The United Nations’ Mideast envoy is warning that the risk of “a regional conflagration” is mounting every day that the seven-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza continues. Tor Wennesland told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that the West Bank “remains a pressure-cooker of negative trends,” and there are ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants across the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights.
Quick Read
- UN Mideast envoy says Gaza war could spark regional conflict
- Warning of Escalation: The United Nations’ Mideast envoy, Tor Wennesland, warned the U.N. Security Council that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza could lead to a “regional conflagration.”
- Pressure Points: He highlighted that the West Bank remains a “pressure-cooker of negative trends,” with ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants along the Israel-Lebanon border and between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights.
- Broader Escalations: Wennesland noted the concerning escalation between Israel and Iran, aerial attacks toward Israel from regional militants, and Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.
- Human Displacement: Nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza and about 100,000 Israelis in the north and south of the country have been displaced.
- Stalled Cease-fire Efforts: He stressed that an agreement on a cease-fire and the release of hostages is blocked, with devastation intensifying as Israel expands its ground operations in Rafah.
- Call for Negotiations: Wennesland urged Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table immediately and reiterated calls for the immediate release of Israeli hostages and a humanitarian cease-fire.
- Strengthening Palestinian Institutions: He issued an urgent call to strengthen the Palestinian Authority’s institutions to preserve and safeguard the path to a two-state solution, emphasizing the importance of Palestinian-led governance in Gaza.
The Associated Press has the story:
UN Mideast envoy says Gaza war could spark ‘regional conflagration’
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS – (AP)
The United Nations’ Mideast envoy is warning that the risk of “a regional conflagration” is mounting every day that the seven-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza continues.
Tor Wennesland told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that the West Bank “remains a pressure-cooker of negative trends,” and there are ongoing exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants across the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights.
“In addition to the deeply concerning escalation between Israel and Iran witnessed last month, aerial attacks toward Israel from militants in the region and Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea persisted,” he said. “This is a combustible mix.”
Wennesland, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said nearly two million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, many of them multiple times, and some 100,000 Israelis have been displaced in the country’s north and south.
“Agreement on a deal to achieve a cease-fire and secure the release of hostages is blocked and as Israel rolls out a significant ground operation in and around Rafah, the devastation is only intensifying,” Wennesland said.
He stressed that “this trajectory must change if we are to avoid further catastrophe.”
Wennesland urged Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table immediately “in good faith” and reiterated U.N. calls for the immediate release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza and a humanitarian cease-fire.
The U.N. envoy also issued an urgent call to strengthen the institutions of the Palestinian Authority “before it is too late.” He said he warned over a year ago that 30 years of state-building for the Palestinians was “at grave risk.” He said this risk is even more acute today, “and the consequences are even more serious.”
“Affirming a path to the two-state solution means preserving and safeguarding the very institutions that are meant to govern such a state,” Wennesland said. “Moreover, these institutions will be vital to the essential objective of ensuring Palestinian-led governance in Gaza.”
