New York - Gaza: Europe and the Arabs
A World Food Program official said that half a million people have crossed the Gaza Valley into the northern part of the Strip in the past four or five days, and estimates indicate that there are now about a million people in the north and about a million others in the south. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning, Thursday
During his visit to the Gaza Strip, Karl Skow, Deputy Executive Director of the Program, said: "My team here has done a great job. We run about 20 bakeries throughout the Strip. Here in the north, we are now opening more bakeries and we are looking forward to doubling our production in the coming days." He explained that the program also has hot food kitchens that provide meals to people as they move along the streets, adding: "We provide children with ready-to-eat food. We are also trying to provide cash assistance."
The World Food Program continues to help repair and remove rubble from main roads and main supply routes to allow aid to be transported faster. Skow said that a lot of cleaning, rubble removal and reconstruction work is needed. "When you talk to people here, I think there is some hope, but there is also confusion. People are really worried about what is going to happen," he added.

The World Food Programme said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains precarious, with the war leaving more than two million people completely dependent on food aid, homeless and without any income.

This came as UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that the core of the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people lies in their right to live on their land, warning that the realization of those rights is constantly slipping further and further out of reach.

Guterres stressed the need to adhere to international law and avoid any form of ethnic cleansing, stressing the principle of a two-state solution: Israel and Palestine.

The Secretary-General's speech came at the opening of the annual meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, held on Wednesday afternoon at UN headquarters in New York.

The Secretary-General warned of what he described as "a frightening and systematic dehumanization and demonization of an entire people." Nothing justifies “Hamas’ horrific attacks on 7 October, nor what we have seen unfold in Gaza over the past several months,” he said.
Three goals for moving forward
Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, thanking the mediators – Egypt, Qatar and the United States – for their continued efforts to ensure the agreement was implemented. The Secretary-General set three goals for moving forward:
First, he stressed the need to continue to press for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay. “We cannot return to more death and destruction,” he stressed.
He said the United Nations was working around the clock to reach Palestinians in need and increase support, calling on Member States, donors and the international community to fully fund humanitarian operations and meet urgent needs. He also urged Member States to support the essential work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Second, in the search for solutions, Guterres called for avoiding any steps that would exacerbate the situation. In this context, he stressed the need to adhere to the basic rules of international law and the need to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing.
Thirdly, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the principle of the two-state solution.
The Secretary-General said that any lasting peace would require tangible, permanent and irreversible progress towards the two-state solution, ending the occupation, and establishing an independent Palestinian State, of which Gaza is an integral part. He stressed that the only sustainable solution for stability in the Middle East is the establishment of a viable and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side in peace and security with Israel.
Ending the Israeli occupation
On the other hand, the Secretary-General pointed to the deterioration of the situation in the occupied West Bank, expressing his deep concern about the escalation of Israeli settler violence and other violations. He stressed the need for these violations to stop.
He added, "As the International Court of Justice has confirmed, Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory must end. International law must be respected and accountability ensured. We must work to preserve the unity, continuity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza." At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Coly Seck, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations, was elected as the new Chair of the Committee. Speaking after his election, Ambassador Seck said the ceasefire was an important step forward in terms of the release of hostages and prisoners and the return of the people of Gaza to their land.
He referred to what he described as disturbing statements made in recent days that he said were aimed at undermining this. He called for blocking the path of those he described as “enemies of peace” on Palestinian land.
Two Israeli legislations on UNRWA
Ms. Greta Gunnarsdottir, Director of the UNRWA Representative Office in New York, spoke on behalf of Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, highlighting two recent Israeli legislations that she said had affected UN operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.
One of the legislations would have halted UNRWA’s work in the occupied Palestinian territory, while the other would have prohibited Israeli officials from communicating with the Agency.
Despite the challenges, Ms. Greta said UNRWA continues to provide its vital services in Gaza and the West Bank.