The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” about the risk of escalation in the region, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line.
Ongoing hostilities in Gaza further fuelling regional instability: UN envoy
26 Jun 2024 - 19:29
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” about the risk of escalation in the region, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line.
He encouraged all sides to “immediately” take urgent steps to de-escalate the situation.
“The ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fuelling regional instability,” he said, adding there must be an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Wennesland underlined that the “devastating impact” of the hostilities on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, and the “unprecedented humanitarian crisis remain deeply alarming”.
“The scope of death and destruction in Gaza has been catastrophic and horrifying. Israel’s use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas has destroyed entire neighbourhoods and damaged hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, schools, mosques and United Nations premises,” the envoy said, “unequivocally” condemning the killing and maiming of civilians in Gaza, including women and children.
Stressing that the protection of civilians is “paramount” in any armed conflict, he said the impact of the ongoing hostilities on the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “deeply concerning”.
“The life-threatening conditions facing the more than 1.7 million internally displaced people in Gaza, where nowhere is safe, must be addressed immediately,” he added.
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