The UN Security Council convened to discuss the Middle East fragile ceasefire and broader regional issues saying the ceasefire agreement has brought hope to the general Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific.
Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, while acknowledging the progress, emphasised the need for sustained international efforts to secure a just and lasting peace.
He noted that a negotiated two-state solution remains the only viable path to ensuring peace, security, and coexistence for both Israelis and Palestinians.
This comes in the wake of a recently brokered ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, a development Khiari described as providing much-needed relief for Palestinians in Gaza and the hostages reunited with their loved ones.
The discussion also touched on the broader regional context, with Khiari noting, “The situation in the Middle East remains fragile and several key conflicts continue unabated.”
He highlighted opportunities for positive change, referencing the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and developments in Syria.
Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, reiterated that the ceasefire is a temporary measure.
He noted that the basis for peace can only be achieved by the realisation of the Palestinian people of their right to an independent state on the orders of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, urging renewed dialogue.
Aboul Gheit called for closer Arab-UN collaboration, proposing an accelerated visit of Security Council members to the League of Arab States headquarters in Cairo, following their last visit in 2016.
Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, echoed the call for partnership, stressing the scale of the challenges.
He recommended that the Arab-UN partnership should be honest and effective.
