United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called on the international community to do the utmost to help bring a ceasefire in Israel-Palestine conflict.
"I call on all members of the international community to do everything in their power to enable the parties to conflict to step back from the brink," the UN chief told the General Assembly plenary meeting on the situation in the Middle East and Palestine.
"The fighting must stop immediately. I appeal to all parties to cease hostilities, now and I reiterate my call on all sides for an immediate ceasefire," he said.
"Access for humanitarian goods is paramount. Attacks by militant groups on areas surrounding crossing points are unacceptable," the top UN official stressed.
The secretary-general called for efforts to protect civilians, noting that "even wars have rules. First and foremost, civilians must be protected."
"Indiscriminate attacks, and attacks against civilians and civilian property, are violations of the laws of war," Guterres said. "So are attacks against military objectives that cause disproportionate loss of civilian life and injury to civilians."
There is no justification, including counterterrorism or self-defense, for the abdication by the parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, the UN chief stressed.
"I urge the Israeli authorities to abide by the laws governing armed conflict, including the proportionate use of force. I call on them to exercise maximum restraint in the conduct of military operations," said the secretary-general.
"I likewise urge Hamas and other militant groups to stop the indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars from highly populated civilian neighborhoods into civilian population centers in Israel, also in clear violation of international humanitarian law. Densely populated civilian areas must not be used for military purposes," he added.
According to the secretary-general, as of Wednesday, the continued air and artillery bombardment by the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza had claimed the lives of at least 208 Palestinians, including 60 children, and injured thousands more. The continued indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas and other militant groups towards population centers in Israel, resulting in at least 12 fatalities including two children, and hundreds of injuries, is also unacceptable.
Guterres commended the ongoing efforts of member states aimed at encouraging all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions and prevent further civilian casualties, and reach a cessation of hostilities.
"We must work towards a resumption of negotiations that will address the status of Jerusalem and other final status issues; end the occupation; and allow for the realization of a two-state solution on the basis of the 1967 lines, UN resolutions, international law and mutual agreements, with Jerusalem as capital of both Israel and Palestine," he said.
"The United Nations is deeply committed to working with Israelis and Palestinians, and with our international and regional partners, including through the Middle East Quartet, to realize a lasting and just peace," said the secretary-general.
President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Volkan Bozkir, convened the formal plenary meeting on Palestine and the Middle East in the General Assembly Hall in New York. The meeting consists of a debate under the agenda items on "The situation in the Middle East" and "Question of Palestine."
