State of Palestine

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) notes with concern that exchanges of fire across the Blue Line continued throughout the weekend, with reports that people were injured on both sides of the border. This follows the reported deaths of three people there following exchanges of fire on 1 December.

In Somalia, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator there, George Conway — together with the Government and the Somali non-governmental organization consortium — have jointly warned that the country is in the midst of a disaster as devastating rains and floods continue to spread.

In Gaza, the humanitarian pause has enabled a major increase in aid delivery, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. UN agencies have sent lifesaving medicines and surgical supplies to two hospitals in Gaza City — Al Ahli and Al Sahaba — and enough fuel to operate generators for about seven days.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council on the implementation of resolution 2712 (2023), in New York today:

Fifty-three days since the Israel-Gaza war began, speakers called today for the current humanitarian pause to become a sustained ceasefire — and for renewed efforts to be made for a two-State solution in the Middle East — during a ministerial-level meeting of the Security Council that coincided with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Over 70 peacebuilders from around the world will meet at the UN in New York for the first Civil Society-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding, a new annual initiative that will facilitate exchanges among civil society organizations and enable discussions on strategy and policy in peacebuilding.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that the humanitarian pause, agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, has been largely maintained on 27 November for the fourth consecutive day. This has enabled humanitarian actors to enhance the delivery of assistance into and across Gaza.

Opening a day-long meeting on the question of Palestine, the General Assembly President warned that the longer the fear, distrust, appetite for revenge, hatred and anxiety fester and further deepen, the more lethal the psychological chasm grows, and the darker the shadow it will cast over generations to come.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres: