Escalation in the middle east. In a Statement Issued after an online meeting, the groups leaders called for restraint on all sides. Israel says the vast majority of more than 300 drones and missiles launched by iran have been intercepted. The attacks marked the first time iran has targeted israel directly from its own soil. The israeli war cabinet has been meeting to discuss its response to the attack. A senior minister, benny gantz, said israel would exact a price from iran in its own time and fashion. The Defence Minister, yoav gallant, said the confrontation with iran wasnt over, and israel must prepare for every scenario. Iran has warned of a much bigger response if israel retaliates. The white house has said it doesnt want to see the crisis in the middle east escalate. A us security spokesman, john kirby, said washington was not seeking a wider war. Meanwhile the Un Security Council is meeting in urgent session to discuss the situation. There will be pressure at the unied nations for new sanctions on iran, but with russia and china taking a much more sympathetic approach to tehran, getting a unified position will not be easy. We will be keeping a close eye on that and go to it as soon as we hear from the Un Security Council president. In fact, from the Un Security Council president. Infact, lets from the Un Security Council president. In fact, lets listen and now. I president. In fact, lets listen and now. ,. ,. , now. I invite the representatives of the islamic now. I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic now. I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of now. I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of iran, now. I invite the representatives of the Islamic Republic of iran, israel| the Islamic Republic of iran, israel and the syrian are a republic to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council now begins consideration of item two of the agenda. I warmly welcome the secretary his excellency Antonio Guterres and give him the floor. Madam president , excellencies. The middle Madam President , excellencies. The middle east is on the brink. The people middle east is on the brink. The pe0ple of middle east is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse full scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de escalate. Now is the lime to defuse and de escalate. Now is the time for maximum restraint. This emergency the time for maximum restraint. This Emergency Session has been convened upon an Emergency Session has been convened upon an urgent request by the Parliamentary Representative of israel. Parliamentary representative of israel, who wrote in april to the president israel, who wrote in april to the president of the Security Council that iran president of the Security Council that iran had launched, and i quote, a direct that iran had launched, and i quote, a direct attack from within its territory a direct attack from within its territory of more than 200 drones, cruise territory of more than 200 drones, Cruise Missiles and Ballistic MissilesCruise Missiles and Ballistic Missiles towards israel in clear violation missiles towards israel in clear violation of un charter and International Law, end quote. Yesterday, the Parliamentary Representative of the Islamic Republic of iran also addressed a letter republic of iran also addressed a letter to republic of iran also addressed a letter to the president of the Security Letter to the president of the Security Council, stating that, and i Security Council, stating that, and l quote, Security Council, stating that, and l quote, in Security Council, stating that, and i quote, in the late hours of 16th Of April i quote, in the late hours of 16th Of April 2024, the Islamic Republic of april 2024, the Islamic Republic of irari of april 2024, the Islamic Republic of iran carried out a series of military of iran carried out a series of Military Strikes on israel with military Military Strikes on israel with military objectives, end quote. It stated military objectives, end quote. It stated that the action was taken, and i stated that the action was taken, and i quote, in the exercise of irarrs and i quote, in the exercise of trans right and i quote, in the exercise of irans right to self defence, as outlined irans right to self defence, as outlined in article 51 of the charter outlined in article 51 of the charter of the United Nations and in response charter of the United Nations and in response to the Israeli Military aggression particularly its armed attack aggression particularly its armed attack on aggression particularly its armed attack on the 1st Of April 2024 against attack on the 1st Of April 2024 against the iranian diplomatic premises, end quote. According to the latest premises, end quote. According to the latest reports, iran launched hundreds the latest reports, iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles from its territory hundreds of drones and missiles from its territory towards israel, with most its territory towards israel, with most intercepted. Several missiles reported most intercepted. Several missiles reported this struck within israeli territory. Reported this struck within israeli territory, one of which damaged and nrilitary territory, one of which damaged and military facility in the south of the country, and overall, a few civilians the country, and overall, a few civilians were injured. Madam president , when the nature of the attack president , when the nature of the attack became clear, i stated the following attack became clear, i stated the following last night, and i quote. I strongly following last night, and i quote. I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large scale attack launched on israel large scale attack launched on Lsrael Hy Large scale attack launched on israel by the Islamic Republic of iran israel by the Islamic Republic of lran this israel by the Islamic Republic of iran this evening. And i call for an immediate iran this evening. And i call for an immediate cessation of these facilities, end quote. I remind all member facilities, end quote. I remind all Member States that the charter of the United Nations prohibits the use of force the United Nations prohibits the use of force against territory in territory of force against territory in territory or political independence of any territory or political independence of any state or in any other manner inconsistent of any state or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. Furthermore, the principle the United Nations. Furthermore, the principle of the United Nations. Furthermore, the principle of availability of diplomatic premises and personnel must diplomatic premises and personnel must he diplomatic premises and personnel must be respected in all cases in accordance must be respected in all cases in accordance with the International Law, as accordance with the International Law, as l accordance with the International