UN Chief Thanks Algeria for Middle East Dialogue and Calls for Permanent Gaza Ceasefire
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed gratitude to Algeria on Monday for inviting him to address the Middle East crisis, including the Palestinian issue, during a ministerial session of the UN Security Council chaired by Algeria.
Guterres commended efforts by various nations, including Qatar, in brokering a ceasefire between Hamas and the Zionist entity after 16 months of violence in Gaza. He urged both parties to honor their commitments under the agreement and emphasized the importance of achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The UN, he assured, will continue to support these efforts, particularly in delivering humanitarian aid across the Palestinian enclave.
The Secretary-General outlined four critical measures to solidify the ceasefire:
1. Unhindered Humanitarian Access: UN agencies like UNRWA must be granted safe and rapid access to deliver food, water, medicine, and essential supplies throughout Gaza, including the northern regions.
2. Safe Aid Delivery: Ensuring secure conditions for humanitarian operations, preventing looting, and restoring public order are paramount.
3. Vital Assistance and Medical Evacuations: Civilians must receive necessary aid, including medical evacuations, with neighboring states urged to accept the wounded. Adequate commercial supplies must also enter Gaza to meet local needs.
4. Protection of Civilians: Civilians must be allowed to safely return to their communities, with international media granted access to report on the ground situation.
Guterres also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank, highlighting ongoing airstrikes, illegal settlement expansions, and looming annexation plans by the Zionist entity. He warned that such actions violate international law and threaten the territorial integrity of both Gaza and the West Bank.
Reaffirming the UN’s commitment to a two-state solution based on international law and past agreements, Guterres called for accountability and long-term reconstruction efforts. “Sustainable peace in the Middle East requires definitive action toward a two-state solution,” he stated.
The UN chief emphasized the organization’s continued dedication to advancing stability, peace, and justice in the region.
