GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council said Thursday it would hold a special session on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, amid deadly violence between Israel and armed Palestinian groups in Gaza.
The session, planned for next Thursday, will address “the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem,” the council said in a statement.
The session was requested by Pakistan, which is the coordinator of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Palestinian authorities, it said.
It will be the 30th extraordinary meeting of the UN’s top rights body since its creation 15 years ago.
The United Nations did not immediately say how many of the Geneva-based council’s 47 member states had backed the call, but at least a third must come out in support for a special session request to be granted.
Thursday’s announcement came as Israeli air strikes continued to hammer Gaza on Thursday and as diplomats stepped up efforts toward a cease-fire to stem the devastating violence that erupted 10 days ago.
Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 230 Palestinians, including 65 children, according to the Gaza health ministry, leaving vast areas in rubble and displacing tens of thousands in the crowded territory.
Israel’s army has meanwhile said Hamas and other Islamist armed groups in Gaza have fired 4,070 rockets toward Israel, the overwhelming majority of them intercepted by its Iron Dome air defenses.
The rockets have claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child, with one Indian and two Thai nationals among those killed, the police said.
Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s ambassador in Geneva, urged member states to oppose next Thursday’s meeting.
“The convening of yet another special session by the Human Rights Council targeting Israel is testament to the clear anti-Israeli agenda of this body,” she said on Twitter.
“The sponsors of this session are only rewarding the actions of Hamas, a terrorist organization, that has indiscriminately launched over 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilians, using the people of Gaza as human shields.
“I call on all member states of the council to strongly oppose this meeting,” said Eilon Shahar.
UN rights council to hold May 27 session on Israel, Palestinians
https://arab.news/bw2vv
UN rights council to hold May 27 session on Israel, Palestinians
- The session was requested by Pakistan, which is the coordinator of the OIC, and the Palestinian authorities
- Thursday’s announcement came as Israeli air strikes continued to hammer Gaza
760 schools reopen in Deir Ezzor, welcoming 261,000 students
- Authorities have also reported that more than 200,000 students returned to schools in Syria’s Raqqa province at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, underscoring the ongoing national momentum to resume education
DEIR EZZOR: The Syrian Arab Republic's Ministry of Education has announced the reopening of about 760 schools in Deir Ezzor province, marking a renewed focus on restoring education for more than 261,000 students after years of disruption.
The ministry said on Telegram on Saturday that the reopening was part of a broader strategy to rebuild the education system in the Syrian Arab Republic, provide a safe learning environment, and help students maintain regular studies.
Staff are working to equip schools with essential supplies and improve infrastructure through repairs and maintenance, all of which are part of a long-term plan to ensure safe and effective schooling and support educational improvement in Deir Ezzor.
Authorities have also reported that more than 200,000 students returned to schools in Syria’s Raqqa province at the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, underscoring the ongoing national momentum to resume education.
Khalil Al-Ibrahim, Raqqa’s director of education, said during an inspection tour that urgent attention was being paid to addressing ongoing challenges, with continued focus on ensuring that classrooms operated without disruption.
Deputy Minister for Educational Affairs Youssef Annan recently reiterated that the ministry was monitoring school readiness and making ongoing improvements at the beginning of the new term, reinforcing the ministry’s priority of maintaining effective learning environments.
To facilitate rehabilitation and logistical support in the Syrian Jazira Region, the Ministry of Education extended the mid-year break and delayed the second semester to Feb. 1, ensuring schools were ready for a safe return.
This step followed the restoration of governmental control and was coordinated with the Syrian Democratic Forces, aiming at a unified national reopening which supported the goal of a comprehensive renewal in education.
