United Nations | Middle East: "Raging fires are fast becoming an inferno" - UN Chief's Briefing | United Nations @unitednations | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 6 days ago.
Briefing by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East.
------------------------------
Secretary-General António Guterres today (18 Apr) told the Security Council that “the events of the past week, the past month, and indeed nearly the past year make it clear: It is high time for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and an “irreversible progress to a two-state solution.”
Briefing the Council following the latest events in the region, Guterres warned that the raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno.” In recent days, he said, “we have seen a dramatic escalation – so dramatic that he wondered “what remains of the framework this Council established with resolution 1701.”
The Secretary-General said peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “remain in position, and the UN flag continues to fly despite Israel’s request to relocate and stressed that “the safety and security of all UN personnel must be ensured.”
Guterres, who was declared persona non grata over his response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel, said, “as should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed -- I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel. And these attacks paradoxically do nothing to support the cause of the Palestinian people or reduce their suffering.”
He said it was “high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff.”
Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles on Tuesday towards Israel. Since last October, more than 1,700 people have been killed in Lebanon -- including over 100 children and 194 women.
Briefing by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East.
------------------------------
Secretary-General António Guterres today (18 Apr) told the Security Council that “the events of the past week, the past month, and indeed nearly the past year make it clear: It is high time for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” and an “irreversible progress to a two-state solution.”
Briefing the Council following the latest events in the region, Guterres warned that the raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno.” In recent days, he said, “we have seen a dramatic escalation – so dramatic that he wondered “what remains of the framework this Council established with resolution 1701.”
The Secretary-General said peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) “remain in position, and the UN flag continues to fly despite Israel’s request to relocate and stressed that “the safety and security of all UN personnel must be ensured.”
Guterres, who was declared persona non grata over his response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel, said, “as should have been obvious yesterday in the context of the condemnation I expressed -- I again strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack by Iran on Israel. And these attacks paradoxically do nothing to support the cause of the Palestinian people or reduce their suffering.”
He said it was “high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff.”
Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles on Tuesday towards Israel. Since last October, more than 1,700 people have been killed in Lebanon -- including over 100 children and 194 women.
