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Briefing by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator and Resident Coordinator at the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO). UN senior official for the Middle East Ramiz Alakbarov said that a return to conflict in Gaza "must be avoided at all costs," reiterating that the remaining deceased hostages must be released without any further delay, and the humanitarian assistance must enter the Strip "at scale.” Alakbarov told the Council that the UN and its humanitarian partners are working now to implement our 60-day response plan. The plan sets out concrete measures to streamline customs procedures, expand access routes, facilitate the entry of critical items, restore essential services, and ensure the safe movement of humanitarian personnel. The senior UN official added, “To fully meet our targets and ensure an effective response requires more crossings and functional relief corridors, safe passage for aid workers and civilians, unrestricted entry of goods, sustained entry of fuel, and operational space for the UN and NGO, including renewal of NGO registration – all in accordance with humanitarian principles.” On reconstruction, Alakbarov emphasized that it will “require a collective effort and should be Palestinian led.” “Working with the Palestinian Authority, international partners, civil society, and the private sector, the UN is prepared to mobilize and help coordinate these efforts in line with the ceasefire commitments and the New York Declaration, and building on the Arab Plan for Recovery and Reconstruction,” he added. The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process stressed that the world body will continue to “support all efforts to end the occupation and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in line with international law and UN resolutions, realizing a two-State solution – Israel and Palestine, of which Gaza is an integral part – live side-by-side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders on the basis of pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”
