The Security Council is informed of the alarming, unsustainable, and desperate situation in Gaza.
According to Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, the war is reaching its 140-day milestone with no clear resolution in sight.
The trauma caused by the events on October 7th continues with no end in sight for those affected. The people in Gaza continue to suffer and experience desperation with no end in sight. The regional turmoil also shows no signs of coming to an end.
This week, Mr. Wennesland made a visit to Gaza and reported that the state of affairs there is alarming, unmanageable, and dire.
Humanitarian situation
Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes are experiencing severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and medicine. The unsanitary conditions have led to a significant increase in communicable diseases, and there is a widespread lack of law and order.
He stated that the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator has a strategy in place to provide crucial necessities such as food, shelter, medicine, and water/sanitation. However, the UN’s ability to deliver these supplies is reliant on coordinated humanitarian efforts, successful resolution of conflicts with involved parties, and approval from Israel for essential communication equipment and armored vehicles. These measures are necessary for ensuring the safety of staff members while they carry out their work.
He emphasized the need for improvement to ensure that UN convoys and compounds are not targeted and that our equipment is granted clearance.
“He also stated that continuously providing Gaza with limited aid not only denies life-saving assistance to the desperate population, but also exacerbates chaos and hinders humanitarian efforts.”
Dialogue, not violence
Notifying that the severity of the emergency could rapidly escalate, Mr. Wennesland urged for a united, organized, and thorough reaction to not only handle the current crisis in the Gaza Strip but also to assist in reestablishing a political outlook for both Palestinians and Israelis.
In order to accomplish this, it is crucial that we reach an agreement for a humanitarian pause and the liberation of captives,” he emphasized. He also emphasized the importance of establishing an environment for peaceful discussions rather than violence.
According to Mr. Wennesland, the ultimate resolution for Gaza is political in nature and requires a long-term approach.
He stated that Israel’s valid security worries must be considered, but there needs to be a definite plan for reestablishing unified and successful Palestinian rule over the OPT, including Gaza.
Two-State solution
Additionally, it will be essential to receive international assistance in order to enhance and revamp the Palestinian Authority in order to enhance its credibility both domestically and internationally.
Mr. Wennesland urged for a time-sensitive political plan to put an end to the occupation and work towards a two-State resolution.
The speaker concluded that we must join together and speed up our efforts in order to escape this terrible situation and move towards a path that can create lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.
Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator, provided a briefing to the Security Council through a video conference.
MSF warns that the use of veto power is resulting in loss of lives.
Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, also provided a briefing to the Council.
He expressed concern over potential Israeli attacks and condemned the US for frequently using its veto power to impede the adoption of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
He stated that in Rafah, we are afraid of a possible ground attack.
He criticized the newly proposed draft resolution from Washington, stating it was misleading and urged the Council to reject it. He believes that any resolution that impedes humanitarian efforts and allows for the ongoing violence and mass atrocities in Gaza to continue should not be supported by the Council.
Christopher Lockyear, the Secretary General of Médecins Sans Frontières, provides a summary to the Security Council about the current state of affairs in the Middle East, specifically addressing the issue surrounding Palestine.
facilities
Continuous assaults on medical institutions
He stated that targeting healthcare facilities is an assault on humanity. He mentioned that although Israel alleges that Hamas is using hospitals as a base, there is no solid proof to support this claim.
Not 48 hours ago, Israeli shelling and gunfire killed and injured MSF staff and their families in Khan Younis, despite notification to the warring parties of the location, which was marked with an MSF flag, he said, recalling that some were trapped in the burning building, which active shooting delayed ambulances from reaching them in what has become an “all too familiar” pattern of Israeli forces raiding hospitals, bulldozing MSF vehicles and attacking its convoys.
“He stated that these attacks may be deliberate or a sign of careless incompetence. He also expressed concern for his fellow colleagues in Gaza who fear retaliation for his address to the Council.”
He stated that the laws and principles that we rely on for humanitarian aid are now so weakened that they have lost their significance.
The idea of providing humanitarian aid is perceived as a false belief.
He stated that the current humanitarian efforts in Gaza are not effective due to the violence and harm being inflicted on aid workers. The attempts to provide assistance are disorganized, opportunistic, and insufficient.
He inquired how we can provide crucial assistance in a situation where the line between non-combatants and fighters is ignored. He expressed that his teams are fatigued. The Chamber has been flooded with pleas for increased humanitarian aid, yet in Gaza, our resources are dwindling by the day – less room, less medication, less food, less water, and less security.
Starting from October 7th, MSF has had to remove nine healthcare facilities and their medical staff has introduced a new abbreviation to their terminology – “W.C.N.S.F., Wounded Child, No Surviving Family”, he stated.
According to a new proposed resolution being discussed by the US, he stated that the people of Gaza require an immediate ceasefire, not just when it is convenient. He also emphasized the need for a lasting ceasefire, not just a temporary break in violence. Anything less than this would be considered extremely negligent.
The United States advises against the Israeli military advancing into Rafah.
Robert A. Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States, speaks at a meeting of the UN Security Council about the current situation in the Middle East, specifically regarding the Palestinian issue.
After being briefed, Robert Wood, the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, stated that the most effective approach to promoting lasting peace and ensuring Israel’s security is to assist in establishing an autonomous Palestinian State alongside Israel.
He stated that there are many challenges in achieving this vision.
