HAMILTON, Canada

Algeria's UN envoy expressed "great concern" Thursday about the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip and announced that a UN Security Council session to address Israel's attacks on health care facilities in Gaza will be held Friday.

"We will continue to highlight the suffering of Palestine, the humanitarian crisis that is catastrophic in Gaza. This is one of the absolute priorities and remains one of the absolute priorities of Algeria," Amar Bendjama said at a news conference after Algeria took control of the presidency of the Security Council from the US for January.

He emphasized that "as an Arab member of the Security Council, issues related to the Arab region, particularly situation in Lebanon, Syria and in Lebanon, Sudan as well, Yemen remain our major concern."

Bendjama said the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is something that cannot be replaced.

"We hope that we will reach a consensus that will authorize UNRWA to continue its work on behalf of the General Assembly, on behalf of the UN, in favor of the Palestinian population," he said. "For Algeria, UNRWA is irrepressible and should continue to work and to fulfill its mandate, the mandate given overwhelmingly by the General Assembly of this body," he added.

The envoy also announced that a high-level meeting on the Palestine conflict will be held at the Council and will be chaired by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on Jan.20.

Asked about developments in Syria and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, which encourages a cease-fire and political settlement, Bendjama said it is "outdated but when you read it again and again, you will find the principles on which we can build a better future for all Syrians."

"Our position is that we should help the Syrian people to overcome this transition and not putting conditions on the process, which will be, should be Syrian-led and Syrian-owned," he said.

Regarding the removal of Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the UN terror list, he said: "It will be up to the Council."

"We will have a meeting on Syria the eighth of this month," he said, and that there will be discussion on "the best way to help the Syrian people to rebuild its country and to rebuild its governance. The question of de-listing should be apprehended with this objective."

At the end of the month, the Security Council helm will pass to China.