The cessation of hostilities negotiated last month between Israel
and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, remains “very fragile”,
the UN envoy there told the Security
Council on Thursday.
“The UN is working closely with all concerned parties and
partners…to solidify a ceasefire, allow the entry of urgent
humanitarian assistance and stabilize the situation in Gaza”,
Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor
Wennesland said, referring to the conflict that erupted
between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the occupied
enclave.
The ceasefire was declared on 20 May, after 11 days of rocket and
air attacks across the border area between Gaza and southern
Israel, leaving more than 240 reportedly dead, the majority on
the Palestinian side, with thousands injured.
More than 230 Palestinians were killed as a result of Israeli
fire, and at least 12 were killed in Israel, as Hamas and other
extremist groups, unleashed rocket attacks.
Mr. Wennesland urged all sides to “refrain from unilateral steps
and provocations” and reduce tensions.
“Everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to
stabilize the situation on the ground and avoid another
devastating escalation in Gaza”.
Before updating the Council on recent developments, the UN envoy
congratulated Israeli’s new coalition Government of Prime
Minister Naftali Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Yair Lapid, with hopes of advancing a two-State solution
and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
More casualties
Turning to reports of more violence across the Occupied
Palestinian Territory (OPT), he said that since 3 May, five
Palestinians had been killed and some 100 others injured by live
ammunition in the West Bank.
And on 15 June during a right-wing Israeli activist march through
Jerusalem’s Old City, 66 Palestinians, including 12 children,
were injured by rubber-bullets and physical assaults while
rallies throughout the Gaza Strip by national Islamic forces had
seen further incendiary balloon attacks, launched towards Israel.
Settlements
Citing Resolution 2334 of 2016,
whereby the Security
Council demanded that Israel “immediately and completely
cease all settlement activities”, the Special Coordinator said he
remained “deeply troubled” by continued Israeli settlement
expansion.
He was particularly concerned over a plan to expand the Har Homa
settlement in East Jerusalem and by new settlement outposts,
which he pointed out were also illegal under Israeli law.
“Israeli settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United
Nations resolutions and international law”, Mr. Wennesland
reminded. “They are a major obstacle to the achievement of a
two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”.
“The advancement of all settlement activity must cease
immediately”, he said.
Deepening divisions
Against the backdrop of an “alarming increase” in violence
between Israelis and Palestinians, “at a scale and intensity not
seen in years”, the UN Coordinator expressed special concern over
what he described as an attempt to “exploit the sensitive status
of Jerusalem”, to justify a broader armed conflict.
He said this had only “deepened the divisions” and made progress
towards peace “an even greater challenge”, appealing for an
immediate halt.
“Perpetrators of violence on all sides must be held accountable
and swiftly brought to justice”, he said, adding that the
authorities on both sides must carry out “thorough, independent,
impartial and prompt investigations into all instances of
possible excessive use of force”.
Access in Gaza
Meanwhile, as the UN continues to coordinate the delivery of
urgent humanitarian assistance to Gaza, following widespread
destruction due to Israeli strikes, the UN envoy pushed all to
“facilitate unimpeded access”.
“We are moving quickly to ensure that there is a well-coordinated
international response focused on the two million people in Gaza
who have suffered for far too long”, he said.
Noting that with some “narrow exceptions”, the Kerem Shalom
crossing to Gaza from Israel has been closed for over five weeks,
Mr. Wennesland stressed that it should be open “for regular,
non-sensitive trade”.
UN stands in solidarity
In closing, the Special Coordinator echoed “the significant
risks” of a renewed escalation and highlighted “the urgent need
to re-establish a political horizon” to restore hope to both
Palestinians and Israelis.
As international efforts focus on halting hostilities in the
longer term, providing humanitarian assistance and reconstructing
Gaza, he reiterated the UN’s commitment to support the parties in
resolving the conflict and ending the occupation in pursuit of
two States, Israel and Palestine, “living side-by-side in peace
and security”.
