AHLC and other reports

29 November 2022, New York

Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

We commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at a time of diminished hope for peace.

I am deeply saddened by the growing number of Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives in the spiral of violence engulfing the occupied West Bank. Each casualty fuels fear and yet more violence. I urge all parties to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and break this deadly cycle.

The long-standing drivers of conflict – including the ongoing occupation, settlement expansion, home demolitions and evictions – heighten anger, despair, and hopelessness.

Meanwhile, Gaza continues to endure debilitating closures and humanitarian crises. I reiterate my call on the parties to engage to end the closures of Gaza and improve living conditions of all Palestinians.

UNRWA remains a vital lifeline for Palestine refugees.

I commend the donors for their support and urge all to step up and provide predictable and sufficient funding to enable UNRWA to fully deliver on its mandate.

The United Nations’ position is clear: peace must advance – the occupation must end.

We are steadfast in our commitment to realize the vision of two States – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

Together, let us reaffirm our support to the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, justice, security, and dignity for all.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on
Algiers Declaration by Palestinian groups

The Secretary-General welcomes the signing on 13 October of the Declaration of Algiers by 14 Palestinian factions as a positive step towards intra-Palestinian reconciliation. He encourages all factions to overcome their differences through dialogue and urges them to follow up the commitments included in the Declaration, including the holding of elections.

The Secretary-General underscores the importance of Palestinian reconciliation for a politically stable, economically viable, sovereign and independent State of Palestine.

The Secretary-General greatly appreciates the efforts to this end of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and, notably, of President Abdelmajid Tebboune.

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

New York, 15 October 2022

Statement by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process,

Tor Wennesland, on the situation in the occupied West Bank

Jerusalem, 8 October 2022

“I am alarmed by the deteriorating security situation, including the rise in armed clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Since the beginning of the year, at least 100 Palestinians have been killed, including children, amid a significant increase in Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank, including in Area A. During the same period, 16 Israelis have been killed inside Israel in a wave of terrorist attacks by Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.

The mounting violence in the occupied West Bank is fueling a climate of fear, hatred and anger. It is crucial to reduce tensions immediately to open the space for crucial initiatives aimed at establishing a viable political horizon.

I urge, and remain actively engaged with, Israeli and Palestinian authorities to restore calm and avoid further escalation.

The fragility of the situation underscores the urgency of changing the dynamics on the ground, while addressing the underlying security and political issues that are fueling the current instability.”

[ENDS]