UN warns after Lebanon escalation that ‘there is no time to lose’ to reach agreement

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has called on Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip because “there is no time to lose” after incidents such as Sunday’s escalation, with hundreds of rockets fired from Lebanese territory into Israel and the Israeli response in the form of bombardments. “The ongoing negotiations in Cairo for a ceasefire and the release of hostages are crucial to save civilian lives and reduce regional tensions,” Wennesland said in a message posted on his social media account X. Wennesland stressed that if an agreement is finally reached, it could “enable the UN, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, to accelerate the response to the pressing needs of the long-suffering population of Gaza.” “We now need a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. There is no time to lose,” the UN official stressed in his message. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed his “deep concern” over the “significant increase in exchanges” of attacks on the border between Lebanon and Israel. “These actions endanger the Lebanese and Israeli populations and threaten regional security and stability,” Guterres said, calling for an “immediate de-escalation.” For its part, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, denounced these “worrying developments” and once again urged Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities and refrain from “further actions that escalate violence.” “The only sustainable path is a return to the cessation of hostilities, followed by the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701,” adds UNIFIL, which reiterates its commitment to “maintain contacts to strongly encourage a reduction” of this aforementioned escalation.