Deputy Secretary General Miroslav Jenča informed a Security advice Meeting Tuesday called by Israel to discuss the fate of hostages that will always be held in the enclave ravaged by war.
This comes after Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have published images and videos of two emaciated hostages, Evaytar David and Rom Braslavsky, aroused indignation and condemnation.
“An affront to humanity itself”
“” Evaytar’s scenes being apparently forced to dig his own grave are appalling“He said.
“These images and their own stories of their treatment have all horrified us. They are an affront to humanity itself. “”
Mr. Jenča recognized the presence of Mr. David’s brother, Ilay, who participated in the meeting by videoconference, claiming that the UN recognizes “the pain and the deep difficulties endured by families and relatives of those who remain in captivity”.
He recalled that this week the Jewish community commemorated Tisha b’avA day of mourning and memory of the tragedies lasted throughout its history.
“I pay tribute to your courage and determination, and I share your dearest wish: for your brother, and all the hostages held in Gaza, to be immediately released and unconditionally,” he said.
A war crime
Currently, 50 hostages continue to be held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in horrible conditions and 28 are considered to be deceased, while the released hostages “have relayed painful stories of deprivation, ill -treatment and abuse”.
Since the start of the conflict, Hamas and other armed groups have circulated dozens of hostage videos, including statements made under stress and while suffering clearly, including the most recent images of the two men.
“International law is clear,” said Jenča. “” The hostage -taking is prohibited – it is a war crime. “”
He stressed that those deprived of their freedom were to be treated humanly and with dignity and authorized to be visited by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“They should never be subject to ill-treatment, abuse or humiliation, because they would also constitute violations of the relevant rules of international law,” he added, before reiterating the UN Secretary General António GuterresCall on Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
“Unbearable” Gaza situation
In the meantime, ” The situation in Gaza is horrible – it’s unbearable“, He continued, noting that” the Palestinians are subject to sordid and inhuman conditions on a daily basis. »»
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict, according to local health authorities.
“” Since the end of May, more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 8,100 injured while trying to access food suppliesIncluding near militarized aid distribution sites, ”said Jenča.
“The dead and injuries continue to go up, day after day, endless for suffering.”
This happens then that Israel continues to severely restrict humanitarian assistance entering Gaza, while the aid which is authorized to enter “is largely inadequate”.
“Hunger is everywhere”
He told the council that “hunger is everywhere in Gaza, visible on the faces of children and in the despair of parents who risk their lives to access the most basic supplies.”
Here, he echoes the conviction by the secretary general of the violence in progress in Gaza, including the shooting, the murder and the injury of the people trying to take food.
“International law is clear. Civilians must be respected, protected and never targeted or deliberately deprived of food or access to another rescue aid-this is a war crime, “he said.
“Israel must immediately allow and facilitate the rapid and unhindered passage of sufficient quantities of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, to avoid other suffering and loss of life.”
A “deeply alarming” potential military expansion
Jenča also discussed the latest reports concerning the possible decision of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend military operations throughout the Gaza Strip.
If this is true, they are “deeply alarming,” he said, as “This would risk the catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and could further endanger the life of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “”
He turned to international law again, which is clear that Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state.
He cited the advisory opinion of July 2024 by the International Court of Justice (Icj) who declared that Israel was forced to immediately stop all the new settlement activities, evacuate all the colonists of the occupied Palestinian territory and put an end to its illegal presence as quickly as possible.
No military solution
Mr. Jenča concluded his briefing by highlighting the position of the UN according to which the only way to end violence and humanitarian disaster in Gaza is by a complete and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and allowing the help of entering a large scale and without obstruction.
Civilians must also be guaranteed for sure and unhappy access to assistance.
He stressed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Gaza or the wider Israel-Palestine conflict.
“We must establish political and security frameworks that can relieve the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, start recovery and early reconstruction, respond to the legitimate security concerns of Israelis and Palestinians and ensure the end of the Illegal occupation and occupation of Israel and Get a lasting two -state solution“He said.
This would mean “Israel and a fully, democratic, viable, viable and sovereign Palestinian state, of which Gaza is an integral part – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the lines before 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of the two states.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
