United Nations, 6 October - The world community must not lose hope and must work to end the suffering that has engulfed the Middle East, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a speech timed to coincide with the anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants.
"It's time to release the hostages. It is time to silence the guns. It is time to stop the suffering that has engulfed the region. It is time for peace, international law and justice. The United Nations is fully committed to achieving these goals. In the midst of so much bloodshed and division, we must hold on to hope. Let us honour the memory of the victims, let us reunite families and let us put an end to the suffering and violence throughout the Middle East. And let us never stop working for a lasting solution to the conflict, where Israel, Palestine and all other countries in the region can finally live in peace, dignity and mutual respect," He said.
The UN Secretary-General said that Hamas "must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit these hostages". He pointed out that 'the war that followed the terrible attacks a year ago continues to destroy lives and cause deep human suffering for the Palestinians in Gaza and now for the Lebanese people'.
Tensions in the Middle East flared again on 7 October 2023, when Hamas gunmen launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking more than 250 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. In response, Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, where 2.3 million Palestinians lived before the crisis, and launched air strikes on Gaza and parts of Lebanon and Syria, before launching a ground operation in the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas military and political structures and free all those kidnapped.
In late November 2023, a humanitarian ceasefire was brokered by Egypt and Qatar for a week. During this time, according to Israel, 110 hostages were released. On 1 December 2023, the ceasefire was broken by the militants, fighting resumed and continues to this day. According to the latest Israeli figures, 101 people are still being held hostage by the militants in Gaza.
TASS/ gnews.cz - HeK
PHOTO - TASS/Vladislav Nogai
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