Destruction near hospital in Gaza. Middle East: UN warns of growing crisis Peace and security
The war between Hamas and Israel has spread to the entire region, involving armed groups from several countries and covering more and more territory of Lebanon, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Thor Wennesland said at a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council.
Wennesland noted that this crisis goes beyond the local conflict and threatens to lead to even more destructive consequences for the entire region.
He recalled that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold hostages, massive displacement of people continues in Lebanon, the scale of destruction is growing, and a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
As the Special Coordinator noted, the situation in Gaza has reached a critical point. The fighting has led to the complete destruction of many areas, and almost the entire population of the enclave has been forced to leave their homes. UN humanitarian agencies and their partners are working in a context of fighting and facing access restrictions.
“Attacks on humanitarian workers and looting of aid, including by organised Palestinian armed groups, are a serious obstacle and no solution has been found,” the Special Coordinator said.
Wennesland stressed that humanitarian needs in Gaza continue to grow, particularly in the northern part of the enclave, where people are experiencing acute shortages of food, medicine and shelter. At the same time, the approach of winter is worsening the crisis.
Growing Tensions in the West Bank
The situation in the West Bank remains extremely volatile. Wennesland reported ongoing military operations in Palestinian cities and refugee camps. Rising settler violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements are undermining the stability of the region and threatening the already fragile position of the Palestinian Authority, he warned.
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Events in Gaza and the occupied West Bank are moving us away from the peace process and, ultimately, from the creation of a viable Palestinian state, Wennesland said.
Call for immediate action
The Special Coordinator called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, as well as stepped up diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict. He stressed that the reconstruction of Gaza and the resolution of the humanitarian crisis will not be possible without a political solution.
According to him, any long-term strategy in Gaza must be based on a policy aimed at achieving a two-state solution, ending the occupation and respecting the rights of Palestinians to self-determination.