🕊️ United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made an urgent plea for peace on Thursday, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to prevent further destruction and loss of life.
Speaking from Japan during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Guterres stressed:
"It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza … to avoid the death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause."
He also condemned Israel’s recent approval of over 3,400 housing units in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. According to the UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, these settlements:
- Violate international law
- Threaten the viability of a two-state solution
- Risk cutting the West Bank into separate northern and southern parts
Israel’s Higher Planning Council authorized a total of 3,753 units, including 3,401 for final approval in the E1 neighborhood of Maale Adumim. Critics warn this project could create a continuous settlement belt, separating East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.
With tensions high, the UN chief’s call for an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza and a stop to settlement expansion highlights growing international concern over regional stability. 🌍✌️
Reference(s):
UN chief urges ceasefire in Gaza, condemns new West Bank settlements
cgtn.com
