UN Security Council calls for protection of civilians in Gaza

According to Hamas, there are still obstacles in the indirect negotiations about a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of more hostages. She blamed the Israeli side for this.

“The parties were urged not to deny civilians in the Gaza Strip basic services and humanitarian support,” said a United Nations statement released in New York on Saturday (local time). Humanitarian aid was again called for.

• Also read: Hamas still identifies obstacles to Gaza ceasefire

In their statement, council members expressed “grave concern” that Gaza’s more than two million residents could face “alarming levels of acute food insecurity.” The UN Security Council reiterated its call to “enable and facilitate the immediate, rapid, safe, sustainable and unhindered delivery” of humanitarian assistance on a large scale. The statement also called on Israel to keep border crossings open for humanitarian aid and to allow additional crossings to open.

The Council member states also expressed concern about reports of the recent disaster surrounding an aid convoy in the north of the Gaza Strip, which Hamas said left more than 100 people dead and more than 700 injured when it arrived. The UN Security Council avoided direct blame. The statement said only that Israeli forces were involved when a large gathering of people surrounded a humanitarian aid convoy southwest of Gaza city. An Israeli investigation into Thursday’s incident is underway.

• More on the subject: USA has started airlift to Gaza

The main obstacle in indirect negotiations with Israel is the time limit for a ceasefire. A Hamas representative in Beirut, who did not want to be named, told the German Press Agency on Sunday night. Israel is maneuvering around the issue, it was said. Senior representatives of the US government, which, together with Qatar and Egypt, mediate between Israel and Hamas, said on Saturday that the framework for a possible agreement was in place and that the Israelis had “more or less accepted” it. A possible agreement depends solely on Hamas.

• Also read: Pressure on Israel after shots fired at aid convoy

A senior US official had previously said that the framework was in place for a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He again explained that Israel’s consent was there, but that the deal depended on whether the radical Islamic Hamas agreed to release the hostages. “The deal is basically already there. But I don’t want to raise expectations in one direction or the other.” There is no Hamas statement. Israel announced it would halt military activities for humanitarian purposes.

According to information from the Egyptian television station Al Qahera News TV, the mediation talks about a ceasefire are scheduled to continue this Sunday in Cairo. A day later, Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, is expected to hold talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, as the New York Times reported on Saturday (local time). Harris is expected to speak with Gantz about the urgency of a hostage release agreement that would allow a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as well as the need for more food and aid for Palestinian civilians, it said.

• More on the subject: EU Commission increases aid payments to Palestinians

The Hamas official said they were in contact with mediators and remained committed to finding a solution “to end the aggression against our people.” US government officials also said the talks were still ongoing. According to media reports, the mediators suggested that a six-week ceasefire should come into force before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10th. During this time, 40 Israeli hostages were to be exchanged for around 400 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas terrorists and other extremist groups killed hundreds of people and kidnapped around 250 hostages in the Gaza Strip in the attack on southern Israel on October 7th. According to Israeli estimates, there are still around 100 living hostages in the hands of Hamas.

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