YouSaid · the spoken record

Wennesland

lines on the record: 576
first: 2021-05-27
most recent: 2023-12-19
sittings or episodes: 31
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Israeli security forces carried out 906 search- and-arrest operations in the West Bank, resulting in the arrest of 1,528 Palestinians. On 19 June, Israeli security forces shot and killed an unarmed 53-year- old Palestinian while he was attempting to enter Israel, reportedly for work, through a breach in the separation barrier near Qalqilya. On 24 June, a 16-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli security forces while throwing stones in Silwad village near Ramallah. In the village of Jaba’a, near Jenin, on 2 July, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian after he reportedly threw Molotov cocktails, and in a separate incident, on 6 July, killed another Palestinian as he was running away during a search operation. On 5 July, an Israeli man was seriously injured after being stabbed in Bnei Brak in central Israel.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, 360 Palestinians were injured, including 151 children and 58 women. Israeli officials reported that two Israelis were moderately injured and at least 62 lightly injured, including nine children. Ten houses in Gaza were completely destroyed, and 48 were severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. According to the Gaza authorities, more than 600 housing units were damaged, displacing 84 families. One Israeli civilian and one member of the Israeli security forces were killed, while 50 Israelis and eight Israeli security forces personnel were injured by Palestinians in clashes, rock-throwing and Molotov cocktail-throwing attacks, and other incidents. The majority of those were stone-throwing attacks on Israelis, including settlers, which resulted in injuries and damage to Israeli-owned property.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“Overall in the West Bank, 29 Palestinians, including six children, were killed and 1,813 Palestinians, including 27 women and 194 children, were injured by Israeli security forces during security operations, demonstrations, clashes, stone-throwing incidents, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis, and other incidents. Of those injuries, 1,206 were caused by tear gas inhalation and 202 by live ammunition. In addition, Israeli settlers or other civilians perpetrated some 128 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in one death and 51 injuries and/or instances of damage to Palestinian property. In Gaza, during the August escalation between Israel and Palestinian armed groups, 49 Palestinians were killed, of whom at least 26 were civilians, including four women and 17 children.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“In Masafer Yatta, movement restrictions continued, including for humanitarian access, and the arrests of Palestinian residents also continued. On 8 September, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the military commander’s decision to reject the planning permission requested by the Masafer Yatta community. The Court ordered a stay on demolition orders until 29 September. On 12 July, Israeli authorities announced that they would advance six plans for Palestinian construction in Area C. Paragraph 6 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls for, “immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction”. Unfortunately, daily violence continued.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“On 21 July, Israel’s Supreme Court partially accepted the appeal of a Palestinian family under threat of eviction in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, freezing the eviction order until proceedings are completed in a lower court. On 25 July and 8 August, Israeli security forces demolished four homes belonging to family members of Palestinians accused of or indicted for killing Israelis in April and May, displacing 31 people, including 13 children. Israeli pressure on two Palestinian communities to leave their homes in Area C continued to mount. On 12 July, 16 of the 35 households comprising the herding community of Ras Al-Tin left the Area after facing settler-related violence, demolitions and confiscations.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“On 5 September, Israeli authorities advanced plans for 700 units in the planned East Jerusalem settlement of Givat Hashaked, adjacent to the Palestinian neighbourhoods of Beit Safafa and Sharafat. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian- owned structures continued across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli authorities, citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits — which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain — demolished, seized or forced people to demolish 316 structures. Those actions displaced 237 people, including 116 children; 41 of those structures were donor-funded.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“On 25 July, Israeli authorities advanced plans for the construction of 1,215 housing units at the Lower Aqueduct site, adjacent to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and the Palestinian neighbourhood of Umm Tuba. Some units are intended for construction across the Green Line in occupied East Jerusalem. On 27 July, Israel’s Supreme Court reversed its ruling ordering the evacuation of settlers from the illegal outpost of Mitzpe Kramim, near Ramallah. The Court accepted the Government’s argument that the Palestinian land had been allocated to the settlers in good faith and that the principle of so-called market regulation should be applied. On 28 July, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli security forces, moved into an empty Palestinian- owned house in the H-2 Area of Hebron. That is the second takeover of a Palestinian home in the H-2 Area this year.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: Today’s briefing is devoted to the twenty-third report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016). The reporting period is from 17 June to 20 September. Paragraph 2 of resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Israel to, “immediately and completely cease all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and ... fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard”. Settlement activity nevertheless continued during the reporting period. Between 19 and 21 July, Israeli settlers erected tents across the occupied West Bank in a widely publicized campaign by a settlement organization to establish new outposts. Israeli authorities subsequently removed the encampments because they were illegal under Israeli law.”
