The United Nations Security Council held its monthly session today to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. The quarterly meeting also reviewed the implementation of Resolution 2334, passed on December 23, 2016, which called for an end to all Israeli settlement activities.
Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, addressed the council, expressing grave concerns over the ongoing war in Gaza, which he said exacerbates regional instability. He urged for urgent measures to de-escalate the situation and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the region.
"Hunger and food insecurity persist," Wennesland noted. "While imminent famine in the north has been averted through increased food delivery, food insecurity in the south has worsened."
He pointed out that nearly all residents of Gaza continue to face high levels of food insecurity, with approximately 500,000 people experiencing "catastrophic" levels of insecurity.
Wennesland described the scale of death and destruction in Gaza as horrifying, detailing how Israeli weaponry used in densely populated areas has obliterated entire neighborhoods and damaged hospitals, schools, mosques, and UN facilities.
He emphasized the need to protect civilians, stating that the lives of 1.7 million displaced people in Gaza are at risk.
Wennesland also highlighted the precarious financial situation of the Palestinian Authority amid broader economic and security concerns across the occupied West Bank.
Follow the latest news on Google News
