BICOM

Nickolay Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, told the UN Security Council that Israel and Hamas were minutes away from a devastating confrontation last Saturday.

Addressing a UNSC session yesterday to discuss Israel and the Palestinians, Mladenov said: “It has taken an intense effort at preventive diplomacy by the United Nations and Egypt to make sure that both sides in the Gaza conflict step back from the brink and from potentially the fourth military confrontation in Gaza over the past decade.” Mladenov concluded that although there are still tensions on the Gaza border, the situation has calmed down after diplomatic efforts by both the UN and Egypt.

He also briefed the Security Council about the latest efforts to improve the economic situation in Gaza. Mladenov said: “On 17 July, the UN Development Programme announced the implementation of various economic initiatives that will create more than 2,500 immediate and short-term job opportunities in Gaza, particularly benefitting youth and women, over a 12-month period.“

In response, Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon said that flying firebombs launched from Gaza into Israel have destroyed more than 7,400 acres of land in Israel – “half the size of Manhattan.”

He added that the Security Council should finally declare Hamas a terrorist organisation like al-Qaeda and Islamic State, saying it is “holding hostage the entire population of Gaza” and its goal is to destroy Israel.

Danon also urged Hamas to release the bodies of two Israeli soldiers and free two Israeli civilians that they are holding captive. “One cannot demand humanitarian assistance to Gaza, which we support, while refusing to ensure the basic humanitarian rights of returning our captives and our fallen,” he said.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said that the “dire humanitarian situation has placed an explosive pressure on the infrastructure and caused loss of livelihood among the entire population of the Gaza Strip”. He accused Israel of persisting “with its wilful killing of Palestinian civilians and disregard of human life,” and said it is “imperative” that international protection be provided for Gaza’s civilian population.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said: “Country after country claims solidarity with the Palestinian people… Talk is cheap. All of the words spoken here in New York do not food, cloth or educate a single Palestinian child.” She added: “All they do is get the international community riled up”. Haley said that since 1993, the US has provided $6bn of aid to the Palestinians and asked: “How much have the Arab countries — some of whom are wealthy countries — how much have they given to the Palestinians?”

UK Ambassador to the UN Stephen Hickey said: “We must seize the opportunity presented by the prospect of a US plan. The UK stands ready to support and contribute to all credible efforts to restart the peace process; we urge others to do the same.”

He set out three conditions to relieve the situation in Gaza: “First, Hamas must bring an immediate and permanent end to rocket fire and the sending of incendiary devices into Israel. Second, Israel must reverse its punitive measures and work with the international community to ease conditions in Gaza, including opening movement and access and reducing economic restrictions. Third, the Palestinian Authority must resume salary payments and work to restore its presence in Gaza.”

Hickey added that the international community must also meet its responsibilities and support Mladenov’s plan to improve the situation in Gaza and support Egyptian diplomatic and political efforts.