Gaza: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations said it is aware of the postponement of the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, which was scheduled to be held this week. It noted that it remains engaged with the conference co-chairs – France and Saudi Arabia – regarding new dates for the conference. According to the UN Daily News, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in his daily press briefing that the Secretary-General remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution, in accordance with UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements, so that Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
Farhan Haq said that the Secretary-General also continues to call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the rapid, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. Attacks on Civilians Continue in Gaza
Regarding the field situation, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported continued attacks on civilians in Gaza over the past few days, including reports of people being killed and injured while seeking food or other assistance.
Child protection partners reported that many children were temporarily separated from their families due to mass movements around military aid distribution points. Partners are working to help mitigate risks to children near distribution points.
Over the weekend, telecommunications cables were repaired, allowing internet services to resume. OCHA stated that this was made possible thanks to the Israeli authorities facilitating access for teams sent by telecommunications companies to repair damaged cables, after weeks of denial of access. Partners reported that Monday saw another outage in central and southern Gaza, and they were also able to coordinate urgent repairs and successfully restore connectivity.
In the same context, amid the rubble of repeated Israeli military attacks on Gaza City, staff at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, are racing against time to restore life to one of the last remaining healthcare facilities in northern Gaza. The programme is striving to fill the gap in light of the near collapse of the health system in the Gaza Strip. Through its Assistance to the Palestinian People programme, it supports the hospital by providing emergency job opportunities and deploying 70 staff to various units.
UN News correspondent in Gaza accompanied Alessandro Maracchi, UNDP Gaza Country Director, on a field visit to Al-Ahli Hospital, where he observed the work being done on the ground to ensure the continuity of operations at the health facility.
Maracchi explained to UN News that clearing the rubble accumulated from previous attacks on the hospital is a top priority at the moment. He added: "We are reactivating the emergency department and the physiotherapy department. This is important because Al-Ahli Hospital is one of the last functioning hospitals in northern Gaza, along with Al-Shifa Hospital. UNDP, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is taking the lead in restoring services, especially health services, and ensuring they reach the population."