2022-09-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9139 (2022) · source
“I urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, as well as the countries of the region and the broader international community, to take firm action to enable a return to meaningful negotiations.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“It is crucial that we work to restore a political horizon. As a first step, the tensions and violence across the occupied Palestinian territory should be stopped or significantly reduced, especially in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Unilateral steps that perpetuate negative trends must stop. The space for Palestinian economic activity and further improvements to access and movement in Gaza and the West Bank should be expanded. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority, including its institutional capacity, should be strengthened. Considering the things that I regularly have to report to the Council about, the status quo is neither a strategy nor a strategic option — neither for positive change on the ground nor for a restart of talks between the two sides.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“The United Nations will continue engaging with the parties to expand on the progress made over the past year, with the aim of solidifying the ceasefire and enabling further economic development. But as the events of the past weeks have shown us once again, managing the conflict is no substitute for real political progress. We must again turn our attention to the broader strategy of ending the occupation and realizing a two-State solution in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. That strategy will require significant steps from all sides. It must include the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority and its ability to engage with Israel on the political, economic and security fronts, as well as efforts to achieve the return of the legitimate Palestinian Government to Gaza.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“In recent months, at least four firing ranges unknown to Lebanese authorities have been observed in regular use south of the Litani River, which is a blatant violation of resolution 1701 (2006). The increasing number of incidents affecting UNIFIL’s freedom of movement is unacceptable. Ensuring the mission’s access throughout its entire area of operations, including the full length of the Blue Line, is critical to implementing its mandate. Israel’s regular and ongoing violations of Lebanese airspace also remain of concern and constitute violations of resolution 1701 (2006). The measures taken by Israel to ease the conditions in Gaza since the May 2021 escalation have improved the lives and livelihoods of many Palestinians, and I am encouraged to see them being restored following the most recent escalation.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Turning to the region in the Golan, the ceasefire between Israel and Syria was generally maintained despite several violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement. It remains important that the parties respect their obligations under the terms of the Agreement and prevent risks of escalation. In Lebanon, the lack of progress on reforms, the deadlock in the formation of a Government and the increasing strain on institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces and security forces, continue to weigh heavily on the State authorities. Heightened tensions persist in the area of operations of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in south Lebanon.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“As of mid- 2022, only 25 per cent of the requirement for the humanitarian response plan had been met. Meanwhile, global price increases for key commodities have strained the resources of humanitarian partners and left vulnerable families at risk of food insecurity. The World Food Programme is in immediate need of $26.5 million to support vulnerable households in Gaza and the West Bank. If the funding is not received, the support to those families will stop in October. On 1 August, in a welcome step towards facilitating imports to the occupied West Bank via Jordan, the use of 40-foot containers was permitted for the first time for shipping goods via the Allenby Bridge. I am hopeful that it will pave the way for addressing other significant obstacles to Palestinian trade.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Since 8 August, when movement was resumed into and out of Gaza, progress has been made on resuming the incremental easing of access restrictions that we have seen over the past year. However, delays in importing essential goods and equipment continue. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains deeply troubling. The escalation, and the closures of Israeli- operated crossings between 2 and 7 August, exacerbated the ongoing hardships and resulted in new immediate needs. The United Nations has identified approximately $15 million in additional funding requirements for providing psychological support, shelter, livelihoods and cash assistance, as well as essential medicines and medical assistance. In addition, the humanitarian response across the occupied Palestinian territory continued to face chronic funding gaps.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“The Israeli authorities also summoned the directors of at least three of those organizations for questioning. I echo the Secretary-General’s concern about the shrinking space for civil society in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. In Gaza, despite the disruptions caused by the escalation, some positive steps were taken during the reporting period. As of 1 August, more than 14,000 economic-needs permits have been issued, including more than 11,000 permits for workers from Gaza to enter Israel and another 3,000 for traders and businesspeople. Israel also extended social entitlements to workers from the Gaza Strip. I would welcome seeing a steady increase in the number of permits issued in future.