UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo addresses the Security Council (archive). UN Security Council: Extraordinary meeting on killing of Israeli hostages and situation in Gaza Peace and Security
Hamas militants have been instructed to kill hostages as the Israeli army approaches and could free them, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said Wednesday at a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.
The meeting was requested by Israel, with the support of France, Britain and the United States, in connection with the killing of six Israeli hostages, and by Algeria to discuss the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
Killing of Hostages
DiCarlo recalled that almost a year has passed since Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel. At that time, 1,250 Israelis were killed and another 250 were kidnapped. She expressed condolences to the families and friends of the hostages whose bodies were found on August 31.
According to the Israeli government, the hostages were shot several times at close range. According to Rosemary DiCarlo, they were killed by Hamas militants as Israeli troops approached the Rafah tunnel.
Order to Kill
“After the bodies were discovered, Hamas said its militants guarding the hostages in buildings and tunnels in Gaza had received new instructions to kill the captives as Israeli troops approached,” DiCarlo added.
At least 101 hostages are still being held in Gaza. No one is allowed to see them, and testimonies from people released from captivity suggest that they are being held in appalling conditions and are being subjected to violence.
The UN once again called for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages, and until that happens, to treat them humanely and allow Red Cross workers to see them.
Ceasefire Negotiations
Touching on the prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza, Rosemary DiCarlo welcomed the efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in this direction. “Disagreements remain,” she noted. ” More efforts must be made to achieve an agreement.”
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
The Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens. According to the local Health Ministry, 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, the majority of whom were reportedly women and children.
Shooting Israel
At the same time, Israel, Hamas and other groups continue to shell Israel. In addition, Palestinian militants use civilian objects for military purposes, putting the lives of civilians at risk. “Civilians must not be used as human shields,” DiCarlo emphasized.
West Bank
In her speech, the UN representative also drew attention to the “alarming situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.” “This includes Israeli military operations, settler attacks and Palestinian violence against Israelis,” she added.