“The ongoing detention of 134 hostages by Hamas and other groups is a major obstacle. As I have stated previously and will reiterate, a lasting ceasefire in Gaza cannot be achieved until these hostages are freed.”
The ambassador informed that discussions about hostages can be slow and intricate, and that negotiations with high stakes do not always produce immediate outcomes.
Qatar talks
He stated that we are continuously collaborating with our partners in Egypt and Qatar to attain a favorable outcome that will bring the hostages back and lead to a six-week pause in conflict. He also expressed deep concerns for the safety of more than one million Palestinian civilians in Rafah.
US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken “made clear to Israel”, that under current circumstances, a major ground offensive into Rafah would result in civilian harm and displacement, including potentially spillover into Egypt, with serious implications for regional peace and security.
“He emphasized that a significant ground attack should not be carried out in the current situation.”
These statements indicate that Israel should not move forward with an operation that will only increase suffering and worsen the humanitarian crisis, especially without a feasible plan to safeguard civilians.
The release of hostages in Russia is dependent on the implementation of a ceasefire.
The Russian Federation’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks at the Security Council meeting about the current state of affairs in the Middle East, including the issue of Palestine.
The Russian Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, stated that Israel’s aggressive bombing has resulted in the deaths of over 29,000 Palestinians. Additionally, 80% of Gaza’s residents have been forced to flee their homes, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Rafah poses a threat to the Egyptian border.
He stated that the US does not possess significant influence over Israel, and that the US is hindering the path to peace. He also mentioned that a ceasefire must occur before hostages can be released.
The speaker stated that the Council’s decision to approve a ground operation in Rafah has caused the conflict to extend into the surrounding area. He also mentioned that the use of military force by Western countries against Iraq, Syria, and Yemen goes against the UN’s primary purpose and international laws.
Referring to Israel’s allegations against UNRWA, the speaker stated that the punishment of Palestinians is merely a form of “donor coercion”, criticizing efforts to discredit the UN agency.
The conflict can only be resolved through diplomacy, specifically by implementing a two-state solution and freeing all hostages.
The possibility of a larger conflict in China hangs ominously overhead.
China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun speaks at the Security Council meeting about the conditions in the Middle East, specifically regarding the Palestinian issue.
Ambassador Zhang Jun of China expressed disappointment at the US veto of Algeria’s Gaza resolution this week. He emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza to protect lives and prevent further conflict. The US has put forth a revised resolution, which he hopes will align with the Council’s strong call for a ceasefire.
“The Council must now show a significant outcome,” he stated. “It is the responsibility of this Council to take swift action to prevent further disaster. Any movement into Rafah would have long-lasting negative effects on the peace in the surrounding region.”
The speaker stated that Israel should not proceed with their intended invasion of Rafah, where a large number of Palestinians are currently seeking refuge. They emphasized the urgency of providing aid to Gaza and acknowledged the crucial and irreplaceable role played by UNRWA in this situation. The speaker also appealed to donors to continue supporting the agency.
“At this moment, there is chaos in the Middle East and the possibility of a larger war is approaching,” he stated, urging all parties to avoid attacks and attempt to end the continuous cycle of conflict.
According to him, the two-State solution should be revitalized and given a chance to succeed. He also believes that past injustices against Palestine must be corrected.
The UK believes that simply requesting a temporary suspension of hostilities will not resolve the ongoing conflict.
The British Ambassador, Barbara Woodward, speaks at a Security Council session about the current state of affairs in the Middle East, specifically regarding the Palestinian issue.
“We are urging for an immediate end to the fighting,” stated UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward, noting that simply calling for a ceasefire will not effectively achieve this objective.
“I urge for an immediate halt to hostilities and a movement towards a ceasefire, which involves the liberation of all captives, the creation of a new governing body for the West Bank and Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas to prevent future attacks on Israel,” she stated, emphasizing the need for Gaza to no longer be under Hamas control.
She stated that it is essential to establish a “credible political horizon”.
Deeply worried about the possibility of an Israeli attack in Rafah, she stated that the most urgent matter is to halt the ongoing conflict.
Expressing worries that WFP had to temporarily halt the distribution of food to northern Gaza, she stated that Israel should assist the UN in delivering aid and increase access points to Gaza. Furthermore, she emphasized the need for Israel to take necessary precautions to protect medical personnel.
At this current time, it is crucial that we create momentum towards achieving a lasting peace through the two-State solution, stated by the speaker.
The country of France needs to take immediate action to prevent any negative effects from spreading to neighboring regions.
French Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière speaks at the Security Council meeting regarding the state of affairs in the Middle East, specifically addressing the Palestinian issue.
Nicholas de Rivière, the Ambassador of France, underlined the extreme urgency to conclude, without further delay, an agreement on a ceasefire that guarantees the protection of all civilians and the entry at massive scale, of humanitarian aid.
The speaker emphasized the urgent and unconditional release of all hostages. They also stated that the Council must prioritize this issue and strongly condemn the attacks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations on October 7, as well as acts of sexual and gender-based violence.
It is equally important to create a political future and strive towards creating a state for the Palestinian people while also ensuring security for Israel. The two-state solution is the only viable option for achieving a fair and lasting peace.
The implementation of this resolution is at risk due to Israel’s illegal colonization policies, which France strongly denounces.
He stated that it is imperative to prevent a large-scale conflict in the region. France will persist in getting the Council involved in addressing all aspects of the crisis, including security, humanitarian aid, and political concerns.
Source: news.un.org