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“If a solution is not found, more than 2,000 students will be affected. On 17 August, the Military Commander of the Israel Defense Forces rejected appeals by five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) objecting to their designation in November 2021 as unlawful organizations. The same day, Israel’s Defence Minister announced that the designation of three of them as terrorist organizations, made in October 2021 under Israel’s counter-terrorism law, had been made permanent. Three other organizations have appealed their designations. On 18 August, Israeli forces ordered the closure of the offices of seven organizations, including all six NGOs that had been designated as terrorist organizations in November 2021, and searched their offices in Ramallah. Equipment was confiscated and in some cases destroyed, and confidential files were seized.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“On 8 August, Israeli security forces demolished two houses in the village of Rummana, near Jenin, in Area B. The houses belonged to family members of Palestinians indicted for killing three people in Israel in May. Thirteen people, including four children, were displaced. I call on the Israeli authorities to end their demolitions of Palestinian-owned property and the displacement and eviction of Palestinians, and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs. I am concerned about the recent announcement by Israel’s Ministry of Education that it had given instructions to halt the granting of permanent licences to six Palestinian schools in occupied East Jerusalem owing to what it described as incitement against Israel in their curriculum.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“During the reporting period, Israeli authorities demolished, seized or forced owners to demolish 78 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and 18 in East Jerusalem, displacing 103 Palestinians, including 50 children. The demolitions were carried out due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. On 25 July, Israeli security forces demolished two homes housing multiple families in Qarawat Bani Hassan village, near Salfit in Area B. Family members of the residents were accused of having killed an Israeli settlement guard in April 2022. The demolition resulted in damage to three additional neighbouring homes and displaced 18 people, including 10 children. Three Palestinians were injured in related clashes with Israeli forces.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“On 27 July, Israel’s Supreme Court reversed its previous ruling, which ordered the evacuation of settlers from the illegal outpost of Mizpe Kramim, near Ramallah. The Court accepted the Government’s argument that the Palestinian land in the area had been allocated to the settlers in good faith and that the principle of market regulation should be applied. Rights groups expressed concerns that the ruling would pave the way for the retroactive legalization of other outposts under Israeli law. On 28 July, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli security forces, moved into an empty Palestinian house in the H-2 Area of Hebron city. I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“In three separate incidents, Israeli civilians used batons and metal bars and threw stones to attack Palestinian farmers working on their lands, injuring five Palestinians, including an elderly man. I reiterate that the perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and brought to justice. Security forces must use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. Turning to settlement-related developments, on 25 July, the Jerusalem District Planning Committee advanced plans for the construction of 1,215 housing units at the Lower Aqueduct site, adjacent to Kibbutz Ramot Rachel and the Palestinian neighbourhood of Umm Tuba. Some of the units are intended for construction across the Green Line in occupied East Jerusalem.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“There are conflicting accounts as to the source of the shot. Israeli authorities stated that they are investigating the incident. Settler-related violence also continued during the reporting period. On 29 July, a 15-year-old Palestinian was shot during a confrontation between Palestinians and armed Israeli settlers accompanied by Israeli security forces outside Al-Mughhayyir village, near Ramallah. The boy subsequently died. According to witnesses, he had thrown stones and was shot in the back while running away. It remains unclear whether Israeli settlers or security forces fired the shot. Two other Palestinians were injured with live ammunition.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“On 15 August, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian during a search operation and subsequent clashes in Kufr Aqab, north of Jerusalem. Israeli police stated that the man was shot while attempting to stab officers. The man’s father, who was present during the operation, denied that. On 17 August, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian and injured five others during clashes in Nablus, which took place in the context of Palestinians throwing stones and reportedly firing towards buses transporting Israeli civilians to Joseph’s Tomb for religious worship in accordance with established procedures. On 19 August, an unarmed 58-year-old Palestinian man was shot and killed. A video appeared to show the man to be a bystander returning from dawn prayers when an exchange of fire broke out.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“On 9 August, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian and injured five others during a clash in Hebron. Israeli officials said that the Palestinian had thrown stones towards Israeli forces, who responded with live fire. On the same day, four Palestinians, including a 16-year-old, were killed, and 76 Palestinians were injured with live ammunition during clashes that erupted following an Israeli security forces military operation in Nablus. Another 16-year-old Palestinian subsequently died from his injuries. On 14 August, a Palestinian opened fire at a group of Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem’s Old City. Eight civilians, including a pregnant woman, were injured, two seriously. The assailant fled the scene, but later turned himself over to the police.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“In total, Palestinians perpetrated 75 attacks against Israeli civilians, of which 57 were stone-throwing incidents, resulting in injuries and/or damage to Israeli property. On 22 July, Nasser Al-Shaer, a Hamas-affiliated former official, was shot multiple times and injured by two unknown assailants in Kafr Qalil village, near Nablus. The Palestinian Authority ordered an investigation, and on 26 July, Palestinian security forcesannouncedthattheyhadarrestedtwo Palestinian suspects. On 24 July, Israeli security forces shot and killed two Palestinians and injured six others in an exchange of fire during an arrest operation in Nablus. On 26 July, Israeli forces shot an unarmed 59-year- old man with a mental disability at the Huwwara checkpoint, south of Nablus. The man died of his injuries on 29 July.