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UN official urges immediate release of Gaza hostages, calls for unhindered humanitarian access
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Summary
Miroslav Jenča told the United Nations that remaining hostages in Gaza must be freed immediately and unconditionally, called for large-scale, unimpeded humanitarian aid and warned that any expansion of Israeli military operations would risk catastrophic consequences for civilians and hostages.
Miroslav Jenča, speaking at the United Nations, urged the immediate and unconditional release of hostages held in Gaza and called for the rapid, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the territory, warning that expanded military operations could have "catastrophic consequences." "They must be freed now," Jenča said.
Jenča said the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel "continues to deteriorate," and stressed the scale of civilian suffering: he cited reports that about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, 28 of whom are thought to be deceased, and he quoted casualty figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health that place Palestinian deaths at more than 60,000 since the start of the conflict. He also said that since May, more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed and more than 8,100 injured while attempting to access food supplies, including near militarized aid distribution sites.
The United Nations speaker described recent footage and images of hostages as "appalling," saying released videos show people in obvious distress and that some accounts described forced abuse, including one scene Jenča summarized as a hostage apparently forced to dig his own grave. He said international law clearly prohibits hostage-taking and requires that detained persons be treated humanely and allowed visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Jenča reiterated the U.N. secretary-general's call for the "immediate and unconditional release of all hostages" and demanded that Israel "immediately allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of sufficient amounts of humanitarian relief for civilians in need to avert further suffering and loss of life." He said the aid being permitted into Gaza was "grossly inadequate" and that hunger was visible "in the faces of children and in the desperation of parents." He added: "There is no military solution to the conflict in Gaza or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Citing the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of July 19, 2024, Jenča said the court found obligations on Israel regarding settlement activity and presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. He called for political and security frameworks to relieve the humanitarian catastrophe, begin recovery and reconstruction, address legitimate Israeli and Palestinian security concerns and secure a sustainable two-state solution based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
The remarks acknowledged the presence of Eli David, identified in the transcript as the brother of one named hostage, and said Mr. David would address the meeting later. The transcript records no formal vote or decision attached to Jenča's remarks.
The speaker closed by repeating the four steps he said are necessary to end the fighting and suffering: a full and permanent cease-fire; the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; lifesaving humanitarian aid at scale and without obstruction; and guarantees of civilians' safe access to assistance.
