United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has told an Arab League Summit in Cairo Egypt, that serious negotiations for the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire must be resumed without delay.
The UN Chief joined the leaders of 22 Arab nations that met to iron-out a collective position on the future of the Gaza Strip that seeks to counter a proposal floated by the United States President Donald Trump to turn the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East”.
The Arab proposal reportedly consists of three phases over five years to rebuild the devastated enclave at a total cost of around $53 billion.
Guterres warned that in the aftermath of the horrific 7 October attacks against Israel that unleashed an unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza, the risk of even greater devastation loomed.
“This summit is an important signal that the world has a collective responsibility to support efforts to end this war, relieve profound human suffering and secure lasting peace. In the last few weeks, we have witnessed a meaningful improvement with the ceasefire and hostage deal. Since the start of the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire, Palestinian civilians in Gaza have experienced reprieve. Hostages were released and humanitarian aid dramatically increased. I urge the parties to uphold their commitments and implement them in full, and Member States to use all the leverage they have to support this, especially as we start the Holy Month of Ramadan.”
Release of hostages
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire now hangs by a thread after Israel, reportedly backed by the United States, seeks to extend the first phase of the agreement by 50 days in which it wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages rather than the staggered releases witnessed so far – a proposal that has been rejected by Hamas.
The two sides had yet to start negotiations for the second phase of the original agreement in which Hamas was expected to release dozens of the remaining hostages in return for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
The occupying state has since blocked all humanitarian aid into Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas.
“We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities that would plunge the millions back into an abyss of suffering and further destabilise the region. Simultaneously, the territorial integrity of Lebanon and Syria must be respected. Serious negotiations for the ceasefire in all its facets must be resumed without delay. All hostages must be released, immediately, unconditionally and in a dignified manner. The release of Palestinian detainees must be carried out per the terms of the deal and also in a dignified manner. The parties must ensure humane treatment for all those held under their power. And all obstacles to the effective delivery of lifesaving aid must be removed. Humanitarian aid is not negotiable. It must flow without impediment. The response needs to be adequately funded, and civilians, including humanitarians, must be protected.”
Reconstruction of Gaza
The Arab league also indicated that an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza could be held in the weeks ahead, as Guterres pledged UN support.
“The true foundation of recovery in Gaza will be more than concrete and steel. It will be dignity, self-determination and security. This means staying true to the bedrock of international law. It means rejecting any form of ethnic cleansing. And it means forging a political solution. There is no sustainable future for Gaza that is not part of a viable Palestinian State. There can be no recovery without an end to the occupation. No justice without accountability for violations of international law. And no sustainable reconstruction without a clear and principled political horizon. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, to chart their own future, and to live on their land in freedom and security. There must be irreversible steps now toward the realisation of the two-State solution, before it’s too late.”
The UN Chief argued here that ending the current crisis was not enough and that there needed to be a clear political framework that laid the foundation for Gaza’s recovery, reconstruction and lasting stability.