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“During the reporting period, a total of 12 Palestinians, including four children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis and other incidents, and 289 Palestinians, including three women and 83 children, were injured. Israeli settlers and other civilians perpetrated 39 attacks against Palestinians, resulting in eight injuries and/or damage to Palestinian property. In all, 28 Israelis and other civilians, including at least four women and two children and four Israeli security personnel, were injured by Palestinians in clashes, shootings, stabbings and ramming attacks or as a result of the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails, among other incidents.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the proportional use of force and the taking of all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of military operations. I condemn the indiscriminate launching of rockets by Palestinian armed groups from highly populated neighbourhoods in Gaza into civilian population centres in Israel, in violation of international humanitarian law. I reiterate that children must never be the target of violence or put in harm’s way. Daily violence also continued at high levels across the occupied West Bank.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“On 6 August, seven Palestinians — all civilians, including at least four children — were killed in an explosion near the Emad Aql Mosque in Al-Jabalia. Forty-three others, including 26 children, were injured. On 7 August, an explosion in Al-Bureij killed three children and their 49-year- old father, whom the Al-Qassam Brigades claimed as an operative. Israeli forces denied involvement in the incidents, which they said were caused by rocket launches from militant groups. Palestinian armed groups have made no public statements on those incidents. I am concerned that air strikes in densely populated areas resulted in civilian fatalities and injuries.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“One of the children, a 10-year-old girl, died in hospital on 8 August. On the same day, seven other Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, including a 13-year-old child, two women and a senior PIJ commander. Thirty others were reportedly injured, including at least seven children and five women. On 7 August, five children were killed and four others were injured in an explosion in Al-Falouja cemetery, east of Al-Jabalia. On 16 August, citing Israeli official sources, media reported that the IDF had concluded that the casualties were caused by an Israeli air strike. The IDF has not publicly confirmed the finding. On two separate occasions, Palestinian civilians were killed or injured in explosions, the causes of which have yet to be verified.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“According to the most recent figures, 49 Palestinians were killed, of whom at least 26 were civilians, including four women and 17 children. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 360 Palestinians were injured during the escalation. Israeli officials reported 70 Israelis injured, including nine children. In Gaza, 10 houses were completely destroyed, while another 48 were severely damaged. A reported 650 housing units were damaged. On 5 August, Israeli forces carried out a series of air strikes, killing a senior PIJ leader and other suspected militants. In the initial strikes, a 5-year-old girl was killed in eastern Gaza City, along with two men, and a 22-year-old woman was killed east of Khan Younis. On 6 August, a 60-year-old woman was killed and five were children injured in an Israeli strike.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Unless those fundamental issues are addressed, the cycle of acute crisis followed by short-term fixes will persist. Concerted efforts are needed to restore a political horizon and resume meaningful negotiations. My briefing on 8 August provided an initial account of the three-day escalation. Overall, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted 147 airstrikes against what they said were militant targets in Gaza. Palestinian militants indiscriminately fired approximately 1,100 rockets from densely populated areas in the Strip towards Israel. Of those, Israeli officials reported that around 35 per cent were intercepted by the Iron Dome and 18 per cent fell short and landed within the Gaza Strip, causing damage and, reportedly, civilian casualties. The violence took a severe toll on civilians.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“It also allowed for the resumption of the measures implemented over the past year that have resulted in much-needed economic relief to the people in Gaza. But a ceasefire is limited to ending immediate hostilities; the underlying drivers of the conflict are still unresolved. Violence has increased across much of the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlement activity continues, along with demolitions and evictions. Fiscal and political challenges threaten the Palestinian Authority’s effectiveness in delivering essential public services. The West Bank and Gaza remain politically divided. Palestinians in Gaza face the challenge of economic and movement restrictions linked with the Israeli closure regime, the nature of Hamas rule and the ever-present threat of violence.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: My previous briefing (see S/PV.9107) took place just after Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) each independently declared a ceasefire, following three days of military escalation. I am pleased to update the Security Council that the ceasefire remains in effect and a fragile calm has been restored in Gaza. The Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings have remained open since 8 August, allowing for the entry of essential goods and materials. The United Nations is working with partners to ensure the delivery of urgent assistance to those who need it most. The ceasefire prevented the situation from escalating into a full-scale war, which would have had devastating consequences.”
