UN chief says it is time for a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East

Conference on Disarmament at United Nations in Geneva

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers his statement in Geneva Source: AAP / Salvatore Di Nolfi/EPA

Concerns mount over a fragile Gaza ceasefire deal as Israel delays its release of 620 Palestinian detainees. Israel says West Bank raids are a security measure as the United Nations and European Union warn against mass displacement and violence. Food shortages persist in Gaza despite doubling of monthly World Food Program deliveries.


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TRANSCRIPT

"It’s time for a permanent ceasefire, the dignified release of all remaining hostages, irreversible progress towards a two-State solution, an end to the occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with Gaza as an integral part.”

In an expression of grave concern to the United Nations Security Council, Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed the importance of maintaining a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

With Israel refusing to release the 620 Palestinian detainees scheduled in last weekend's hostage exchange, the deal's progression into phase two is facing a major hurdle.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, says the release will not occur until Hamas agrees to Israel's conditions.

"So we have seen the horrible parades, and it is not part of the framework we agreed upon, and we want to make sure that it will not continue. So yes, we are delaying the release of the terrorists that were supposed to be released, and we want to make sure that they in the future and we have more hostages that should come home in the near future."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says the return of Israeli hostages by Hamas was conducted in a humiliating way, accusing the group of violating the ceasefire.

The ceasefire deal does not categorically define how Hamas and Israel should release detainees.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, former Palestinian Liberation Organisation adviser and author Xavier Abu Eid says Israel's release of Palestinians has also been humiliating.

"If we are to talk about humiliations, it will be important to listen from Palestinian prisoners that, before being released, have been left without food for 24 up to 36 hours have been tortured, have been made to be in a cell of five or two metres (with) 40 or 50 people. Have not been given the right clothes for the winter weather, we have now. In general, we're talking about several violations."

Hamas, in turn, says Israel's violation of the deal is jeopardising the entire agreement.

With Mr Netanyahu warning that Israel is ready to resume fighting in Gaza at any moment, Hamas says he is intentionally sabotaging the deal.

Bassem Naim is a member of Hamas' political bureau; he told Al Jazeera that the deal will not progress until Israel fulfills its obligations.

"Unfortunately, all the time, Netanyahu and his government were trying to undermine the deal, to sabotage the deal. They have committed a lot of violations, killed more than one hundred Palestinians, prevented most of the basic needs of the Palestinians to enter the Gaza Strip, and lastly, he has refused to release more than 600 Palestinians prisoners according to the deal."

With the bodies of four Israeli captives due for release in the next week, Mr Naim says there may be a delay if Israel doesn't budge.

Following the last release, Hamas released a video of two hostages pleading with Mr Netanyahu to work for their release.

Ilan Dalal is the father of one of the hostages shown - he says the deal must be upheld.

"I want to tell the prime minister and all the people that get decisions: Just look at the eyes of these young men, see how they're frightened. And know that if you do not get them back, you are sentencing them for death."

In Europe, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has held talks with EU officials on the future of the occupied Palestinian territories.

In a press conference after the meeting, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas told reporters that progression to phase two of the deal is crucial.

"We are closely watching developments and cannot hide our concern when it comes to the West Bank. The ceasefire is a real chance to break the cycle of violence. It is imperative that we now move towards a second phase. Ministers today stressed that there can be no other solution than the two-state solution. We support the Palestinian Authority and its return to Gaza. We support the return of every displaced Palestinian for whom Gaza is their home."

Days after the ceasefire in Gaza was announced, Israel launched large-scale military raids on the occupied West Bank.

Following the explosion of several empty buses in Tel Aviv last week, Israel has, for the first time in over 20 years, sent tanks into the occupied territory.

Israel says the explosives used in the buses resemble those used by militants in the West Bank, though no group has admitted responsibility.

Gideon Saar says Israel is just defending its security.

"What we are doing in, what you call 'West Bank' and we call 'Judea and Samaria', is defending our security. It's military operations taking place there against terrorists and no other objectives but this one.”

In both the Tulkarem and Jenin refugee camps, Israel is demolishing homes with explosives, leaving the previously packed camps virtually empty.

Armoured bulldozers, which Israel says are used to clear roads from explosives, are upturning tarmac and cutting water pipes around the refugee camps.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says Israel's use of "lethal war-like tactics" in residential areas "appears to exceed law enforcement standards."

Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Israel is using fear to justify military aggression.

"The aim of all these policies is to say, ‘I do not feel safe, I will follow a preventive security strategy, the way to do this is through occupation, the way to do this is through military aggression, the way to do this is a policy that will bring under control all the countries around that have Arab and Muslim populations.”

Militant group Islamic Jihad says the deployment of tanks into the West Bank, which has displaced at least 40,000 people, may be a step toward annexation.

As violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has surged, so too have calls to annex it, most notably by Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Inside the West Bank, 53-year-old Nazmi Turkman says there are fears Israel will not allow them to return to their home.

"Right now, I’m living here waiting to return to the Jenin camp. We are staying here in this association until we can go back to Jenin camp. Every day, we try to go back to the camp, hoping to enter, but they (the Israeli army) prevent us. They’ve set up checkpoints, placed tanks, and stationed soldiers. Even drones are flying above the people. No one is allowed to enter the camp at all. God willing, we will return soon."

In Gaza, the World Food Program says since the ceasefire, the monthly average of food being delivered has doubled.

Antoine Renard is the World Food Program representative in Palestine.

“Thanks to the ceasefire, the World Food Program has been able to reach within a month one million people. They have the right level of food parcels, the wheat flour bag is being provided, the bakeries are up and running, we have more than 25 that are out there, we managed to have more trucks, more capacity, more logistic outreach, yet at the same time it's only a month into the ceasefire. It is very fragile. We need to make sure that it is sustained because the situation remains very dire.”

Despite this, people living in Gaza are still struggling to feed their families, with many waiting hours every day for a package of bread.

Humanitarian groups say aid distribution is complicated by destroyed or damaged roads, Israeli inspections and the threat of unexploded bombs.

Hadeel Safi lives in Gaza city and says while more food is coming in, it is not enough to feed everyone.

"I am forced to wait, sometimes for three or four hours. In addition to that, one pack is not enough. The bakery doesn’t give us more than one pack, so I am forced to wait for a second or third time."


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