He said in a press conference, “Further military escalation will only lead to more suffering, more destruction to communities in Lebanon and Israel, and more potentially catastrophic consequences for the region.”
. @antonioguterres He told reporters: Today I felt compelled to express my deep concern about the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line.
The risk of expanding conflict in the Middle East is real – and must be avoided. pic.twitter.com/LcqFT5AcmJ
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) June 21, 2024
The Secretary-General of the United Nations stressed that there are fears for the civilian population living on both sides of the border, as well as for the United Nations personnel responsible for guarding it, who remain on the front line of the exchange of fire.
He added, “The risk of expanding the conflict in the Middle East is real and must be avoided.”
According to the High Representative, the expansion of the conflict in Gaza along the Blue Line has so far caused loss of life, tens of thousands of displacement, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.
He warned that forest fires caused by explosions further devastate communities and the environment, while unexploded ordnance and remnants of war litter the landscape.
He stressed that “these pose additional threats to the residents of Israel and Lebanon, to humanitarian workers and the United Nations.”
Guterres called on the parties to urgently renew their commitment to the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for a complete cessation of hostilities.
In addition, he called for the protection of civilians, especially children, journalists and medical workers.
He stressed that cessation of hostilities and progress towards a permanent ceasefire is the only permanent solution.
The Secretary-General thanked the UN peacekeepers who remained on the ground to reduce tensions and help prevent miscalculations in an extremely difficult environment.
He stressed that “the United Nations fully supports diplomatic efforts to end the violence, restore stability and prevent further human suffering in a region that has witnessed so much,” stressing the need to reach a political solution.
Since October 7, the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel has also become the scene of confrontation, causing deaths and displacement of residents on both sides of it.
The border, guarded by the UN’s Blue Helmets, was established by the organization on June 7, 2000 to determine whether Israel had withdrawn from Lebanon.
Since then, an informal border has divided Lebanon and Israel, while UN Security Council Resolution 1701 requires the maintenance of a ceasefire and the departure of Israeli and Lebanese forces on both sides.
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