The briefing on “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” was held via video teleconference on September 29. It was attended by Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
“In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, we are troubled by continued incidents of violence, particularly the recent clashes between the Israeli security forces and the Palestinians,” Quy said, citing the fact that the number of casualties since the beginning of 2021 has been five times as high as that of 2020, with 58 Palestinians killed and over 13,000 injured.
The Vietnamese diplomat urged Israeli authorities to observe its obligations under international humanitarian law, stop excessive use of force and settler attacks, and apply necessary measures to protect civilians, particularly children.
He voiced particular concern about the advancement of Israel’s ongoing settlement plan in the West Bank which continue to violate international law and relevant UN resolutions and undermine two-state solution prospects.
He welcomed the recent engagement and initial cooperation between the Israel Government and the Palestinian Authority, which can contribute to creating an atmosphere of trust between the parties and meet common challenges in humanitarian, healthcare, financial and economic areas.
He further expressed concern over the deteriorating social, economic, and humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling upon Israel to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza as soon as possible, not only to facilitate humanitarian access, but also to ensure regular movement into and out of Gaza to improve the livelihood of Palestinians.
He also expected international donors to increase the level of assistance and humanitarian response in the OPT, including through the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and to support other relevant UN efforts.
