UN / PALESTINE

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland urged all sides "to refrain from unilateral steps and provocations," and "take steps to reduce tensions” in Gaza, adding that “everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to stabilize the situation on the ground and avoid another devastating escalation in Gaza.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:19
• Production Date: 24 June 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Subject Topical: OCCUPATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; TWO-STATE SOLUTION
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 2636154
• Parent Id: 2636154
• Alternate Title: unifeed210624b

Description

STORY: UN / PALESTINE
TRT:3:19
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGAUGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 24 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

Shotlist

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

1.Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

24 JUNE 2021, NEW YORK CITY

2.Wide shot, Security Council
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“I urge all sides to refrain from unilateral steps and provocations, take steps to reduce tensions, and allow these efforts to succeed. Everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to stabilize the situation on the ground and avoid another devastating escalation in Gaza.”
4.Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian population centers from highly populated civilian neighborhoods by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or others is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and Palestinian militants must cease this practice immediately. Israeli authorities must also abide by the rules of international humanitarian law governing armed conflict and take all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of military activities.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“I remain deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In particular, I am concerned by the approval of a plan to expand the Har Homa settlement in East Jerusalem. If implemented, this plan would further consolidate the continuum of illegal settlements separating East Jerusalem from Bethlehem and other Palestinian communities in the southern West Bank. I am also concerned by the continued establishment of settlement outposts, illegal also under Israeli law. As we have seen, the recent establishment of Evyatar has already led to protests and clashes with tragic outcome.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“The continued demolition and seizure of Palestinian structures, including humanitarian projects and schools, is also deeply concerning. I call on Israeli authorities to end the demolition of Palestinian property and the displacement of Palestinians, and to approve plans that would enable these communities to build legally and address their development needs.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process:
“The UN remains committed to supporting the parties to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements in pursuit of achieving the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland urged all sides "to refrain from unilateral steps and provocations," and "take steps to reduce tensions” in Gaza, adding that “everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to stabilize the situation on the ground and avoid another devastating escalation in Gaza.”

Speaking to Security Council via a video link today (24 Jun), the Special Coordinator Wennesland reiterated that the cessation of hostilities reached last month between Israel and Hamas remains very fragile. He noted that the UN is working closely with all concerned parties and partners, including Egypt, to solidify a ceasefire, allow the entry of urgent humanitarian assistance and stabilize the situation in Gaza.

He also said that the reporting period witnessed an alarming increase in the level of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, including hostilities between Israel and factions in Gaza at a scale and intensity not seen in years.

Wennesland said, “The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli civilian population centers from highly populated civilian neighborhoods by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad or others is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and Palestinian militants must cease this practice immediately.”

He continued, “Israeli authorities must also abide by the rules of international humanitarian law governing armed conflict and take all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of military activities.”

Turning to several observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of Resolution 2334 during the reporting period, the Special Coordinator said, “I remain deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In particular, I am concerned by the approval of a plan to expand the Har Homa settlement in East Jerusalem.”

Wennesland explained, “If implemented, this plan would further consolidate the continuum of illegal settlements separating East Jerusalem from Bethlehem and other Palestinian communities in the southern West Bank.”
He also expressed concerns about “the continued establishment of settlement outposts, illegal also under Israeli law. As we have seen, the recent establishment of Evyatar has already led to protests and clashes with tragic outcome.”

“The continued demolition and seizure of Palestinian structures, including humanitarian projects and schools, is also deeply concerning,” said the Special Coordinator.

He called on “Israeli authorities to end the demolition of Palestinian property and the displacement of Palestinians, and to approve plans that would enable these communities to build legally and address their development needs.”

Wennesland reiterated, “The UN remains committed to supporting the parties to resolve the conflict and end the occupation in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements in pursuit of achieving the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.”