Gaza is on the verge of collapse and its people becoming
increasingly desperate, a United Nations envoy told the Security
Council Wednesday, urging international action to avoid another
war, alleviate suffering and empower more responsible government
within the enclave.
“In this Chamber, Council members have often spoken of the need
to prevent war; and the Secretary-General has put preventive
diplomacy at the heart of his agenda. It is time for our words to
be tested in Gaza,” Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for
the Middle East Peace Process told the Council by video
teleconference from Jerusalem.
He reiterated his call for the Council to condemn “in the
strongest possible terms” the actions that have cost so many
lives in Gaza, especially the deaths and injuries caused by
live-fire from Israeli forces along the border fence.
With at least 60 protesters of all ages confirmed dead from the
violence of 14 May, “the number continues to climb” he said, and
he cited UN figures reporting 76 Palestinians killed by Israel
Defence Forces during the past month, and more than 3,000
injured.
He said Israel had a responsibility to not use lethal force
“except as a last resort” and “investigate every incident that
has led to a loss of human life”.
Mr. Mladenov also told the Council that the militant group Hamas,
which controls the Gaza Strip, “must not use the protests as
cover to place bombs and the fence and create
provocations.”
The Special Coordinator welcomed Egypt’s move to open the border
crossing at Rafah throughout the month of Ramadan and hoped that
the security situation would allow regular movement.
He also acknowledged Israel’s recent efforts to ensure the
delivery of goods to Gaza, despite the serious damage done at the
Kerem Shalom crossing by protesters in recent weeks.
Turning to the humanitarian situation, the UN envoy pointed out
that Gaza’s electricity, water networks and health system
“teeters on the verge of total collapse”.
He detailed four proposals to address the situation, namely
prioritizing agreed-upon infrastructure projects via an
established liaison committee; the adoption of fast-track
approach to speed up implementation; coordinate with the
Palestinian Authority, Israel and Egypt to overcome blockages;
and the upholding of the 2014 ceasefire.
The UN envoy explained that these would strengthen “the
unification of Gaza and the West Bank under a single, democratic
and legitimate Palestinian authority in line with the Quartet
Principles; and an end to the occupation and resolution of the
wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Recent developments
Meanwhile he noted the first meeting of the Palestinian National
Council on 30 April, the first in 22 years and Palestine’s
accession to the UN Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), the UN Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Chemical Weapons
Convention.
Concerning the decision by some countries – including the United
States – to relocate their embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,
Mr. Mladenov said: “Given its importance to Jews, Christians and
Muslims, Jerusalem is a highly sensitive and charged issue for
millions,” and “upholding the status quo at the Holy Sites
remains critical for peace and stability.”
He reiterated the UN’s position that “Jerusalem is a final status
issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the
parties.”
In closing, the Special Coordinator said that the office of the
Middle East Quartet – established by the UN, the European Union,
the United States, and Russia - remained a key forum for
resolving the conflict, including within the broader regional
context.
“We must continue to work together,” he stated, adding that there
was no alternative other than on the basis of two States, “for
achieving a peaceful future for all the people of this troubled
land.”
