Situation in the Gaza Strip/UNRWA operations – Daily press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for SecGen (excerpts)

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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** Gaza Update

On Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) says that it may be unable to continue its food distribution and other key operations in Gaza if the closure at Gaza’s crossing points continues.  Karen AbuZayd, the Agency’s Commissioner-General, says that UNRWA is about to run out of its own fuel supplies in two more days.  Although the Agency has sufficient food stocks in Gaza, it will not be able to continue its support to 860,000 Gaza residents past Wednesday if it lacks fuel to transport food or the nylon bags for food distribution.  Ms. AbuZayd warned, “It’s very cold here.  There’s no fuel, no water, little electricity.”

The Secretary-General, in a statement issued late Friday, appealed urgently for an immediate end to the violence now engulfing Gaza and affecting communities in southern Israel and reminded the parties once more of their obligation to comply with international humanitarian law and not to endanger civilians.

He warned that the decision by Israel to close the crossing points between Gaza and Israel, used for the delivery of humanitarian assistance, cuts off the population from much-needed fuel supplies used to pump water and generate electricity to homes and hospitals.  The Secretary-General called on Israel to refrain from actions that will harm the well-being of the general civilian population in Gaza.

The Secretary-General also expressed his deep concern that the hostilities taking place on the ground will undermine the hopes for peace generated by the political process begun at Annapolis.

In Geneva, the Human Rights Council will hold a special session this Wednesday, at the request of the Group of Arab States and the Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to consider and take action on “human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, including in Gaza and the West Bank town of Nablus.

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**Questions and Answers

Question:  Will the SG bring the situation in the Gaza Strip to the attention of the Security Council?

Spokesperson:  As you know, the Secretary-General has spoken about it.  Will he bring it to the attention of the Security Council?  I think the Security Council itself will decide on whether to discuss the situation in Gaza.  I did mention that the Human Rights Council is holding a meeting on that situation.

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For information media • not an official record