UN Warns of 'Catastrophic' Threat to Region if Israel-Hezbollah Fighting Escalates

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Jakarta, Kowantaranews.com -On Tuesday, the United Nations issued a stark warning about the growing risk of escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The UN cautioned that not only would this escalation exacerbate the suffering and devastation already experienced by the people of Lebanon and Israel, but it could also lead to potentially catastrophic consequences for the entire region. Tor Wennesland, the UN’s special coordinator for the Middle East, called on both sides to take urgent and immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.

Rising Tensions Along the Border

The tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have been escalating, with cross-border exchanges of fire becoming more frequent in recent weeks. This prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to emphasize the urgent need to prevent the conflict from spreading to the wider region. He stated, “The risk of the conflict spreading to the wider region is real and must be avoided.”

Wennesland delivered his remarks during a Security Council meeting focused on the implementation of Resolution 2334. Adopted in 2016, this resolution demands an end to all Israeli settlement activity and calls for immediate steps to prevent violence and acts of terror against civilians. It also urges both sides to refrain from provocative actions, incitement, and inflammatory rhetoric.

Concerns Over Israeli Settlement Expansion

Wennesland expressed deep concern over the continuing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. He reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law and have no legal validity. He called on Israel to cease all such activities immediately.

The escalating violence and tensions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, were also highlighted. Wennesland noted that intensified armed exchanges between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, along with lethal attacks by Palestinians against Israelis and by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, have exacerbated tensions and led to exceedingly high levels of casualties and detentions. He emphasized the need for accountability for all perpetrators of attacks.

Hostilities in Gaza and Humanitarian Crisis

The ongoing hostilities in Gaza are a significant contributor to regional instability, Wennesland pointed out. He stressed the urgent need for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. “There is a deal on the table, and it should be agreed,” he told the council members, acknowledging the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in negotiating such a deal.

Senior UN officials have warned Israeli authorities that they will suspend aid operations across the battered enclave unless urgent steps are taken to protect humanitarian workers. The UN World Food Program has already suspended aid deliveries from a US-built pier in Gaza over security concerns. This comes at a time when the amounts of essential goods allowed into Gaza continue to fall far short of the

needs of the population.

Dire Food Insecurity in Gaza

Maximo Torero, the chief economist of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, warned of the “extreme risk of famine” in Gaza. He reported that more than 20 percent of the population goes entire days and nights without eating, and more than half of the population does not have any stocks of food in their homes.

In northern Gaza, 75,000 people, or a quarter of the population, face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, while 150,000 are dealing with emergency levels. In southern Gaza, including the Rafah area, more than 350,000 people, or a fifth of the population, face catastrophic levels of food insecurity, and about 525,000 are experiencing emergency levels.

Calls for Immediate Action

Daw Mohammed, interim country director for the West Bank and Gaza for the humanitarian organization CARE, emphasized the urgent need for action. “The process to determine the difference between ‘famine’ or ‘catastrophic food insecurity’ is irrelevant for Palestinian people in Gaza, too many of whom have starved to death or will never fully recover from the ravages of hunger,” he said. Mohammed called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, a massive increase in the safe flow of aid and aid workers into and around Gaza, access to water, fuel, and basic healthcare services for all people, and the release of all hostages.

US and Russian Perspectives

During the Security Council meeting, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the UN, blamed Hamas for rejecting a US-backed ceasefire deal. She accused Hamas of adding more conditions instead of accepting the deal. Her Russian counterpart, Vassily Nebenzia, criticized the US-backed Resolution 2735, adopted on June 10, which calls for a ceasefire. He described it as a “dead letter” and containing a “blatant lie” that Israel had accepted the deal. He urged the Security Council to adopt a more conscientious approach to future decisions and to consider their actual content.

Wider Implications for the Region

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, coupled with the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, poses a significant threat to regional stability. The UN’s warnings highlight the potential for a broader regional conflict that could have devastating consequences far beyond the immediate area of hostilities.

Wennesland stressed that the escalating violence and settlement expansion in the occupied territories not only undermine peace efforts but also violate international law. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza, characterized by severe food insecurity and a lack of essential goods, demands immediate international attention and intervention.

Humanitarian Efforts and Challenges

Despite the ongoing violence and political complexities, humanitarian organizations continue to work tirelessly to provide aid to those in need. However, the challenges are immense. Aid deliveries are frequently disrupted by security concerns, and humanitarian workers face significant risks in their efforts to reach affected populations.

The UN’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire and the protection of aid workers is crucial to ensuring that life-saving assistance can reach those who need it most. The international community must respond to this call and take concrete steps to support humanitarian operations in Gaza.

The UN’s warning about the potential for catastrophic regional consequences if the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates underscores the urgent need for de-escalation and a renewed focus on peace efforts. The international community must act swiftly to prevent further suffering and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Immediate action is needed to provide relief to the affected populations, ensure accountability for violations of international law, and support efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace in the region.

The situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East remains fragile and volatile. The actions taken by the international community in the coming days and weeks will be critical in determining the future trajectory of the conflict and the prospects for peace and stability in the region. *Mukroni

Source arabnews

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