"RIYAD MANSOUR"

Informal comments to the media by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, on behalf of the chairman of the Arab Group and the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations, on the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeera TV, who was shot dead earlier today while covering an operation by Israeli security forces in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, told the Security Council on Monday that the last month has been marked by violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and terror attacks in Israel, which have killed and injured scores of civilians. UNIFEED

Informal comments to the media by Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, following Security Council consultations on the Middle East.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland said the international community should have “no illusions about the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict” adding that there has been “no progress towards realizing a two-state solution.” UNIFEED

Informal comments to the media by Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, on the situation in the Middle East following the Security Council's 8826th meeting.

Lynn Hastings, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council, “Beyond the human tragedy for both Palestinians and Israelis, and the physical damage of eleven days of fighting, the economic impact of the escalation in May has further exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis and severely weakened Gaza’s economy.” UNIFEED

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland said the recent events have “made clear once again the costs of perpetual conflict and lost hope” adding that the international community's approach to Gaza and the conflict as a whole “cannot be business as usual, and we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.” UNIFEED

Hybrid press briefing by Ambassador Sofiane Mimouni, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations and Chair of the Arab Group for the month of May 2021; along with Ambassador Abdou Abarry, Permanent Representative of Niger to the United Nations and Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for the month of May 2021; and Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.