The United Nations Secretary-General and other world leaders are attending Cairo Peace Summit which is intended to find a long-lasting solutions for people of Palestine and Israel which are caught in the middle of an ongoing conflict.
President Of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has called a special meeting with world leaders who are interested on finding lasting peace between Palestine and Israel as well as Middle East as a whole.
The summit is attended by these Arab participants which include Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas,Jordanian King Abdullah II,UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad,Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah,Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Ghiet.
The summit is also attended by different world leaders outside the Arab and Muslim countries,the attendees include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,European Council President Charles Michel,Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis,Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides,Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez,Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni,African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki,South African President Cyril Ramaphosa alongside a host of ministers and state representatives.
It is evident that all world leaders who are attending the summit are speaking in one voice of de-escalation of war in Gaza,pursue a ceasefire,and seek a resolution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict via the two-state solution.
An ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has killed and injured thousands of innocent civilians since 7 October 2023 in both neighboring countries.
The UN Secretary-General has spoken in depth against an ongoing conflict and the killing of innocent civilians both Israel and Palestine.
"We meet in the heart of a region that is reeling in pain and one step from the precipice.
"A region where it is impossible not to be rocked to the core by heart-wrenching,soul-searing images of suffering.
"Yesterday I went to the Rafah border crossing.
"There I saw a paradox--a humanitarian catastrophe playing out in real time.
"On the one hand,I saw hundreds of trucks teeming with food and other essential supplies.
"On the other hand,we know that just across the border,there are two million people--without water,food,fuel,electricity and medicine.
"Children,mothers,the elderly,the sick.Full trucks on one side,empty stomachs on the other.
"Those trucks need to move as quickly as possible in a massive,sustained and safe way from Egypt into Gaza.
"A 20-truck convoy of the Egyptian Red Crescent is moving today.
"And I want to express my deep gratitude to Egypt in this regard.
"But the people of Gaza need a commitment for much,much more-a continuous delivery of aid to Gaza at the scale that is needed,"said Antonio Guterres.
Guterres admitted that the issue of Palestine is not something new and must be not ignored anymore and also condemned the Hamas for assaulting Israeli civilians.
"The grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long.
"We cannot and must not ignore the wider context for these tragic events:the long-standing conflict and 56 years of occupation with no end in sight.
"But nothing can justify the reprehensible assault by Hamas that terrorized Israeli civilians.
"And those abhorrent attacks can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
"International humanitarian law-including the Geneva Conventions-must be upheld.
"That includes protecting civilians and not attacking hospitals,schools and UN premises that are currently sheltering half a million people,"Gutteres continued.
He called an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages.
"Our near-term goals must be clear,immediate,unrestricted and sustained humanitarian aid for besieged civilians in Gaza.
"Immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
"And immediate and dedicated efforts to prevent the spread of violence which is increasing the risk of spillover.
"To advance all these efforts,I appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire now,"Gutteres added.
He told the attendees that the only solution in this conflict is to give the Palestinians what is due to them which is an independent state.
"Our sustained collective efforts and resources have never been needed more.
"As we focus on ending the bloodshed,we cannot lose sight of the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability:a two-State solution.
"Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized,and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent state realized,in line with United Nations resolutions,international law and previous agreements.
"The time has come for action.Action to end this godawful nightmare.
"Action to build a future worthy of the dreams of the children of Palestine,Israel,the region and our world,"Guterres concluded.
The words of the UN Secretary-General were echoed by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees(UNRWA) representative when addressed the world leaders at Cairo Peace Summit.
"For the past two weeks,the war has continued,unabated.
"In the Gaza Strip,relentless air strikes and bombardments,coupled with evacuation orders issued by the Israeli Forces,have displaced nearly 1 million people and caused the death and injuries of far too many civilians.
"Half a million people are currently sheltering in UNRWA facilities across Gaza Strip.They have come to these UN facilities in search of safety,and protection.In Khan Younis and Rafah-in the south of the Gaza Strip-shelters have become overcrowded.Many have taken refuge in UNRWA buildings that were not set up to be shelters where the living conditions are just untenable.
"Civilians-wherever they are-must be protected.The life of all civilians,the integrity of all UN facilities and premises,as well as civilian infrastructures,including hospitals must be shielded from harm and protected at all times under international humanitarian law.
"I emphasize that since the war began on 7 October,UNRWA has been regularly providing the coordinates of all facilities across the Gaza Strip to all relevant parties.Nevertheless,at least 35 UNRWA facilities have been impacted so far,some were directly hit.
"We are devastated to receive continuous reports of civilians killed in Gaza,including at UNRWA.To date,17 of our colleagues have been confirmed killed in this vicious war.Very sadly,the actual numbers are likely to be higher.Some of our staff were killed with their families while sleeping in their beds at home.
"No words can describe the levels of condemnations of all atrocities and violations,everywhere.I-once again-recall the non-negotiable legal obligations incumbent on all parties to the conflict to protect the lives of civilians,wherever they are,at all times,and to refrain from attacks on civilian facilities,including schools,hospitals,places of worship,and civilians' homes,including those of UNRWA staff.These are basic,moral imperatives of our collective humanity.
"Let me be clear:protecting civilians in times of conflict is not an aspiration or an ideal;it is an obligation and a commitment to our shared humanity.
"I echo the calls from the UN Secreatry-General on all parties to reach an urgent humanitarian ceasefire.This is the only way out of this mayhem;any other way will plunge Gaza-and the world-deeper into fathomless,dark depths,"said UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.