Ceasefire in Lebanon gives people hope of returning to their homes. More than 15,000 people have returned to Lebanon since the ceasefire Peace and Security
The ceasefire in Lebanon is a “massive relief” for millions of people who have suffered more than 13 months as a result of the current round of conflict in the Middle East, Jeremy Lawrence, spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said on Friday, calling on all parties to respect the agreement and resolve any disputes within its framework.
“The focus must now be on providing the necessary assistance to all those who need it,” he stressed. “Protecting those who are vulnerable must be a priority.”
Jeremy Lawrence echoed the call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk for Lebanese politicians to put aside differences and act in solidarity for the safety and well-being of the people.
“On both sides of the line between Israel and Lebanon, the vast numbers of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of the conflict must be able to return knowing they will be safe and able to continue living peacefully,” he said.
More than 15,000 people have returned to Lebanon from Syria since the ceasefire agreement came into effect early Wednesday morning. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is currently providing assistance to people at the border.
Situation in the West Bank
The number of attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians during the olive harvest season has increased at least threefold this year compared with previous years, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
In addition, between November 19 and 25, Israeli troops killed nine Palestinians, including a child. Seven of them were killed during the Israeli operation in Jenin.
Citing Israeli media, OCHA reported that a 15-year-old boy was shot dead near a checkpoint in the Shu’fat refugee camp when he refused to stop walking towards Israeli troops in a lane that was closed to pedestrians.
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
A special meeting is being held at UN Headquarters in Geneva today to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 32/40 B, adopted in December 1977.
In his message to the forum, UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted that the Palestinian people’s hopes for justice and self-determination, for respect for their dignity and their rights now seem to be dashed unachievable “as never before”.
The UN Secretary-General stressed that nothing can justify the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023 and the taking of more than 250 hostages, but nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinians either.
Anarchy in Gaza
Speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Amman after a week-long visit to Gaza, Ajit Sungai, head of the OHCHR office in the occupied Palestinian territory, painted a grim picture of life in the besieged enclave.
“Every time I visit Gaza, I see the scale of the destruction growing. This time, I was particularly alarmed by the sharp increase in the number of people going hungry,” he said. – Local markets have closed, I have seen women and children rummaging through garbage in dumps. This level of deprivation is simply shocking. People urgently need large-scale assistance.”
According to the OHCHR representative, looting and violence due to lack of resources have become widespread.
“The anarchy in Gaza that we warned about months ago has arrived. Like all the death and destruction I saw during my previous visits to Gaza, the current anarchy was preventable,” said Ajit Sungai.
Displaced families face dire conditions in temporary shelters, he said. Women speak of insecurity and increasing cases of gender-based violence.
“Everyone I met asked for this to stop,” the OHCHR representative concluded.