International efforts to establish a truce and liberate Gaza hostages are progressing. The UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, warned that “there is no time to lose.” He said this after Israel launched large-scale preemptive strikes and Hezbollah retaliated from southern Lebanon, heightening regional tensions.
The US, Egypt, and Qatar are negotiating a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release arrangement between Israel and Hamas. A Hamas delegation has visited Cairo to obtain progress updates, but they have not actually participated in negotiations. Israel’s insistence on a deployment along the crucial Philadelphi corridor and the Gaza Strip’s main route has halted discussions.
Wennesland stressed that a Cairo agreement is “crucial to saving civilian lives” and easing regional tensions. Once a ceasefire is reached, the UN and PA will boost humanitarian activities in Gaza.
The UN has also urged Israel and Hezbollah to “refrain from further escalatory actions,” returning to UN Security Council Resolution 1701’s ceasefire. The 2006 resolution is the basis for a long-term Middle East peace accord.
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