NEW YORK, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council Tuesday that there is no hope for long-term stability in Gaza without addressing the underlying causes of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Ban called for an end to the occupation that has grinded on for nearly half a century, a full lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip and effectively addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns.
As he briefed the Council, Ban said the Conference on Palestine which focused on Gaza's reconstruction surpassed expectations with pledges from some 50 countries amounting to USD 5.4 billion.
It is important that these promises quickly materialize into concrete assistance on the ground, he voiced.
Ban said USD 414 million is immediately needed for humanitarian relief, USD 1.2 billion for early recovery needs and USD 2.4 billion for reconstruction efforts.
More than 100,000 residents of Gaza remain homeless with over 50,000 still sheltering in UNRWA school buildings, and "many still lack access to the municipal water network, and blackouts of up to 18 hours per-day are common," he said.
The UN Chief urged the international community to move quickly to deliver much needed assistance, especially winter is approaching.
"I fully understand the security threat to Israel from rockets above and tunnels below," he said, "at the same time, the scale of the destruction in Gaza has left deep questions about proportionality and the need for accountability." The first supplies of urgently needed construction materials entered Gaza under the temporary mechanism brokered by my Special Coordinator, he noted.
Ban welcomed the offer by Turkey of a ship to serve as a temporary power plant and Israel's positive consideration of this arrangement, and stressed such cooperation needed now to alleviate the situation in Gaza.
Palestinians are taking critical steps to forge a united path to the future, he added.
An Intra-Palestinian reconciliation agreement followed by a historic meeting in Gaza of the Cabinet of the Government of National Consensus, is a positive step for a "united Palestinian Government." The national consensus government must be consolidated so it can assume its rightful responsibilities in Gaza, including deployment to the border crossings, he said.
The management of Gaza's borders is expected to facilitate the flow of construction materials into Gaza and allow the restoration of trade between Gaza and the West Bank.
"I also remain deeply concerned by unilateral actions, restrictions and provocations at the Holy Sites in Jerusalem," he said.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuآ’s assured Ban during his latest meeting in Jerusalem, of his Government's commitment to refrain from altering policies with respect to the Holy Sites that have been in place over many decades.
Ban said he was also concerned about mounting numbers of attacks by settlers and others as well as Israeli plans to relocate some 7,000 Palestinian Bedouins, the majority of whom are refugees, from their current locations in the central West Bank, including in the strategic E1 area. "Action of such if implemented in a forcible manner, would be contrary to international human rights and humanitarian law," he said.
He told the 15 member council that the cycle of build and destroy must end, and international community cannot be expected to continually pick up the pieces of another war and then pick up the bill.
He also welcomed the planned resumption of indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and the Palestinians, under Egyptian auspices in Cairo, and recognized the positive steps by Israel to ease restrictions on movement and trade in the West Bank and Gaza.
Ultimately, long-term stability requires a comprehensive peace agreement leading to a viable and independent Palestinian state, he affirmed.
The two-state solution is the only viable option for a durable peace, he said.
During his briefing, Ban also spoke about Syria, and recalled on all parties to step up to protect civilians in the town of Ain Al-Arab (Kobane). "It is just one of many places across Syria where civilians are under imminent threat," he said.
In addition to the barbarity of ISIL, the Syrian Government continued to brutally and indiscriminately attack populated areas, including with barrel bombs, he added.
"Our long-term strategic objective in Syria remains a political solution based on the Geneva Communique," he said.
Ban also made it clear that a "purely military response" to the vicious new threat posed by ISIL could ultimately contribute to the radicalization of other Sunni armed groups and spark a cycle of renewed violence.
He then urged for full support for his Special Envoy's efforts to reduce the suffering of the Syrian people and contribute to a political solution.
As for Lebanon, Ban said he is troubled by a dangerous escalation since the August attacks by ISIL and Al-Nusra Front on Arsal, as well as the latest fighting earlier this month between the Al-Nusra Front and Hezbullah outside the town of Brital.
He called the Lebanese parties to urgently demonstrate flexibility to open the way for the election of a President of the Republic of Lebanon without further delay.
In this context, the challenge of the refugee presence in Lebanon has become ever more complex, he said, and welcomed the upcoming meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon in Berlin on October 28.
Finally, Ban underscored the importance of ensuring calm continues to prevail along the Blue Line, as it is vital to the stability of Lebanon and the region. (end) mao.bs