The United Nations has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the enclave.
According to a statement, approximately two million Palestinians have been displaced, navigating streets filled with rubble, garbage, and sewage due to the ongoing Israeli offensive now nearing its tenth month.
During a Security Council session today focused on the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, delegates unanimously emphasized the necessity of an immediate cessation of hostilities and facilitating aid deliveries into Gaza, such as polio vaccines. They warned that regional tensions could escalate if the conflict continues.
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, expressed frustration over the Security Council’s ten-month failure to halt the violence in Gaza, criticizing its passive stance amidst the ongoing bloodshed.
Polyanskiy highlighted, “The Security Council’s failure to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza is disheartening. The occupation continues to obstruct humanitarian operations in the area with no intent to cease its aggression.”
Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amar Ben Jemaa, called for a “humanitarian truce” to ensure the immediate delivery of desperately needed polio vaccines.
He described the situation as catastrophic, worsening daily with no signs of hope. Ben Jemaa stressed that a permanent ceasefire is the only way to prevent further escalation and demanded the immediate and effective implementation of Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2735.
This resolution calls for an end to the aggression, a full withdrawal of occupying forces, and the return of displaced individuals to their homes, noting the very real risk of a similar tragedy unfolding in the West Bank.
Tor Wennesland, the UN Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned that the situation could erupt at any moment, emphasizing that after 321 days of Israeli aggression, which has killed or injured tens of thousands, reaching a ceasefire agreement is crucial for regional peace and security.
Louisa Paxton, Head of the Health Emergencies Unit at Save the Children, alerted to an impending humanitarian disaster in Gaza, stating, “Over 1.9 million people have been displaced from their homes, and more than 14,000 children have died during the aggression.”
She cautioned that the outbreak of polio poses a significant threat to all children in the region.
