UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25 : United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d about the escalating conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, according to his spokesperson.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese actions put both the Lebanese and Israeli populations at risk, as well as threatening regional security and stability,\u201d said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in a statement on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Guterres emphasized the need for both parties to return to peace talks to prevent further jeopardizing the security of the region.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the UN\u2019s top Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, said on Sunday \u201cthere is no time to lose\u201d for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages.<\/p>\n
Posting on X, Wennesland said he had met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa following \u201cintense exchanges\u201d between the Israeli military \u2013 which said it had carried out large-scale pre-emptive strikes \u2013 and the Hezbollah based in southern Lebanon which said it had carried out an attack which has now been \u201ccompleted and accomplished.\u201d<\/p>\n
The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been attempting to broker a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas in Cairo, with Hamas reportedly agreeing to send a delegation this weekend to be briefed on progress, without directly participating.<\/p>\n
According to news reports, the current sticking point in negotiations is Israel\u2019s insistence on having a presence along the border between Egypt and Gaza known as the Philadelphia corridor and on the road that bisects the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n
Wennesland said the ongoing talks in Cairo \u201care crucial to saving civilian lives, reducing tensions and enabling the UN \u2013 in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority \u2013 to accelerate efforts to address the pressing needs of Gaza\u2019s long-suffering population.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added on X that \u201cwe need a ceasefire and the release of all hostages, now. There is no time to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, a joint statement released online by the UN Special Coordinator Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) called on Israel and Hezbollah to \u201crefrain from further escalatory action\u201d, and for all combatants in the region to cease hostilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cA return to the cessation of hostilities followed by the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 is the only way forwarded\u201d, UNIFIL tweeted.<\/p>\n
Resolution 1701 of 2006 calls for Israel and Lebanon to support a ceasefire and long-term peace settlement and \u201cthe need to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace\u201d in the wider Middle East.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25 : United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is \u201cdeeply concerned\u201d about the escalating conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, according to his spokesperson. \u201cThese actions put both the Lebanese and Israeli […]<\/p>\n
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