The Security Council has so far failed to agree on a resolution concerning the war, but a number of states, including Jordan on behalf of the Arab grouping, Russia, Syria, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia, formally requested General Assembly President Dennis Francis to schedule the meeting.

Last week, the UN Security Council, regularly divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, initially rejected a Russian draft resolution calling for a "humanitarian pause."

Only five of the 15 member states supported this text, which condemned all violence against civilians and all terrorist acts but did not name Hamas, which was unacceptable to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

Washington then vetoed a second resolution as the text did not recognize Israel's right to defend itself.

Twelve out of 15 Council members voted in favor of the resolution put forward by Brazil, which also condemned the "heinous attacks by Hamas," while Russia and the United Kingdom abstained.

The United States was the only vote against it, but as one of the body's five permanent members, its vote counts as a veto.

Prior to the General Assembly gathering on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. (1400 GMT), the Security Council will meet to discuss the issue. This long-planned meeting is expected to be attended by some of the world's foreign ministers.