UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and EU leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of detainees, and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, as violence escalates and the humanitarian crisis deepens.
On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council held an open meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, where Khiari provided an update on the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Khiari called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, emphasizing that they must be treated with respect and in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Expressing deep concern over the resurgence of violence in Gaza, Khiari stressed the need to protect all civilians and UN personnel. He urged all parties to adhere to international humanitarian and human rights laws, while also calling for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The United Nations will continue to make every effort to advance ceasefire talks, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and work toward peace and stability in the Middle East, Khiari stated.
In a related development, the Council of European Union (EU) condemned the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza in a statement on the same day, expressing concern over the renewed violence and its devastating humanitarian impact.
The Council stressed that it "deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages," calling for an "immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement," according to a statement.
The Council underscored the urgency of advancing to the second phase of the agreement, emphasizing that its full implementation is essential for securing the release of all hostages and achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Brussels on Thursday for meetings with EU leaders. During his visit, Guterres reiterated calls for all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement, ensure unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of Gaza, and release detainees unconditionally.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement ended on March 1. Under the terms of the deal, in the second phase, Israel was supposed to have completely withdrawn its forces, and Hamas was expected to release the remaining hostages. Instead, Israel sought to extend the first phase, calling on Hamas to release an additional 11 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas, for its part, insisted on continuing the implementation of the original agreement. Mediated talks over the next stages of the ceasefire continued through Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, but no agreement was reached.
Israel carried out deadly bombardments across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, breaking nearly two months of ceasefire and raising fears of fully reigniting the 17-month war.
UN, EU urge de-escalation in Gaza, call for ceasefire, humanitarian relief access
UN, EU urge de-escalation in Gaza, call for ceasefire, humanitarian relief access
UN, EU urge de-escalation in Gaza, call for ceasefire, humanitarian relief access
