UN Security Council reviews situation in Middle East, highlights fragile ceasefires and humanitarian needs
NEW YORK — The United Nations Security Council convened to address urgent issues across the Middle East, focusing on humanitarian aid, political challenges, and security concerns in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, summarized the key points of discussion in a media briefing.
In Gaza, UN Secretary-General António Guterres commended the fragile ceasefire and the recent prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. Over 630 humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza, delivering essential relief to its two million residents. The World Health Organization expanded its medical services, tackling urgent health crises in the region. Despite these efforts, the UN underscored the need for ongoing international support to sustain peace and reconstruction efforts as displaced Palestinians begin returning to their homes after over a year of conflict.
Turning to Syria, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen raised alarm over escalating violence in the northeast, which has displaced countless residents and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. Over 400,000 people are without reliable access to electricity and water, and the lack of a political solution continues to cast uncertainty over Syria’s future.
In Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, highlighted the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The truce, brokered on 27 November, included the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the southern border. However, she warned of underlying tensions that could destabilize the fragile peace.
While progress was acknowledged in Gaza and Lebanon, the Council stressed the precarious nature of these developments. Continued violence in Syria, fragile ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, and widespread humanitarian crises point to the pressing need for sustained international engagement to foster lasting stability across the Middle East.