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The United Nations Security Council will meet on Friday for a special session on the civilians and the remains of Israeli soldiers held in the Gaza Strip.

The United States and Ukraine, members of the Security Council, are co-hosting the “Arria-Formula" session – a special informal meeting of the Council.

Dr. Leah Goldin, the mother of Hadar, an Israeli soldier whose remains are being held by Hamas, will address the meeting and call for the return of the remains of her son. Professor Irwin Cotler, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and an international human rights lawyer, will also brief the Council.

The meeting will be open to ambassadors, diplomats and UN officials.

Israel’s Ambassador Danny Danon, who initiated the session along with the Goldin family, noted that, “for more than three years Hamas has cruelly held Israeli civilians and the remains of our soldiers hostage in violation of international law and treaties.”

“The international community must fulfill its responsibilities and pressure Hamas until this unacceptable situation is resolved,” Ambassador Danon said. “We will continue to act with all the tools at our disposal until our soldiers and civilians are returned home.”

The session will focus on the plight of civilians held captive Abraham ‘Avre’ Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, as well as slain Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul.