UN Mideast Envoy Calls for Urgent Measures against Gaza Crisis

New York,1 Ramadan 1438/27 May 2017 (MINA) – The UN Middle East envoy warned the Security Council on Friday, that unless urgent measures are taken to de-escalate Gaza crisis, its risks spiraling out of control with devastating consequences for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickloay Mladenov was quoted by KUNA as telling the Security Council that during the past month, the complex dynamics on the ground are however creating an explosive environment.

Since April, Mladenov confirmed that the majority of Palestinians in Gaza are receiving about four hours of electricity per day.

“For months, the UN has warned that without addressing the structural problem of Gaza’s electricity supply, we would face a humanitarian crisis,” he added.

He also expressed his concern by the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinians detainees protesting against their conditions in Israeli jails, which, on the eve of the Ramadan, has now entered its 40th day.

Mladenov told the 15-memebr body, that according to reports, the Israel Prison Service has evacuated at least 60 hunger striking prisoners to hospitals because their medical condition had worsened, while another close to 600 prisoners have been moved to infirmaries set up in the prisons.

“I call for a re-doubling of efforts to end the strike as soon as possible. The crisis must be resolved in line with International Humanitarian Law and Israel’s human rights obligations,” he voiced.

Israel’s almost 50-year occupation and settlement enterprise are untenable and must end through meaningful negotiations that address all final status issues, he concluded. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)