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.
The tenth Emergency Special Session last resumed since 12 December 2023. On that day, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/ES-10/22 entitled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" (draft document A/ES-10/L.27).
Sessions Coverage
12 - 20 December 2023
- 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
- 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
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
- 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
- Documents
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:
- 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
20 - 21 October 2003
- Press Releases
- Videos and Speakers Lists
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
5 - 9 February 1999
- Press Releases
17 March 1998
- Press Releases
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)