Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, has called for a meeting of the body to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Its foreign affairs ministry said that the meeting is scheduled for Friday. The ministry said in a statement that Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira has interrupted an Asia trip to travel to New York to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called by Brazil to address the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Reports say that Brazil previously called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
At the Security Council meeting, members were divided over policy concerning Israel and the Palestinians. Earlier, Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva called for urgent international action to protect both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, especially children.