ALBAWABA- At the UN Security Council session on the Middle East, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sharply criticized President Biden's proposed hostage deal, labeling it as "outrageous" and noting its rejection by Israel.
Lavrov emphasized the necessity for Palestinians to independently determine their fate without external interference and called for a comprehensive ceasefire to facilitate the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees.
Lavrov attributed the surge in Middle Eastern violence to the failure of American policies in the region, urging the implementation of UN Resolutions 242 and 338.
He reaffirmed Russia's support for Palestine's UN membership and highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, including infrastructural collapse and epidemic outbreaks. Lavrov stressed the urgent need for serious dialogue to halt the ongoing bloodshed.
Switzerland's special envoy to the Middle East asserted that Israel must refrain from making demographic or administrative changes in the occupied territories and noted that a ceasefire in Gaza would significantly contribute to regional stability.
The Israeli delegate to the UN identified Iran as the primary global threat, even more dangerous than ISIS, and criticized international neglect of Iran's influence in the conflict.
The Palestinian delegate condemned Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's aggressive policies, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, particularly targeting civilians, including children and journalists. He urged the Security Council to intervene and stop what he described as Netanyahu's war of extermination.
The British delegate advocated for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel, condemned the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and emphasized that a military solution would only prolong the conflict.
The American delegate highlighted ongoing efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a deal on Gaza.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations, asserting that the Middle East requires strong and determined leadership.
This statement followed reports of Israeli forces using internationally prohibited thermal weapons in Gaza, causing severe burns, and targeting UNRWA-run schools and displaced camps, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian casualties.
