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 46th plenary meeting [2 hours 57 minutes]
  • General Assembly: Tenth emergency special session (resumed), 47th plenary meeting [2 hours 01 minute]
• Statements
  • Statements of 12 December 2023 (UN Journal)
  • Statements of 15 December 2023 (UN Journal)
  • Statements of 20 December 2023 (UN Journal)
• Press releases
  • General Assembly Adopts Resolution Demanding Immediate Humanitarian Ceasefire in Gaza, Parties' Compliance with International Law, Release of All Hostages (12 December 2023)
  • Underscoring Urgency for Ceasefire in Gaza, General Assembly Highlights Need to Protect Civilians, Grant Humanitarian Access, Free Hostages, Condemn Hamas (15 December 2023)
  • Until Palestine Question Is Resolved, Arab-Israeli Conflict Will Continue, Be Passed Down to Next Generations, Speakers Warn General Assembly during Emergency Session (20 December 2023)
• UN News
  • UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session

26 October - 2 November 2023

• Videos
  • Session of 26 October 2023 [3 hours 16 minutes]
  • Morning session of 27 October 2023 [3 hours 34 minutes]
  • Afternoon session of 27 October 2023 [3 hours 44 minutes]
  • Session of 31 October 2023 [3 hours 30 minutes]
  • Session of 1 November 2023 [2 hours 4 minutes]
  • Session of 2 November 2023 [2 hours 48 minutes]
• Statements
  • 26 October 2023
  • 27 October 2023 (morning session)
  • 27 October 2023 (afternoon session)
  • 31 October 2023
  • 1 November 2023
  • 2 November 2023
• Press releases
  • 26 October 2023: Worsening Tension, Unspeakable Violence, Grave Suffering in Middle East Must End Now, General Assembly President Says, Resuming Tenth Emergency Special Session
  • 27 October 2023: General Assembly Adopts Resolution Calling for Immediate, Sustained Humanitarian Truce Leading to Cessation of Hostilities between Israel, Hamas - Member States Fail to Adopt Amendment Condemning 7 October Terrorist Attacks by Hamas in Israel
  • 31 October 2023: Peace Will Come with Compromise Once All Understand Terrible Cost of Conflict in Region Marked by Suffering, General Assembly Told in Emergency Session - Gaza Becoming ‘Mass Grave’, Say Speakers as Middle East Meeting Enters Third Day
  • 1 November 2023: As General Assembly Emergency Session on Gaza Enters Fourth Day, Calls Intensify for Security Council Action, ‘Immediate and Sustained Humanitarian Truce’
  • 2 November 2023: As General Assembly Concludes Emergency Session, Delegates Underscore Urgent Need for Ceasefire, Humanitarian Aid, Immediate Release of Hamas-Held Hostages
• UN News
  • 26 October 2023: UN General Assembly adopts Gaza resolution calling for immediate and sustained ‘humanitarian truce’
  • 27 October 2023: Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection
• Documents
  • Draft resolution A/ES-10/L.25 (adopted)
  • Letter dated 23 October 2023 from the President of the General Assembly to the Member States 

13 June 2018

• Press Release: General Assembly adopts resolution on protecting Palestinian civilians following rejection of United States amendment to condemn Hamas rocket fire
• Video: Resumed Tenth Emergency Special Session [RealPlayer - 2 hours 43 minutes]
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly to the Member States 

21 December 2017

• Press Release: General Assembly overwhelmingly adopts resolution asking nations not to locate diplomatic missions in Jerusalem
• News Story: General Assembly demands all States comply with UN resolutions regarding status of Jerusalem
• Videos:
  • General Assembly, 10th emergency special session, 37th plenary meeting (resumed) [2 hours 22 minutes]
  • Voting of draft resolution - General Assembly's tenth emergency special session [4 minutes]
• Letter from the President of the 72nd session of the General Assembly to Member States

15 - 16 January 2009

• Press Releases:
  • General Assembly demands full respect for Security Council resolution 1860 calling for immediate Gaza ceasefire, as Emergency Session concludes (16 January)
  • General Assembly President says ‘Gaza is ablaze,’ relentless assault continues, despite Security Council action, as Emergency Session on crisis opens (15 January)
• Statements
• Videos:
  • 16 January, afternoon meeting [RealPlayer - 06:32]
  • 16 January, morning meeting [RealPlayer - 02:57]
  • 15 January, afternoon meeting [RealPlayer - 02:50]
  • 15 January, morning meeting [RealPlayer - 02:26]

