NEW YORK – Slovenia’s UN envoy and president of the Security Council for September said Tuesday that Security Council members’ patience is running out and the body will likely consider taking action if a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip is not reached soon.
“There is growing concern in the council that there needs to be some form of action, either a ceasefire or the council should consider what we can do to achieve a ceasefire,” said Slovenia’s UN envoy, Samuel Zbogar.
“I am absolutely certain that in September things will have to go… one way or another, not because we want to, but because I think patience has run out,” he told reporters.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday questioned how the warring parties in Gaza could agree to a ceasefire to allow some 640,000 Palestinian children to be vaccinated against polio but not to a ceasefire.
“If parties can act to protect children from a deadly virus… then they can and must act to protect children and all innocents from the horrors of war,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres.
The 15-member UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2735 in June, endorsing a three-stage plan put forward by US President Joe Biden to cease fire in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas.
But mediation efforts, led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, have yet to result in an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian factions movement.
Reuters
#Slovenia #Security #Council #running #patience #Gaza #truce #talks
2024-09-04 18:17:41
