Guterres urges support for the Middle East amid current ‘turbulent period’

With the Middle East undergoing “a period of profound transformation”, the international community must support efforts towards more justice, dignity, human rights and peace in the region, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Monday. 

António Guterres addressed the Council’s first quarterly debate on the Middle East for the year, held against the backdrop of Sunday’s temporary ceasefire in Gaza, the end of hostilities in Lebanon sparked by the war, and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria.

“We have a responsibility to help make sure the people of the Middle East come out of this turbulent period with peace, dignity and a horizon of hope grounded in action,” he said, speaking fresh from a visit to Lebanon.

‘Ray of hope’

Mr. Guterres said that the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal “offer a ray of hope.”  

The first phase of the agreement went into effect on Sunday, with Hamas releasing three women hostages and Israel releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners.

“While many challenges lie ahead, we should appreciate the long-overdue relief this moment provides for Palestinians in Gaza and the hostages reunited with their loved ones,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UN is doing its part to ensure the rapid scale-up of humanitarian deliveries. More than 630 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Sunday, with at least 300 headed to the north.

Fully implement the deal

He said the parties now must make good on their commitments and fully implement the deal and ensure that it leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The Secretary-General pledged that the UN “will do all we can to advance these efforts – in particular, to scale up humanitarian aid across Gaza, fully aware of the significant obstacles, challenges and constraints that we still face.”

Action on the ground

The ceasefire “must translate into at least four simultaneous actions on the ground”, he said.

The first must be that UN entities – including UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, which he called “the backbone of our humanitarian response” - must be able to perform their functions without hindrance.

“The UN must have rapid, safe and unimpeded access through all available channels and crossings to deliver food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter, and materials to repair infrastructure across Gaza, including the north,” he said.

 Other humanitarian organizations, including local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as the private sector, must also have unimpeded safe passage. 

Safe operating environment

His second point underscored that scaling up the delivery of aid and essential services demands safe conditions and a conducive operating environment. Humanitarians also require the necessary technical, protective and communications equipment.

“To do our work, the parties must coordinate with the UN system in a timely and effective manner. This also includes the restoration of public order and safety to prevent the looting of humanitarian supplies,” he said.

Aid access, civilian protection

Mr. Guterres stressed that people must be able to access life-saving aid, his third point. This includes medical evacuations for those who need it, and he urged countries to take in these patients.

 Sufficient commercial supplies must also be allowed to enter Gaza to meet the overwhelming needs of the population, he added.

His final point highlighted that civilians must be protected, and those seeking to return to their communities must have safe passage.

“Explosive ordnance must be removed. The recovery of human remains must be conducted with dignity and respect,” he said.

‘Seize the opportunity’

The Secretary-General urged the Security Council and all UN Member States to support all efforts to implement the ceasefire, bring about a permanent cessation of hostilities, ensure accountability, and create the conditions for recovery and reconstruction.

Furthermore, the international media “must also be allowed into Gaza to report on this crucial story on the ground.”

Mr. Guterres called for the international community to “seize the opportunity” of the ceasefire deal to intensify efforts toward addressing governance and security frameworks in Gaza.

He noted that the Palestinian Authority has said it stands ready to assume its role and responsibilities in the enclave

“I urge collective support for the creation of security and governance arrangements that will enable Gaza to be re-unified politically, economically, socially, and administratively with the West Bank,” he said.

Two-State solution requires ‘irreversible action’

He reported that, regrettably, the situation in the West Bank continues to worsen, with clashes, airstrikes, and unabated illegal settlement expansion and demolitions.

“I am deeply concerned about an existential threat to the integrity and contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory of Gaza and the West Bank,” Mr. Guterres said.

He noted that senior Israeli officials openly speak of formally annexing all or part of the West Bank in the coming months, which would constitute a most serious violation of international law.

He said “it is clear that greater stability in the Middle East requires irreversible action toward a two-State solution” between Israelis and Palestinians.