The United Nations has again stressed the need for "maximum restraint by all" parties in the Middle East following the recent escalation of tensions in the region, urging for greater diplomatic efforts to address the situation during this "extremely sensitive time."
UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres' call for restraint during her address to the Security Council at an emergency meeting over the Middle East escalations on Wednesday.
The UN's top political affairs official noted that violence in the Gaza Strip has been escalating for months and that the situation in Lebanon is concerning.
DiCarlo emphasized that the appeals for all sides to show restraint are not enough at this stage, and highlighted the necessity of diplomatic initiatives to reduce regional tensions, while stating that the practice of sending messages through military means must stop.
"The Secretary-General has consistently called for maximum restraint by all. It is increasingly clear, however, that restraint alone is insufficient at this extremely sensitive time. Diplomatic efforts to change the trajectory and seek a path toward regional peace and stability are urgently needed. Communication by means of missiles, armed drones and other deadly attacks must end," she noted.
The UN emergency meeting came after tensions in the Middle East were inflamed by an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday targeted a southern suburb of Beirut, reportedly killing Hezbollah's top military commander, Fouad Shokor, who was allegedly behind a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 young people in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday.
This was followed on Wednesday by the death of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in the Iranian capital Tehran after his residence was attacked in an alleged Israeli assassination.
UN calls for diplomatic efforts to deescalate rising tensions in Middle East
A Chinese UN representative said the tension in the Red Sea is a prominent manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict at a Security Council briefing on Yemen on Thursday.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks while also calling on the Houthis to respect the right of commercial vessels of all countries to navigate in the waters of the Red Sea in accordance with international law.
"he tension in the Red Sea is a prominent manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict. It has been 11 months since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict and there is still no peace in sight. The negative effects of the conflict are increasing instability in the region. China once again urges the full implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza," said Geng.
The representative said China has always maintained that resolving the Yemen issue must rely on political and diplomatic means. He added that relevant parties should jointly advance a comprehensive political process that is "led by and owned by the people" and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation.
China looks forward to countries with influence on Yemen playing a constructive role and calls on the Yemeni government and the Houthis to work together to implement the agreements reached between the two sides on financial and aviation issues, Geng said.
A Greek-flagged oil tanker named "MV Sounion", carrying about 1 million barrels of crude oil, was attacked by Houthi forces on Aug. 21 with small arms, projectiles, and a drone boat. The situation escalated when Houthi forces released footage on Aug. 29 showing them boarding and placing explosives on the oil tanker, setting off blasts that put the Red Sea at risk of a major oil spill.
Geng expressed concern over the attack on the oil tanker, the possible oil spill, and the potential ecological and environmental impact.
He also pointed out that many provinces in Yemen are suffering from severe floods and the humanitarian situation has worsened. The international community should step up humanitarian assistance to Yemen, he said.
The deputy permanent representative also expressed grave concern over the detention of UN personnel in Yemen and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel.
Red Sea tension arises as manifestation of Gaza conflict spillover: Chinese UN representative
