Maldives has asked the United Nations to convene a special session of the United Nations to prevent Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said in a post on X that Israel has stepped up its offensive against Palestinians since October7, 2023.

Therefore, in consultation with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the Maldives has requested other countries to hold the 10th Emergency Special Session of the United Nations.

An emergency special session can be called when member states find that the UN Security Council is unable to fulfil its responsibility for maintaining world peace and stability.

The first emergency special section on Palestine was held in 1997, when Israel built 6,000 homes on Palestinian land and settled in settlement.

A similar session was held in 2018, when member states also passed a resolution calling for an end to Israel's rocket attacks on Gaza.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since October 7.