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UN envoy: Israeli policies in Gaza ‘escalates violence’

October 14, 2016 at 4:30 pm

United Nations (UN) Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov on 1 September 2016

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov yesterday expressed concerns over the situation in Gaza, and urged Israel to understand that its policies only “escalates violence”.

In a statement, Mladenov stressed that Israeli authorities must come to an understanding that policies adding pressure to the besieged Gaza Strip would only serve to “escalate violence”, adding that the UN aimed to “maintain peace and calmness in the region”.

He pointed out that Israel is seeking to “lessen its siege” on the Gaza Strip, which has been under a tightly controlled Israeli-imposed siege for nearly a decade, but said Israel was not doing enough to lessen the blockade.

Mladenov stressed that the “current calmness” must be maintained by focusing on reconstruction and economic development in the Gaza Strip.

During his visit to Gaza, the UN envoy met with Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Mufid Mohammed Al-Hasayna to discuss the latest developments related to reconstruction.

Al-Hasayna emphasised the oncoming crisis expected during the winter for Palestinians whose homes were demolished during the devastating 2014 Israeli offensive on Gaza, as some 75,000 Palestinians still remain displaced after losing their homes.