To the Agency’s Security Council
The UN Security Council informed by the Deputy Secretary General Gaza, stressing that “the worst fears were confirmed” by the re -launch of air raids, while “unconfirmed reports refer to hundreds of dead”.
Mr Fletcher said that the suspension of assistance and commercial materials reverses the progress made during the truce.
“This complete exclusion of saving help, basic goods and commercial goods will have devastating consequences for people in Gaza, who are still dependent on a steady flow of help,” he warned. The 42 -day truce, he said, proved what is possible.
“Delivery was made possible and we have increased the scale quickly and effectively. Over 4,000 trucks with help each week entered Gaza. We reached over two million people. And our goals for vaccination against polio have been overcome, reaching the vaccination of more than 600,000 children, “he noted.
Mr Fletcher said that “we cannot and should not accept the return to conditions before the ceasefire or the complete refusal of humanitarian aid” and that “the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial essentials in Gaza must be allowed.”
The situation has led to raising prices in basic goods, he said, with “vegetable prices in the north of Gaza already tripled”. In fact, six bakeries subsidized by the World Food Program have been closed due to shortages.
Despite the difficulties, he stressed that the UN teams continue to provide minimal services, but “we cannot support it for much more unless the passages open again.”
“Civilians need to be protected and their basic needs must be met. International law must be respected, ”he said.
Referring to the West Bank, he expressed “serious concerns” about protecting civilians, noting the refreshing of a large scale of Israeli army operations and the displacement of about 40,000 Palestinians.
Greece’s commitment to support the solution of two states in the Middle East
The Greek Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, stressed that the recent “hostage and release agreement in Gaza was an excellent example of what could be achieved by political will”. Nevertheless, he expressed serious concern about the “continuation of hostilities in Gaza” and the growing number of victims, calling on all sides to “demonstrate restraint and restart the conversations on a truce”.
Greece reaffirmed its condemnation of Hamas’ “terrorist attack” on October 7, 2023 and called for the “immediate and unconditional liberation” of the hostages. Mr. Sekeris stressed that the Palestinians of Gaza were spending a second hard winter, with the conditions described by us.
Greece calls on Israel to “allow and facilitate safe, unconditional, massive and uninterrupted humanitarian tradition” and to restore “access to electricity and water”, according to International Humanitarian Law.
It was emphasized that “the role of UNRWA remains decisive and irreplaceable”, while a special reference was made to the support of Cyprus’s marine humanitarian corridor and the reception of “ten children and their families from Gaza” for medical care in Greece.
Mr Sekeris also expressed concern about “increasing violence in the West Bank” and the struggle in Jenin.
Greece, he said, calls for a permanent truce to rebuild Gaza and the liberation of all hostages.
Mr Sekeris stated Greece’s support in the “Arab proposal presented by Egypt” and points out that any plan should not include a role for Hamas, that Hamas will never be a threat to Israel’s security and should “ensure the security of Israel” and “do not predict”.
“But for this to happen, the Palestinian Authority must be financially and institutionally supported and Greece remains committed to providing assistance in this direction,” he said.
The displacement, he said, would “undermine the stability of the area” and endanger the solution of the two states.
Greece pledged to support the Palestinian Authority and reiterated its support for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state based on the solution of the two states according to the Security Council resolutions, it was told in the EIA.
Guterres: Gaza situation is unbearable
The UN Secretary -General expressed his disgust for Israeli air raids in Gaza and appealed to observe the truce, restore unhindered humanitarian aid, and unconditionally release the remaining hostages.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, he said the situation in Gaza is unbearable, with hundreds of people having – according to information – lost their lives.
The coordinator of humanitarian aid for the occupied Palestinian territories, Muhandhand Hadi, said that people in Gaza have suffered immensely and that the end of hostilities, the continuation of humanitarian aid, the liberation of hostages and the restoration of the mains.
For his part, Falker Turk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, added that the last 18 months of violence have made it clear that there is no military route outside the crisis. “The only way forward is a political settlement, in accordance with international law. Israel’s recourse to even more military violence will accumulate further misery in a Palestinian population that is already suffering from destructive conditions. “
The Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA) also states that the Israeli army has ordered people to evacuate areas in Bayit Lost and Han Younes Khan Younis. This, he says, marks the first evacuation order issued for more than two months (from January 15).
OCHA notes that the area covered by the evacuation order is about 23 square kilometers – more than 6% of the Gaza Strip – and includes more than twelve displaced sites. The area also hosts three clinics and a field hospital, while additional medical facilities are within walking distance. OCHA warns that no guarantees have been provided to the security, protection and prosperity of those who have been ordered to leave, let alone for those who are left behind.
Also, the UN and its partners working in the field of education say that activities have stopped at more than 300 facilities across the Gaza Strip, depriving thousands of children their right to education.