UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met early on Thursday with the ministerial committee appointed by the joint Arab-Islamic Summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly meetings. According to a UN statement, Guterres specifically discussed the ongoing war in Gaza and the efforts to advance the two-state solution with the ministerial committee. The committee comprises the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Palestine, and Indonesia, along with the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
The recent war in Gaza has seen extensive efforts toward achieving a ceasefire, particularly in the context of the United Nations Security Council’s actions. Several resolutions and proposals have been discussed to end the hostilities, which have severely impacted the civilian population in Gaza. These efforts have included proposals for phased ceasefires and international involvement in governing Gaza to ensure the cessation of hostilities and address the humanitarian crisis.
One significant proposal discussed by the Security Council involved a three-phase ceasefire aimed at reducing violence gradually and addressing humanitarian needs, such as the release of hostages and the delivery of aid. The involvement of international actors like Egypt, Qatar, and the United States has been crucial in mediating these efforts.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been dire, with widespread food insecurity and a substantial displacement of the population. Calls for an immediate ceasefire have been reinforced by the critical need to allow humanitarian aid into the region to alleviate the suffering of the Gazan population.
