A fragile truce in Gaza. The risk of a humanitarian catastrophe is growing

The UN Security Council warned on Tuesday that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza was increasingly at risk. The deteriorating humanitarian situation threatens to return to full-scale conflict.

During the debate, continued Israeli airstrikes, Hamas activity and limited access to aid were pointed out. In practice, this paralyzes humanitarian activities.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Khaled Khiari stressed that “the ceasefire in Gaza is increasingly fragile” and the situation in the entire region is “systematically deteriorating.”

According to data quoted during the Security Council meeting, approximately 1.8 million Gazans remain displaced and aid dependent. Reconstructing the destroyed territory may cost up to $71.4 billion over a decade.

The European Union also warned against deepening political tensions and Israel's departure from its current obligations. The EU ambassador to the UN, Stavros Lambrinidis, said that the adoption of the death penalty law by the Israeli parliament “constitutes a serious regression” and called for a return to the previous position.

The diplomat also stressed the need for “the permanent disarmament of Hamas, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the deployment of international stabilization forces.” He added that there is a “strong international consensus to protect the two-state solution.”

The discussion also focused on the US-backed peace plan, which includes, among other things, the demilitarization of Gaza, the creation of an interim Palestinian administration and extensive reconstruction.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke of a “watershed moment” and appealed for the mobilization of financial resources. However, as UN News emphasizes, talks on the disarmament of Hamas have stalled.

The representative of Palestine, Varsen Aghabekian, pointed out that despite the ceasefire, “suffering continues” and restrictions on access to humanitarian aid are unjustified. In the United States' opinion, Hamas remains the main obstacle to the implementation of the plan. They called on Hamas to demilitarize.

Diplomats participating in the meeting warned that without real political progress, increased access to aid and an agreement on disarmament, the current ceasefire could collapse. This will ruin the chances of reconstruction and stabilization of the region.

Andrzej Dobrowolski from New York (PAP)

ad/ jm/