“That day left deep scars on individuals, families and the collective memory of the State of Israel and the world.” said Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, based in Jerusalem.
“Today we mourn the more than 1,200 people, including many women and children, who were murdered in cold blood. Even a year later, the cruelty is still unfathomable.”
Release all hostages
Mr Wennesland added that more than 250 people have also been kidnapped from Israel and taken to Gaza, and hostages continue to be held in horrific and unimaginable conditions.
“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those abducted. I carry their fear with me every day,” he said.
The envoy reiterated his call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups. In the meantime, they must be treated humanely and visited by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
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Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.
Commit to peace
Adding that the war “continues to destroy lives and inflict profound human suffering on Israelis, Palestinians and now on the people of Lebanon,” he called for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety and security of all citizens to guarantee.
“Violence begets violence, and in these moments of sorrow we must reaffirm our commitment to peace,” he said.
In New York, the president of the UN General Assembly lamented that the Middle East “has witnessed death, destruction and displacement for too long.”
Dialogue and diplomacy
Philémon Yang stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of the hostages and “a return to dialogue with a view to finding diplomatic solutions to the conflicts in the region.”
He added that no lasting peace will be achieved militarily, and only a two-state solution based on the UN Charterinternational law and relevant UN resolutions can guarantee lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the rest of the region.
“I call on all parties – Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah – to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. I also urgently call for the protection of civilians and unhindered access to much-needed humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Remembering survivors of sexual violence
Meanwhile, Pramila Patten, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, sincere solidarity with the victims of the October 7 attacks, their families and affected communities.
“Today we are united in remembering those who lost their lives and in the continued support of the survivors who bear the scars of that fateful day, especially the victims of sexual violence, a heinous crime that has devastating physical and has psychological consequences,” she says. said.
Ms. Patten recalled her mission to Israel earlier this year, which concluded that conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was committed during the attacks in multiple areas on the Gaza periphery, and subsequently against hostages during their captivity.
Moreover, there are reasonable grounds to believe that such violence against hostages continues.
Call for justice
The UN expert expressed her continued concern about the fate of the hostages still in captivity and reiterated her call for their immediate, safe and unconditional release. She also urged political leaders and those with influence over the warring parties to step up efforts to secure their release.
“One year after these horrific attacks, the victims, survivors and their families deserve justice. It is crucial to ensure full independent investigations into all allegations of sexual violence during or in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. My mandate is firm in its offer of support to the Israeli authorities in the pursuit of justice and accountability,” she said.
Death, destruction, destruction
The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, OCHAnoted that the attacks were the deadliest in Israel’s history “—a horrific event that foreshadowed the devastation caused by the Israeli response.”
The staggering toll includes more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals killed and nearly 5,500 injured, while more than 41,000 people have been killed and 96,900 injured in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry. Thousands more people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Nearly everyone in Gaza has been displaced, often multiple times, and there is no safe place to go. Citizens also face extreme hardship, with limited or no access to healthcare, food, electricity or humanitarian aid, and children have missed an entire year of education.
At the same time, schools housing displaced families have been repeatedly shelled, health workers and hospitals have been systematically attacked, and aid convoys have been continuously blocked and even shelled, OCHA said.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the use of lethal force by Israeli forces, along with rampant settler violence and home demolitions, has led to a sharp increase in fatalities, widespread destruction and forced displacement.
Commitment to deliver
Over the past year, Israel has blocked humanitarian access to and within Gaza, paralyzing aid operations. More than 300 aid workers have also been killed, the vast majority from the UN agency that assists Palestinian refugees. UNRWA. This is more than any other crisis, OCHA said, making Gaza the most dangerous place in the world for aid workers.
But despite the enormous risks, humanitarian organizations continue to provide aid wherever and whenever they can. They also vaccinated more than 560,000 young children against polio during the first phase of an emergency vaccination campaign.
OCHA said that while this is an example of what can be achieved when first responders can reach those in need, examples are few and far between.
“It has been 12 months of unrelenting tragedy – this must end,” said Joyce Msuya, UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
“Member States must exercise their influence to ensure respect for international humanitarian law and human rights and compliance with UN rulings International Court of Justice. They must also work to end impunity. An immediate ceasefire and lasting peace are long overdue.”
© UNOCHA/Themba Linden
A shredded UN flag flies over a destroyed school building in Khan Younis.
Time for courage: UNRWA chief
UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said the Middle East is “plunging deeper into conflict, massacres and sheer horror” a year after the “horrendous carnage”.
This has been 12 months of unspeakable suffering for the hostages, as the brutal war in Gaza has transformed the enclave into “an unrecognizable sea of rubble and a graveyard for tens of thousands of people, including far too many children.”
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the war, which has killed more than 220 UNRWA team members, the highest death toll in UN history.
“It is time for courage: a deal that would finally bring a ceasefire and respite for the people of Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the wider region,” he wrote in a message on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
He further said it is time to both lay down our arms after decades of killing and immense pain, and to safely release all hostages to their families.
“It is time to bring a standard flow of basic humanitarian goods, including to the hungry and sick in Gaza. There are no winners in wars. The only way out is a diplomatic and peaceful solution. It’s time to heal the wounds. It’s time to choose peace!”