2022-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9116 (2022) · source
“These cycles of violence will cease only when we achieve a political resolution of the conflict that brings an end to the occupation and the realization of a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967 lines, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. I reiterate my call to the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships, along with the international community, to strengthen diplomatic efforts to return to meaningful negotiations towards a viable two-State solution.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“We are committed to supporting the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, ensuring the safety and security of the civilian population and following-up on the Palestinian prisoners file. Yesterday the Secretary-General welcomed the ceasefire announcement and called on all sides to abide by the agreement. I echo the Secretary-General’s call. I want to make the Council aware of the following: the ceasefire is fragile. Any resumption of hostilities will only have devastating consequences for Palestinians and Israelis and make any political progress on key issues elusive. Ultimately, the underlying drivers of this and previous escalations remain.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“She has spent the day meeting with United Nations and humanitarian agencies, families affected by the escalation and civil society groups, and assessing the damage and needs. The cost will be steep. The escalation of recent days came a little more than one year after the end of the May 2021 escalation in Gaza. The devastating impact of that conflict is still with us today. In the months following the hostilities in May 2021, gradual but significant progress was made in opening Gaza for the movement of people and goods. Those steps helped ease living conditions in the Strip. It is imperative that we see a resumption of the measures that were in place and continue our efforts to expand them further.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“The ceasefire announced last night has allowed the resumption of essential movements of goods and people in and out of Gaza, including the delivery of humanitarian assistance and fuel for the Gaza Power Plant. I welcome Israeli authorities’ timely reopening of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings after the ceasefire went into effect. The opening of Kerem Shalom has allowed a total of 23 trucks of fuel to enter the Gaza Strip today, enabling the Gaza Power Plant to resume normal operations from 8 p.m. this evening, local time. Ms. Lynn Hastings, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, entered Gaza this morning and is leading the United Nations and humanitarian response on the ground.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“As a result, on 6 August, Gaza’s only power plant shut down, causing rolling power cuts of over 20 hours per day and severely impacting the delivery of basic essential services and facilities, such as hospitals and clinics, schools, water desalination and distribution, as well as wastewater treatment. Gaza’s chronic shortages of essential medicines and equipment were exacerbated by the escalation, and the closure of Erez prevented the daily crossing of some 50 patients requiring specialized treatment in Israel. The closures also worsened the already precarious food security situation in the Gaza Strip, reducing stocks of basic foods, particularly wheat flour.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“From the onset of the escalation, Palestinians held demonstrations in multiple locations, protesting the Israeli strikes on Gaza. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, issued a statement condemning the Israeli strikes and reiterating his call for the international community to protect Palestinians. In addition to loss of life, injuries and destruction of property, the complete closure of the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings for six days had severe humanitarian consequences for Palestinians in the Strip. Gaza was on the brink of a humanitarian collapse last evening when the ceasefire came into effect. As in all escalations, there are dire humanitarian consequences and a total breakdown of all normal supply lines and essential services. Basic food, medical supplies and fuel were unable to enter.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“Of those that crossed the border, most were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome, but some caused material damage. Israeli sources reported 70 injuries, including nine children. I condemn the indiscriminate launching of rockets from highly populated residential neighbourhoods in Gaza into civilian population centres in Israel, which puts at risk both Palestinian and Israeli civilians and violates international humanitarian law. While fully recognizing Israel’s legitimate security concerns, I reiterate that, under international law, all use of force must be proportionate and take all feasible steps to avoid civilian casualties. Children, in particular, must never be the target of violence or be put in harm’s way. Against the backdrop of the Gaza escalation, tensions remained high in the occupied West Bank.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“From 5 through 7 August, 46 Palestinians were killed, including 20 civilians — 15 children and 4 women. According to Israeli official sources, the strikes killed 21 operatives, mainly affiliated with PIJ. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 360 Palestinians injured, including at least 151 children and 58 women. At least 10 houses were completely destroyed and 48 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable. According to the Gaza authorities, over 600 housing units were damaged, displacing 84 families. Approximately 1,100 rockets and mortars were fired by Palestinian armed groups, mainly PIJ’s Al-Quds Brigades. Some 20 per cent of those reportedly fell short within the Gaza Strip, causing damage and, in at least three cases, potentially large numbers of civilian casualties. United Nations monitoring of the incidents is ongoing.