<\/p>\n
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY\u00a0FARHAN HAQ,<\/strong> \/…<\/p>\n MIDDLE EAST<\/strong> He added that the operation comes after months of growing tension that once again reminds us of the extremely volatile and unpredictable situation across the occupied West Bank.\u00a0 All must ensure that the civilian population is protected, he said.<\/p>\n From the outset, Mr. Wennesland has been in direct contact with all relevant parties to\u202furgently de-escalate the situation\u202fand ensure humanitarian access and delivery of necessary medical and other supplies into Jenin.<\/p>\n \/…<\/p>\n **Questions and Answers<\/u><\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 So, the situation in Jenin, the Secretary-General and his representative, Mr.\u00a0Wennesland, have been calling for de-escalation for some considerable time.\u00a0 And you\u2019ve had the exact opposite.\u00a0 You\u2019ve had a major escalation and incursion by Israel.\u00a0 Does the Secretary-General condemn that action?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0At this point, we\u2019re evaluating the situation on the ground.\u00a0 The Secretary-General has spoken out about the violence in Jenin and in the West Bank in a statement we put out last week, I believe, and I would just refer you to the sentiments of that statement, which are reflected again today.\u00a0 It\u2019s very clear that he said that there\u2019s a need to avoid further escalation and what\u2019s happening today demonstrates that\u2026 exactly what his point was.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 And we\u2019ve had I think 15\u00a0attacks by drones from the air.\u00a0 Is this an acceptable use of force from Israel?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0We\u2019ve always said that it is not acceptable for there to be armed attacks in areas of high population density, and that\u2019s the case.\u00a0 All parties need to abide by international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Abdelhamid?<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 A follow-up, Farhan.\u00a0 A hospital was attacked this morning.\u00a0 A residential building, the third floor completely was razed to the ground.\u00a0 And all the roads were completely dug by Israeli bulldozers.\u00a0 And thousands of people are trapped, and they are preventing the ambulances to reach out to the wounded, which they are numbering 50\u00a0and maybe more; 10\u00a0of them are in critical conditions.\u00a0 And the only language we hear is de-escalation.\u00a0 Is this a flagrant case of aggression and excessive use of force or not?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0We certainly want all parties to avoid any excessive use of force, and that includes calling on them to avoid any attacks on hospitals, such as what you\u2019ve mentioned, and on civilian infrastructure.\u00a0 So, we will continue to do that.\u00a0 Edie?<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Thank you, Farhan.\u00a0 I was also going to ask about drone attacks in residential areas.\u00a0 Is this something that the Secretary-General is prepared to condemn?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0What I can say is we want all attacks that hit residential areas, highly populated areas of any sort to stop.<\/p>\n \/…<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Sorry, let me get back to Jenin.\u00a0 Today, Mr.\u00a0Tor Wennesland said on Twitter that he had been in direct contacts with all relevant parties to urgently de-escalate the situation.\u00a0 Do you have the information who Mr.\u00a0Wennesland has been talked to?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0He has regular discussions with counterparts on the various sides, including with the Israeli Government and their body, COGAT, that deals with the occupied territories.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 For this particular operation, for today, has he talked to them?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 He continues to be in touch with a range of parties.\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 The Israeli Government believe that terrorist groups use Jenin as a terrorist hub.\u00a0 That\u2019s why they started this operation.\u00a0 That\u2019s the reason the Israeli Government gave to the media outlets.\u00a0 When you see those drone attacks on the residential area, do you believe it\u2019s a counter-terrorism operation?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0Well, again, like I\u2019ve pointed out, attacks on heavily populated areas are violations of international humanitarian law.\u00a0 They must be avoided.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 And today, the White House said: \u00a0\u201cWe have seen the reports and are monitoring the situation closely.\u00a0 We support Israel\u2019s security and right to defend its people against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups.\u201d \u00a0Just want to know, first, are there any responses from the UN on this comment?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0We\u2019ve pointed out in the past that although Israel is able to carry out security operations, it has to do so in such a way that avoids civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Now, then do Palestinians have the right to defend?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0All people have rights and they have certainly the rights to protect themselves.\u00a0 What we want is to make sure that all parties de-escalate the situation on the ground.\u00a0 Yes, Evelyn?<\/p>\n \/…<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Thank you again.\u00a0 Tomorrow, the US celebrates its independence.\u00a0 They\u2019re celebrating the defeat of colonialist and foreign domination.\u00a0 Every country in the world celebrates that.\u00a0 Except one people, the Palestinians.\u00a0 Their struggle against foreign domination, foreign occupation is labelled as terrorism.\u00a0 Is there more double standard than this?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 I see that more as an editorial comment than as a question.\u00a0 And beyond that, Abdelhamid, it\u2019s simply not the case that they\u2019re the only people in the world living under occupation.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 My question now.\u00a0 You have been trying to avoid to use the word \u201ccondemn\u201d \u2014 with excessive force, with drones, with attacking hospitals, but Tor Wennesland did not hesitate one second when Palestinian attacked settlers to use the word \u201cstrongly condemn\u201d.\u00a0 Is there fairness in that?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 A week and a half ago, we came out with a statement that condemned the violence that occurred both from Palestinian terrorist groups and from settlers.\u00a0 Look back at the statement that we came out with.<\/p>\n Question<\/u>:\u00a0 So, you call them terrorists also?<\/p>\n Deputy Spokesman<\/u>: Look back at the statement we came out with a week and a half ago.<\/p>\n \/…<\/p>\n For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY\u00a0FARHAN HAQ, DEPUTY\u00a0SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANT\u00d3NIO GUTERRES MONDAY, 3 JULY 2023 \/… MIDDLE EAST Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned today that the current escalation in the occupied West Bank is very dangerous and follows months of mounting tensions. 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\nDEPUTY\u00a0SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANT\u00d3NIO GUTERRES<\/strong>
\nMONDAY, 3 JULY 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nTor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned today that the current escalation in the occupied West Bank is very dangerous and follows months of mounting tensions. He said that eight Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded by Israeli Security Forces fire during an Israeli military operation that began early this morning.<\/p>\n