Gaza ceasefire 'provides a glimmer of hope’: Türkiye's UN diplomat

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - Türkiye's charge d'affaires ad interim to the UN on Monday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire, saying it "provides a glimmer of hope."

Speaking at a high-level UN Security Council session on the Middle East, Asli Guven emphasized the "relentless warfare" that Gazans have endured for over a year.

"Now the ceasefire, although long overdue, provides a glimmer of hope. It is vital to ensure the full implementation of ceasefire agreements, make it permanent and deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza," she said.

Noting the importance of ensuring Israel's compliance with its commitments and establishing a permanent ceasefire, Guven urged Israel to withdraw from Gaza and ensure "unimpeded" humanitarian aid delivery.

"Gaza must receive urgent humanitarian relief, recovery, rehabilitation," she said, calling to support reconstruction efforts in the enclave.

"UNRWA (UN agency for Palestinian refugees) plays a central role in this regard," she added.

Guven said that Israel's attempts to obstruct UNRWA's activities violate its obligations under international law and "set a dangerous precedent for the UN and multilateralism itself."

Saying that the "root causes of the conflict" must be addressed to end the "vicious cycle of violence," she described "the ongoing illegal occupation and denial of Palestinian rights" as the major elements of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Türkiye firmly supports to tackle these underlying issues and remains committed to the two-state vision, which is the only viable solution for lasting peace. Establishing an independent, sovereign and contiguous state of Palestine based on 1976 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is imperative for a just and peaceful future," she said.

She called for intensifying efforts to end the illegal Israeli occupation and recognize Palestine as a full UN member in accordance with the UN General Assembly's resolution of September 2024.

"The crimes committed over the past 15 months must not go unpunished. Collective punishment, civilian deaths and attacks on humanitarian workers cannot be met with impunity," she said.

Saying that the Gaza genocide "has shaken the law-based international system," she said it "highlighted the importance of adhering to international law and humanitarian principles."

Guven noted that "peace negotiations" must be initiated immediately to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace.

"Only by addressing root causes can we ensure an end to suffering and create conditions for a lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East," she said, calling on the UN Security Council to "assume its responsibilities to this end" and pledged Türkiye's support in this regard.