Middle East: ‘No time to lose’ in Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks: Top UN envoy

Posting on X, Tor Wennesland said he had met Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa after “intense exchanges” between the Israeli military – which said it had carried out large-scale pre-emptive strikes – and the southern Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah – which said it had carried out an attack that was now “complete and finished”.

IN a statement released later in the day on the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said he was very concerned about the “significant increase in exchanges”.

“These actions endanger both the Lebanese and Israeli people and threaten regional security and stability.“, the statement issued by his Spokesperson continued, calling for “immediate de-escalation”.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to broker a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and the militant group Hamas in the Egyptian capital Cairo, with Hamas reportedly agreeing to send a delegation this weekend to hear reports on progress, without getting directly involved.

According to reports, the current sticking point in the talks is Israel’s insistence on a presence along the border between Egypt and Gaza known as the Philadelphia corridor and on the road that bisects the Gaza Strip.

Deal ‘crucial to saving lives’

Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Wennesland said talks are taking place in Cairo “is vital to saving civilian lives, reducing tensions and allowing the United Nations – working with the Palestinian Authority – to accelerate efforts to address the urgent needs of the long-suffering people of Gaza.“ .

“We need to cease fire and release all hostages now. There is no time to lose,” he added on X.

Previously, a joint statement published online by the United Nations Special Coordinator Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (United Nations) called on Israel and Hezbollah to “refrain from further escalatory actions” and for all warring parties in the region to cease hostilities.

“The return of the cessation of hostilities followed by the implementation of United Nations measures Security Council Resolution 1701 is the only way forward,” UNIFIL tweeted.

Resolution 1701 of 2006 called on Israel and Lebanon to support a ceasefire and a lasting peace settlement and “the need to achieve comprehensive, just and lasting peace” in the Middle East as a whole.