Alice Wairimu Nderitu emphasized the importance of increasing diplomatic initiatives in order to resolve the crisis.

She stated that innocent individuals should not suffer the consequences of a conflict they are not accountable for.

She emphasized the importance of safeguarding and upholding their fundamental rights, as well as meeting their essential humanitarian needs.

On Wednesday, it was the fourth month since the start of the violent conflict in Gaza.

On October 7th, violence broke out as Hamas and other Palestinian fighters launched an attack on southern Israel. This resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and over 250 being held captive.

During the military action conducted by Israel in the Gaza Strip, it is reported that the local health authority has recorded at least 27,840 Palestinian fatalities and over 67,300 injuries. Additionally, the displacement of over 1.7 million Gazans has occurred and there has been extensive damage to homes, schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure in the enclave.

Increase determination to resolve the conflict.

The Special Adviser urged all relevant parties to intensify their efforts in order to bring a resolution to the conflict.

She stated that the top priority is to guarantee the safety of civilians and their infrastructure in line with international laws.

Additionally, she urged for the release of all remaining hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza and for an investigation into reports of sexual violence that occurred during the 7 October attacks and their aftermath.

ICJ decision

The statement also mentioned the temporary actions requested by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the lawsuit brought by South Africa against Israel regarding the prevention of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Ms. Nderitu observed that both the UN Secretary-General and herself, in her role as his Special Adviser, do not express a stance on the current legal proceedings before the Court.

On January 26th, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel must fulfill its duties outlined in the Genocide Convention by taking all necessary actions to prevent acts described in Article II of the Convention, such as killing, causing bodily or mental harm, and implementing measures to hinder reproduction, that could lead to the destruction of a specific group.

The Court has instructed Israel to promptly guarantee that its military forces do not engage in any of the mentioned actions.

Regional spillover

The Special Adviser reiterated the Secretary-General’s worry about the impact of the Gaza conflict on the West Bank and the larger Middle East area.

She restated her worry about the consequences of conflicts worldwide and urged for measures to be taken for harmonious coexistence within communities and constructive and peaceful resolution of grievances.

Ms. Nderitu stated that making inflammatory comments, using dehumanizing language, and spreading hate speech will only fuel more violence and hinder efforts to resolve the conflict.

“According to her, it is the duty of political figures to avoid promoting hateful stories and take necessary actions to diffuse current tensions.”

The source of the information is the United Nations news website.