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On October 24, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an open discussion on the tense situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the discussion session, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once again called for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing that Israel's retaliatory attacks on Hamas cannot target innocent Palestinians.
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at the Security Council's open discussion on the situation in Israel and Gaza. Photo: VNA |
Mr. Guterres said that the situation in the Middle East is "more serious by the hour, a humanitarian crisis is looming, tensions are boiling". Secretary-General Guterres stressed the need for a ceasefire to protect civilians, facilitate aid deliveries and facilitate the release of hostages.
The UN chief affirmed that the only realistic basis for peace and stability in the Middle East is the two-state solution, in which the Israelis must see their legitimate need for security materialized, while the Palestinians must also see their legitimate need for an independent State realized, in accordance with UN resolutions, international law and relevant agreements.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken once again affirmed that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. Mr. Blinken also pledged to coordinate with the international community to find a diplomatic solution to the current conflict, while emphasizing that there is only one path to bring lasting peace and security in the Middle East: the two-state solution.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the UNSC open discussion on the situation in Israel and Gaza. Photo: VNA |
Speaking at the discussion, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages. He declared: "Israel has the right and obligation to defend itself."
Meanwhile, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki also affirmed that in the past two weeks, more than 5,700 Palestinians have been killed, including 2,300 children and 1,300 women, more than one million people have been forced to flee their homes, while more than 170,000 houses have been destroyed. He called on the international community to stop the killing and massacre of Palestinians and the Security Council has the responsibility to stop Israel, according to international law.
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Overview of the UN Security Council's open discussion session on October 24, 2023 on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Photo: VNA |
For his part, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said that the number of casualties showed that the scale of the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip exceeded everyone's imagination. According to the Russian diplomat, the current crisis once again shows that without a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as based on previous international decisions, peace and stability will remain out of reach in the region.
Ambassador Nebenzia called for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations on a two-state solution, including the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting in peace and security alongside Israel.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about violations of international law in the Gaza Strip and urged all parties to immediately cease fire to facilitate aid operations.
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| Aid from Egypt to Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters |
Speaking at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Guterres expressed deep concern about violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and affirmed that no party to the armed conflict should be allowed to ignore international humanitarian law.
Mr. Guterres welcomed several aid convoys that have arrived in Gaza through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt. However, the UN chief said the number of aid vehicles is too small compared to the huge needs currently in Gaza.
He warned that another disaster was imminent as UN fuel supplies in Gaza were running out in the coming days. He called on all sides to facilitate the safe and easy delivery of aid and to expedite the release of hostages. He again called on Israel and Hamas to implement an immediate ceasefire.
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