Yvonne Murray

in New York

There was no getting the word 'ceasefire' past the United States, Israel's staunchest ally at the UN

Why it took the UN 40 days to agree on the Middle East

It took 40 days for the UN Security Council to come up with a form of words to address the spiral of violence in the Middle East, writes Yvonne Murray. In that time, some 12,000 people were killed.

Middle East • 18 Nov 23

The UN Security Council passed the resolution tonight (file pic)

UN council votes for 'humanitarian pauses' in Gaza

The United Nations Security Council has voted for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" throughout Gaza.

Middle East • 15 Nov 23

Dr Tedros (L) and Mr Mansour (R) attended the meeting called by the United Arab Emirates

One child killed every ten minutes in Gaza - WHO Chief

Director General of World Health Organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has told the UN Security Council that on average in Gaza a child is killed every ten minutes.

Middle East • 11 Nov 23

An estimated 1.7 million Afghans are estimated to be affected by the order

UN 'deeply concerned' over forced return of Afghans

The UN refugee Agency has called on the government of Pakistan to halt the forced deportation of Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, amid human rights and humanitarian concerns.

World • 04 Nov 23

Civilians conduct a search and rescue operation under the debris of destroyed building following the Israeli attacks on the Nuseirat Camp in Deir al Balah, Gaza

World facing 'jigsaw of war', UN Security Council told

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has accused the UN Security Council of neglecting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before this latest outbreak of hostilities, leading to a "jigsaw of war" across the world.

Middle East • 31 Oct 23

A Palestinian man and child beside the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli missile strike in the center of Khan Younis

True cost of conflict measured in children's lives – UN

The head of the UN's children's agency, UNICEF, has told the UN there are "rampant grave violations being committed against children" as violence escalates in the Middle East.

World • 30 Oct 23

Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour, have been protagonists in a tense week at the UN.

Long-running Israel-UN tensions boil over

Long-running tensions between the UN and Israel boiled over this week with the Israeli ambassador calling for the immediate resignation of the Secretary General. But it is not the first time relations have soured.

World • 28 Oct 23

The resolution, sponsored by Jordan and other Arab states, received 120 votes in favour, 14 against and 45 abstentions

UN votes for immediate ceasefire in Middle East crisis

A resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities" has been adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York.

Middle East • 27 Oct 23