UN urges release of hostages, cease-fire

A year after Hamas launched attacks on Israel, the United Nations on Monday reiterated calls for the release of all hostages and for an immediate cease-fire.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict that erupted since that day has expanded across the Middle East, affecting countries such as Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and Syria.

On Monday, the Israeli military announced airstrikes on Hamas positions in Gaza to mark the anniversary of the Oct 7, 2023, attacks. On that day, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel in an attack that killed more than 1,100 people. More than 200 were taken hostage, with many of them still being held today.

Meanwhile, on Monday, heavy explosions rocked southern Beirut again, as Israeli forces continued to bombard the city. A Hezbollah rocket attack on Haifa, Israel, injured at least 10 people, according to Al Jazeera.

China calls for the "effective respect of the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all countries, opposes all acts that violate basic norms governing international relations, and condemns all violent attacks against civilians", Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said Monday during the UN General Assembly on reforming the UN system. 

"Palestine's long-held aspiration to establish an independent state should not be shunned anymore, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people should not be ignored any longer," Fu said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday issued a video message calling on Hamas to release hostages.

"This is a day for the global community to repeat in the loudest voice our utter condemnation of the abhorrent acts of Hamas, including the taking of hostages," Guterres said.

"I demand once again the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Until then, Hamas must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit those hostages," he said.

The UN's top official did not criticize Israel in his statement, which led some reporters to describe it as "unbalanced" during the news conference.

Guterres' statement does not contradict what the secretary-general has said since, regarding the Palestinian people and Lebanon, said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the secretary-general. It specifically condemned the Hamas attacks and does not imply any change in the secretary-general's stance, Dujarric said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz last week declared Guterres "persona non grata" in Israel and banned him from entering the country.

The Israeli mission to the UN held a memorial service for victims of the Oct 7 attacks at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, and did not invite the UN secretary-general.

Iran launched approximately 180 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel last week in what Teheran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said on Monday that the nation is deciding when and where to retaliate against Iran for the missile barrage.

"It will happen … it will take place," said Danon. "There will be a response," and Iran "will pay the price for their actions", he said.

UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang on Monday released a statement calling for "an immediate cease-fire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a return to dialogue with a view to finding diplomatic solutions to the conflicts in the region".

"I call for all parties — Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah — to abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. I also urgently call for the protection of civilians and the unimpeded access to the much-needed humanitarian assistance," Yang said.

According to data released by the Gaza Ministry of Health on Sunday, in the past 24 hours, the Israeli military operation has caused 45 deaths. Since Oct 7, 2023, more than 40,000 people have been killed, the ministry said.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com