A girl from Gaza stands on the roof of her damaged home, looking at the destruction across the city. UN Security Council for the Middle East: despite progress in Gaza, the situation remains critical Peace and Security
Speaking at the UN Security Council on Monday, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ramiz Alakbarov said the ceasefire in Gaza that went into effect last month is “generally being respected” but the situation remains fragile and under serious threat.
He said recent Israeli airstrikes in densely populated areas have caused widespread casualties and destruction, while Palestinian armed groups continue sporadic attacks on Israeli troops, also resulting in casualties.
“This violence threatens the fragile truce. All parties must show maximum restraint and fully comply with their obligations,” Alakbarov emphasized. hostages and searches for missing persons
Alakbarov noted that the ceasefire brought relief to the population on both sides. Several families in Israel have been reunited with relatives previously held in Gaza. The bodies of the dead were handed over to others.
However, the bodies of three hostages have still not been returned, and their families “live in painful uncertainty.” The UN representative called for the immediate return of the remains.
He also reported a meeting with relatives of missing Gazans, whose fate remains unclear: many may be under rubble or in detention facilities.
Destruction on a catastrophic scale
Alakbarov again warned that, despite the reduction in the intensity of hostilities, the situation in Gaza remains extremely difficult. Nearly 80 percent of the enclave’s buildings are damaged or destroyed, and many of the 1.7 million internally displaced people are living in overcrowded shelters without adequate access to water, food, and medical care. Deliveries of tents, blankets and other supplies have been delayed, especially worrisome as winter approaches.
The rapporteur said that out of 214 thousand tons of humanitarian cargo prepared for delivery, only about 24 thousand tons were delivered to Gaza. He called on Israel to expand the capacity at the checkpoint and speed up the inspection of humanitarian cargo, as well as resume the registration of NGOs.
The UN continues to cooperate closely with a Civil-Military coordination center for delivery assistance in accordance with humanitarian principles. Thanks to joint work, it was possible to increase supply volumes. Alakbarov also called the restoration of fiber-optic Internet in Gaza a positive signal.
“The destruction in Gaza – physical, economic and social – is catastrophic. One cannot limit oneself only to meeting immediate material needs. Equally important are psychosocial support, restoration of social cohesion and equity issues. People need to regain their sense of dignity and hope,” he emphasized.
Escalation of violence in the West Bank
Alakbarov expressed deep concern about the sharp increase in violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. According to him, the expansion of settlements continues, and Israeli military operations lead to death and destruction. September saw a record number of settler attacks, with up to 8 incidents per day.
Attackers destroy trees, attack Palestinian farmers, set property on fire and desecrate holy sites. In a number of cases, he noted, Israeli forces failed to prevent attacks or were involved in them.
The Deputy Special Coordinator also condemned terrorist attacks by Palestinian factions, emphasizing the need to bring all perpetrators to justice.
Economic sustainability Palestine
Alakbarov stressed that a viable Palestinian economy is key to the reconstruction of Gaza and the stability of the region. He called for an end to unilateral measures that undermine the Palestinian Authority, as well as an urgent solution to the crisis in the banking sector.
Concluding his speech, he said that lasting peace is only possible if there is a political process leading to a just solution to the conflict. This requires an end to the illegal occupation, as well as the implementation of a two-state solution.