The current “senseless” cycle of violence in the Middle East must
end now, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in an address
to the Security Council on Sunday morning.
Describing the hostilities as “utterly appalling”,
the Secretary-General warned that hopes of coexistence and peace
between Palestinians and Israelis are being pushed even farther
to the horizon.
“Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately,” he said. “Rockets
and mortars on one side and aerial and artillery bombardments on
the other must stop. I appeal to all parties to heed this call.”
The virtual Council meeting, which was attended by several
Foreign Ministers as well as ambassadors, was held amid the most
serious escalation in Gaza and Israel in years. Clashes have also
broken out across the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem.
Region at risk
The Secretary-General feared the violence could have devastating
far-reaching consequences.
“The fighting risks dragging Israelis and Palestinians into a
spiral of violence with devastating consequences for both
communities and for the entire region,” he said.
“It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and
humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in
the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, but in the region
as a whole, potentially creating a new locus of dangerous
instability,” he said.
The UN chief stressed that the only way forward is to return to
negotiations towards a two-State solution, but the fighting is
making this goal even more challenging.
He reiterated UN commitment to working with the Israelis and
Palestinians, and with international and regional partners, to
realize a lasting and just peace.
“This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must
stop immediately,” he said.
Death, displacement, destruction
Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace
Process, outlined the human cost of the deadly escalation between
the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Palestinian armed groups in
Gaza. Preliminary figures show some 181 Palestinians and nine
Israelis have been killed, while health authorities in Gaza
report 1,200 people have been injured.
The UN envoy added that the humanitarian and security situation
in the densely packed Gaza Strip grows increasingly dire by the
day.
The embattled health system is already overwhelmed by chronic
shortages of medicine and equipment, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, over 34,000 people have been displaced, and more
than 40 schools operated by UN agency UNRWA are now serving as
shelters.
“As a result of the military operations, seven factories, 40
schools and at least four hospitals sustained complete or partial
damage,” he said.
“At least 18 buildings, including four high-rise towers,
including one hosting international media outlets, have been
destroyed and over 350 buildings damaged. According to the IDF,
these buildings contained Hamas military installations.”
Echoing the Secretary-General’s call for immediate de-escalation,
Mr Wennesland said the UN is working tirelessly on all sides to
restore calm.
“Israelis and Palestinians have a legitimate right to safety and
security. The violence we are witnessing now is unacceptable and
unjustifiable.”
