Briefing the Security Council on the latest developments, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said the Secretary-General is “prepared to do his part” to help the parties end the violence and find a way forward.
While Israel has legitimate security concerns, the United Nations “is alarmed by Israel’s heavy response,” said Mr. Feltman.
While it was “indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel” that ended yesterday’s five-hour humanitarian pause, he said, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has so far conducted four ground incursions into Gaza and some 90 airstrikes, firing 91 missiles, as well as more than 500 shells.
Palestinians, meanwhile, have fired some 127 rockets and 29 mortar shells at Israel, during the same period.
Since 8 July, when hostilities intensified, two Israelis were killed, including one civilian, and at least 365 civilians were injured. Meanwhile, some 250 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, have been killed, and more than 1,900 civilians were injured in strikes from land, air and sea.
“The Secretary-General is extremely concerned that this escalation will further increase the already appalling death toll among Gazan civilians,” Mr. Feltman said.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson last night, the Secretary-General called for an immediate end to the “indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas into Israel and Israeli retaliatory action.”
He asked the parties to do their utmost to protect civilians and UN premises and staff, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance continues to reach all those in need.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said today that over 47,000 displaced Gazans have taken refuge in its facilities. The overall number of displaced people inside Gaza is likely to be far higher as many people will have taken sanctuary with family and friends.
“We again appeal to the warring parties to respect international humanitarian law obligations towards civilians, humanitarian workers and UN installations. They must exercise maximum restraint at this time of great violence and instability,” said UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness......................http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48308#.U8nsS0Dm7gw
18/7/14
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UNSC calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza conflict...
ReplyDeleteThe United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza as the Palestinian death toll reaches more than 500.
Medics have said the bodies of 16 Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the south of Gaza have been found, pushing the Palestinian death toll to 501.
Emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said they were killed in an airstrike yesterday in southern Khan Yunis during the bloodiest day in Gaza in years.
The UNSC has expressed concern at the escalation of violence in the Gaza conflict after meeting yesterday to discuss almost two weeks of fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas group.
"The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern about the growing number of casualties.
"The members of the Security Council called for an immediate cessation of hostilities," Rwandan UN Ambassador Eugene Gasana told reporters after an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.
Jordan had requested the meeting after more than 60 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed as Israel shelled Gaza's Shejaia neighbourhood and battled militants in the bloodiest fighting in the 13-day offensive.
"The members of the Security Council called for respect of international humanitarian law including protection of civilians," Mr Gasana said.
"The members of the Security Council emphasised the need to improve the humanitarian situation,including through humanitarian pauses."
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in the Middle East in a bid to help broker a ceasefire, condemned the killings in Shejaia as an "atrocious action" and called for an immediate end to the fighting.
Mr Ban was in Qatar yesterday and is due to visit Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank..................http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0721/632041-gaza-israel/
21/7/14
Readout of the President’s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel
ReplyDeletePresident Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke again this morning by phone, their second call in three days to discuss the situation in Gaza. The President discussed Israel’s ongoing military operation, reiterated the United States’ condemnation of attacks by Hamas against Israel, and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself. The President also raised serious concern about the growing number of casualties, including increasing Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza and the loss of Israeli soldiers.
President Obama informed the Prime Minister that Secretary of State John Kerry will soon travel to Cairo to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities based on a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement. The President underscored that the United States will work closely with Israel and regional partners on implementing an immediate ceasefire, and stressed the need to protect civilians—in Gaza and in Israel.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/20/readout-president-s-call-prime-minister-netanyahu-israel
20/7/14