15 December 2006

• General Assembly establishes Register of Damage arising from construction of wall by Israel in Occupied Palestinian Territory (Press Release)
• Video [RealPlayer - 03:40]

17 November 2006

• By wide margin, General Assembly Emergency Session adopts text deploring Israeli military actions in Gaza, calling for dispatch of UN mission to Beit Hanoun (Press Release)
• Video [RealPlayer - 02:41]

16 - 20 July 2004

• Press Releases
  • General Assembly Emergency Session overwhelmingly demands Israel’s compliance with International Court of Justice advisory opinion (20 July)
  • General Assembly Emergency Session postpones action on draft resolution concerning Israel’s separation barrier (19 July)
  • General Assembly meets in Emergency Session to debate International Court of Justice decision on Israeli security barrier (16 July)
• Videos
  • 20 July, Part 2 [RealPlayer - 00:10]
  • 20 July, Part 1 [RealPlayer - 00:10]
  • 19 July [RealPlayer - 00:20]
  • 16 July, afternoon meeting [RealPlayer - 01:30]
  • 16 July, morning meeting [RealPlayer - 01:50]

8 December 2003

• General Assembly adopts text requesting International Court of Justice to issue advisory opinion on West Bank separation wall (Press Release)
• Videos
  • Part 2 [RealPlayer - 02:58]
  • Part 1 [RealPlayer - 02:53]

20 - 21 October 2003

• Press Releases
  • General Assembly, in resumed Emergency Session, demands Israel stop construction of wall, calls on both parties to fulfil Road Map obligations (21 October)
  • Speakers in General Assembly Emergency Session condemn Israel’s construction of ‘security barrier’, expansionist policies (20 October)
• Videos and Speakers Lists
  • 21 October
  • 20 October

19 September 2003

• General Assembly, meeting in resumed Emergency Special Session, demands Israel not deport or threaten safety of Yasser Arafat (Press release)
• Videos
  • Afternoon meeting [RealPlayer -00:42]
  • Morning meeting [RealPlayer - 01:48]
  • Meeting meeting [RealPlayer - 00:04]

5 August 2002

• General Assembly demands immediate end to military incursions, violence and terror in Middle East (Press release)

7 May 2002

• General Assembly condemns assaults against Palestinians by Israeli occupying forces, refusal to cooperate with fact-finding team (Press release)
• Videos
  • Afternoon meeting [RealPlayer - 02:50]
  • Morning meeting [RealPlayer - 02:19]

20 December 2001

• General Assembly Emergency Session on Occupied Palestinian Territories calls for halt to violence, ‘Mitchell Report’ implementation (Press release)

18 - 20 October 2000

• Press Releases
  • General Assembly demands end to violence in Occupied Palestinian Territory; urges action to implement Sharm El-Sheikh accord (20 October)
  • Speakers call for support for Middle East peace efforts, in Assembly Special Emergency Session (18 October)

5 - 9 February 1999

• Press Releases
  • Assembly calls for parties to Fourth Geneva Convention to meet on measures to enforce its application in Occupied Palestinian Territory (9 February)
  • Israel continuing settlement activities, evading Wye River Memorandum, Palestine Observer tells General Assembly Special Session (5 February)

17 March 1998

• Press Releases
  • Emergency Special Session of Assembly condemns Israeli failure to comply with previous demands to cease settlement activities
  • Emergency Special Session considers mechanism to ensure Israel's compliance with Geneva Convention on protection of civilians in war time

1997

• Press Releases
  • General Assembly calls for new momentum in stalled Middle East peace process, seeks end to Israeli settlement activity (13 November)
  • Emergency Special Session of General Assembly condemns Israel's failure to cease building of new settlement in East Jerusalem (15 July)
  • Emergency Special Session of General assembly demands that Israel cease its settlement construction in East Jerusalem (25 April)
  • Emergency Special Session is effort to eliminate tension and save peace process at this critical juncture (24 April)
  • United States, Russian Federation should reactivate peace process, Saudi Arabia tells Special Emergency Session of Assembly (24 April)
  • Palestinians justified in taking `to the streets' to protest Israeli actions, Palestine's Observer tells General Assembly's Emergency Session (24 April)

Top

All Sessions

• Regular sessions
• Special sessions
• Emergency special sessions