UN Middle East coordinator calls on Israel and Hamas to return to negotiating table

May 29. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, has asked Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) before the United Nations Security Council to return to the negotiating table to put an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

“I urge all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and in good faith. I reiterate my and the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” has pointed out.

Wennesland has specified that the UN remains in contact with both the mediators and the parties and has said that they are committed to “supporting the implementation of an agreement” in order to free the hostages and establish a sustainable ceasefire.

“At the same time, we must put a framework for Gaza recovery on the table and do so in a concrete way to move forward rather than away from a long-term political resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” he added.

In this sense, he has highlighted that no solution that seeks to address humanitarian and security challenges “will be sustainable unless it is part of a larger approach that addresses the future of Gaza”, an area that must be part of a “single unified Palestinian state.” ” as part of the two-state solution.

Wennesland has highlighted that in this post-war scenario “there should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza”, while Israel’s “legitimate security concerns must be addressed, particularly following the acts of terrorism on October 7” carried out carried out by Palestinian militias.

“Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State without reductions in its territory. Gaza and the West Bank must be unified politically, economically and administratively. They must be governed by a Palestinian government that is recognized and supported by the Palestinian people and the international community,” he stated.

To this end, he has been in favor of strengthening the institutions of the Palestinian Authority “before it is too late” and rejecting “any step that seeks to undermine its viability”, such as the suspension of tax transfers collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian authorities.

“The international community must support and work with the new Government to address the serious fiscal crisis, strengthen its governance capacity and prepare it to resume its responsibilities in Gaza and, ultimately, govern the entire occupied Palestinian territory,” he said.

Wennesland has insisted that “political, institutional and economic reforms” are necessary within the Palestinian Authority that are “credible.” “We must ensure that the Palestinian Authority is an integral part of plans for the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza,” she added.

During his speech, he also referred to “the terrible incident” on Sunday in the Barakasat displaced persons camp in Rafá, which left at least 45 dead, as well as the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which asked Israel ceases its offensive on the Gazan city.