DAVOS: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday warned that a “full-fledged confrontation” between Israel and Lebanon would be a “total disaster.” Guterres, addressing concerns of a wider war, stressed the urgent need for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza, where Israel continued relentless bombardment since October 7.
The Lebanese-Israeli border has witnessed near-daily exchanges of fire between Israel’s army and Hezbollah, a resistance movement in Lebanon. Guterres expressed deep concern about the ongoing spillover effect and underscored the imperative of avoiding a full-scale confrontation in Lebanon. “The spillover that is already taking place, the risk of a full-fledged confrontation in Lebanon, it would be a total disaster. We need to avoid it at all cost,” Guterres said.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Guterres pointed to Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have targeted shipping they consider Israeli-linked in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN chief asserted that addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza and implementing a humanitarian ceasefire were crucial to preventing further chaos.
“What we are seeing in the Red Sea, all this demonstrates that it’s not enough. It’s very important to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It’s very important to have a humanitarian ceasefire,” he said.
Guterres reiterated his call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, emphasizing that the present situation has underscored the centrality of the two-state solution in resolving the longstanding conflict.
Blinken Asks Israel to Support Palestinian Authority
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel to assist rather than impede the Palestinian Authority.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Blinken renewed his call for a “pathway to a Palestinian state” while expressing support for Israel’s aggression in Gaza.
Highlighting the imperative nature of a strengthened Palestinian Authority, Blinken stressed that Israel’s support was essential for its effective operation. He underlined that even the most capable Authority would face challenges with active opposition from any Israeli government, and cooperation was crucial for genuine security.
Addressing fundamental issues within the Palestinian Authority, such as corruption and transparency, Blinken asserted that these challenges required a partnership with Israel. While not directly commenting on Netanyahu’s government, Blinken posed a question about Israeli society’s readiness to engage in a two-state solution.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of lives. The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 24,448 Palestinians, mostly women, young children, and adolescents, were killed in Israeli bombardments and ground assaults.