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“On 5 August, Israeli forces carried out a series of air strikes against reported military targets, including against a senior PIJ commander in Gaza, who was killed in the attack. Hours later, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militant factions launched more than 100 indiscriminate rockets and other projectiles from within civilian neighbourhoods inside the Gaza Strip towards civilian population centres in Israel, including Tel Aviv, central Israel and the Gaza envelope. Over the following days, Israeli air and artillery strikes against militant targets in Gaza and rocket launches by Palestinian militants into Israel continued intensively. The escalation took a severe toll on the civilian population. I repeat that the figures we are presenting are initial and verification is ongoing.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“On 1 August, Israeli security forces arrested Bassem Al-Saadi, a senior leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the occupied West Bank, along with his son-in-law. A 17-year-old Palestinian, whom PIJ claimed as an affiliate, was killed during the operation. PIJ immediately declared a “state of alert” and raised the level of readiness of its militants. In response to the threats, Israel closed the crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip on 2 August and implemented measures restricting civilian movements in the so- called “Gaza envelope”. Tensions mounted amid highly inflammatory rhetoric by Palestinian militant groups. The United Nations, Egypt and others began intensive mediation efforts to avert an escalation.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“The United Nations remains in close contact with all parties to solidify the ceasefire and ensure that the significant progress made towards easing restrictions, which we have seen since the end of the escalation last May, can be safeguarded and ultimately expanded. This most recent escalation had its roots in deeper tensions, which have been rising for months across the occupied Palestinian territory. Tensions spiked across the West Bank in March and April, particularly after five terrorist attacks — the deadliest in years — took place inside Israel. Following those attacks, Israeli authorities increased military operations inside the occupied West Bank, with a significant number of the operations taking place in Jenin, focused on Palestinian militant groups operating in the area.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“Last night, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced, in separate statements, that a ceasefire had been agreed and would come into effect at 11.30 p.m. on 7 August. The ceasefire remains in place as I speak. I welcome this agreement and I am grateful to Egypt for its crucial role in securing the ceasefire, alongside the United Nations, and I appreciate the very important support provided by Qatar, the United States of America, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and others to de-escalate the situation. Together, those combined efforts helped prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war and, as of this morning, allowed for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: The past few days witnessed a deeply worrisome escalation in the Gaza Strip between Israeli military forces and Palestinian armed groups, primarily the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Preliminary numbers, which have yet to be confirmed, indicate that, from 5 August, the Israel Defense Forces launched 147 airstrikes against targets in Gaza. Palestinian militants launched approximately 1,100 rockets and mortars into Israel, many of which landed deep inside Israeli territory. During the escalation, 46 Palestinians were killed and 360 were injured, and hundreds of residential housing units were damaged or destroyed, along with other civilian infrastructure. Seventy Israelis were injured, with damage to residential and other civilian structures.”
2022-08-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9107 (2022) · source
“The United Nations remains actively engaged in advancing those efforts with all relevant parties and is committed to supporting the efforts of Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation through the achievement of a two-State solution, in line with the relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“I encourage donors to provide the financial resources necessary to meet those growing costs. Ensuring that basic services continue and humanitarian needs are met is not only a humanitarian imperative but also vital to stability going forward. As events over recent months have demonstrated yet again, managing the conflict in perpetuity is not a viable option. There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict. I urge Israelis, Palestinians, the States of the region and the broader international community to take steps that will enable the parties to retake the path towards meaningful negotiated solutions and, ultimately, peace.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“The cost of some basic food items such as wheat flour has increased by some 20 per cent in the West Bank and more than 40 per cent in Gaza. The cost of shipping alone is more than 25 per cent higher than last year. To sustain current operations in the occupied Palestinian territories until the end of the year and offset increasing costs, the World Food Programme requires an additional $36 million. Facing similar constraints across the occupied Palestinian territories and the region, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) shortfall remains at $100 million. I thank all Member States that have already funded the Agency this year and those that confirmed additional funds at the pledging conference on UNRWA in New York last week.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“More needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation and enable the economy to grow, with the eventual goal of a full lifting of the Israeli closures, in line with resolution 1860 (2009). Only sustainable political solutions will relieve the pressures on the long-suffering population of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority’s financial crisis — compounded by the constraints of the occupation, the absence of serious Palestinian reforms and unclear prospects for donor support — requires urgent attention. In that regard, I welcome the renewed financial support from the European Union, which will give critical temporary relief to the Palestinian Authority. As commodity prices spike, humanitarian needs and costs are rising across the occupied Palestinian territories.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source