Law, as i stated, one condemning the 1st law, as i stated, one condemning the ist of law, as i stated, one condemning the ist of april law, as i stated, one condemning the 1st of april attack on the iranian consulate 1st of april attack on the iranian consulate in damascus. Madam president , it is time to step back from president , it is time to step back from the president , it is time to step back from the brink. It is vital to avoid any action from the brink. It is vital to avoid any action that could lead to Major Military any action that could lead to Major Military confrontations on multiple fronts Military Confrontations on multiple fronts in Military Confrontations on multiple fronts in the middle east. Civilians are already bearing the brunt and paying are already bearing the brunt and paying the highest price. We have a shared paying the highest price. We have a shared responsibility to actively engage shared responsibility to actively engage all parties concerned to prevent engage all parties concerned to prevent further escalation. As the friendly prevent further escalation. As the friendly Relations Declaration of 1970 friendly Relations Declaration of 1970 states, acts of reprisal involving 1970 states, acts of reprisal involving the use of force arm banned involving the use of force arm banned under International Law. We have a banned under International Law. We have a shared responsibility to secure have a shared responsibility to secure an have a shared responsibility to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid for to have a shared humanitarian aid for to have a shared responsibility to stop violence shared responsibility to stop violence in the occupied west bank, de escalate the situation along the blue line de escalate the situation along the blue line and re establish safe medication In The Red Sea. We have a shared medication In The Red Sea. We have a shared responsibility to work for peace shared responsibility to work for peace. Regionaland indeed shared responsibility to work for peace. Regional and indeed global peace peace. Regional and indeed global peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neitherthe region undermined by the hour. Neitherthe region nor undermined by the hour. Neitherthe region nor the world can afford more war. Region nor the world can afford more war thank region nor the world can afford more war. Thank you. | region nor the world can afford more war thank yon war. Thank you. I think the secretary war. Thank you. I think the Secretary General war. Thank you. I think the Secretary General for war. Thank you. I think the Secretary General for his. War. Thank you. I think the Secretary General for his briefing. A book of the floor to those Council Members who wish to make statements. I passed the floor to guyana. Thank ou, i passed the floor to guyana. Thank you. Madam i passed the floor to guyana. Thank you, Madam President. I passed the floor to guyana. Thank you, Madam President. I i passed the floor to guyana. Thank you, Madam President. I think i passed the floor to guyana. Thank you, Madam President. I think thel you, Madam President. Ithink the secretary you, Madam President. Ithink the Secretary General you, Madam President. Ithink the Secretary General for you, Madam President. Ithink the Secretary General for his you, Madam President. Ithink the Secretary General for his briefing, | Secretary General for his briefing, and i Secretary General for his briefing, and i acknowledge Secretary General for his briefing, and i acknowledge the Secretary General for his briefing, i and i acknowledge the participation of the and i acknowledge the participation of the permanent and i acknowledge the participation of the permanent representatives l and i acknowledge the participationl of the permanent representatives of iran, of the permanent representatives of lran, syria of the permanent representatives of lran, syria and of the permanent representatives of iran, syria and israel of the permanent representatives of iran, syria and israel in of the permanent representatives of iran, syria and israel in the of the permanent representatives of iran, syria and israel in the days. Iran, syria and israel in the days meeting iran, syria and israel in the days meeting guyana iran, syria and israel in the days meeting. Guyana is iran, syria and israel in the days meeting. Guyana is alarmed iran, syria and israel in the daysj meeting. Guyana is alarmed over iran, syria and israel in the days meeting. Guyana is alarmed over the recent meeting. Guyana is alarmed over the recent escalation meeting. Guyana is alarmed over the recent escalation of meeting. Guyana is alarmed over the recent escalation of tensions recent escalation of tensions between recent escalation of tensions between israel recent escalation of tensions between israel and recent escalation of tensions between israel and iran. Recent escalation of tensions between israel and iran. Especially in a region between israel and iran. Especially in a region that between israel and iran. Especially in a region that is between israel and iran. Especially in a region that is already in a region that is already experiencing in a region that is already experiencing intense in a region that is already experiencing intense conflicts. We ure experiencing intense conflicts. We urge the experiencing intense conflicts. We urge the parties experiencing intense conflicts. We urge the parties to experiencing intense conflicts. We urge the parties to exercise experiencing intense conflicts. We urge the parties to Exercise Maximum restraint, urge the parties to Exercise Maximum restraint, to urge the parties to Exercise Maximum restraint, to desist urge the parties to Exercise Maximum restraint, to desist from urge the parties to Exercise Maximum restraint, to desist from launching restraint, to desist from launching further restraint, to desist from launching further retaliatory restraint, to desist from launching further retaliatory attacks restraint, to desist from launching further retaliatory attacks and restraint, to desist from launching further retaliatory attacks and to l further retaliatory attacks and to seek further retaliatory attacks and to seek the further retaliatory attacks and to seek the path further retaliatory attacks and to seek the path of further retaliatory attacks and to seek the path of peace. Further retaliatory attacks and to seek the path of peace. Any further retaliatory attacks and to i seek the path of peace. Any further attacks seek the path of peace. Any further attacks will seek the path of peace. Any further attacks will have seek the path of peace. Any further attacks will have devastating attacks will have devastating Regional Attacks will have devastating regional consequences attacks will have devastating regional consequences and l attacks will have devastating i regional consequences and also attacks will have devastating r