Gaza - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is closely following developments in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory as the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement comes to an end.
In a press statement, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the United Nations, said that the last six weeks have provided a fragile but vital respite, giving a measure of relief to both the Palestinians and the Israelis.
He pointed out that thousands of trucks loaded with life-saving aid have entered Gaza, with relief reaching almost everyone in the Strip. The UN spokesman stressed the imperative of making every effort to prevent a return to hostilities, which would be disastrous. With what was stated in the UN daily news bulletin
In the statement, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and find a way to move forward to the next phase. The UN spokesman stressed the need for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages, in order to prevent escalation and avoid devastating consequences for civilians. The Secretary-General continued to call for the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages. He stressed the need for the parties to ensure humane treatment for all those held under their authority. He stressed the need for the continued flow of humanitarian assistance without hindrance and with adequate funding in an environment that ensures the safety and security of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers.
The Secretary-General also urgently called for a de-escalation of the troubling situation in the occupied West Bank.
The statement added: “With the advent of the month of Ramadan, a time for peace and reflection, the Secretary-General calls on all parties to spare no effort to end the violence. The United Nations stands ready to support all such efforts.”
Two days ago, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that he would attend the extraordinary summit of the League of Arab States to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza next Tuesday. He stressed the rejection of all forms of ethnic cleansing, the need for Gaza to remain an integral part of the Palestinian State, and the importance of addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns.
“At this fragile moment, we must avoid a resumption of hostilities that would deepen the suffering and further destabilize a region already on the brink of collapse. We need sustainable reconstruction and a unified, clear and principled political solution. This is what I will call for in Cairo next week,” he added.