UN: ‘Collective effort’
The United Nations says Qatar, Turkey and Egypt have assisted in securing the 72-hour ceasefire, amid concern among Arabic nations about an apparent regional rise in hardline Islamism. UN statement:
We thank key regional stakeholders for their vital support of this process, and count on a continued collaborative international effort to assist Egypt and the parties reach a durable ceasefire as soon as possible
UN official Jeffrey Feltman:
The Egyptians played an important role, the Qataris played an essential role in helping bring the parties on board, the Turks were in touch with all sides. This was a collective effort.
Kerry: ‘Lull of opportunity’
Kerry urges both sides to use the unexpected three-day truce to secure a more durable agreement:
It is a lull of opportunity, a moment for the different factions to be able to come together with the state of Israel in an effort to try to address ways to find a sustainable ceasefire and then obviously, over a longer period of time, address the underlying issues
Ceasefire a time to try and figure out road ahead; it’s not a solution, it’s the opportunity to find durable solution. #Gaza
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) August 1, 2014
Three-day ceasefire
A 72-hour ceasefire takes effect at 8 a.m. in Israel, midnight Eastern Standard Time. The truce, announced unexpectedly overnight by Kerry during his visit to India and also by Ban Ki-Moon in New York, appears to be holding with fishing boats venturing offshore from Gaza beaches, while Israeli forces on the ground remain in place. The three-day timeframe is considered to be long enough to negotiate on key issues while allowing Israeli forces to complete their mission of destroying smuggling tunnels. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators will head to Cairo for talks during the ceasefire. Statement by Kerry and Ban:
We urge all parties to act with restraint until this humanitarian ceasefire begins, and to fully abide by their commitments during the ceasefire
Some fishing boats & kids swimming on #Gaza beach as 72 hours ceasefire went into effect. pic.twitter.com/5mR395VfVN
— Hazem Balousha (@iHaZeMi) August 1, 2014
UN: over 10% of Gaza population displaced
The United Nations issues a statement on conditions in Gaza. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos:
Humanitarian organisations in Gaza are trying to help people in desperate and dangerous circumstances. People need food, water, medical care, safe shelter and other vital assistance. More families are being displaced every day and there are currently over 250,000 confirmed displaced people, 200,000 people in UNRWA shelters alone, in need of aid. This is over 10 per cent of the overall population of Gaza. Our capacity is stretched to the limit. World Food Programme is providing emergency food assistance to 204,000 people in addition to the regular food programmes and shortages of basic supplies have been reported in local markets. Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation, people’s needs will continue to grow.
Rockets found in third UN school
Rockets are found in a school operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the central Gaza strip, the third such cache discovered in a UNRWA school since the start of Operation Protective Edge. UNRWA employs over 30,000 as the UN’s biggest agency.
‘Rockets in second school’
The UN Relief and Works Agency says it finds rockets in one of its schools in Gaza. The second such discovery in a week prompts the agency pledge a ‘comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Today, in the course of the regular inspection of its premises, UNRWA discovered rockets hidden in a vacant school in the Gaza Strip. As soon as the rockets were discovered, UNRWA staff were withdrawn from the premises, and so we are unable to confirm the precise number of rockets. The school is situated between two other UNRWA schools that currently each accommodate 1,500 internally displaced persons.
Israeli Foreign Ministry:
How many more schools will have to be abused by Hamas missile squads before the international community will intervene […] How many times can it turn its head the other way and pretend that it just doesn’t see?
UN: ‘Serious concern’
The UN expresses serious concern about rising numbers of casualties in Gaza, and issues a call for an immediate ceasefire as Israel launches fresh strikes in the Palestinian territory. The the international body’s 15-member Security Council is meeting as the death toll from Israel’s Operation Protective Edge rises to 476 after 120 people are killed in a single day in Gaza, the bloodiest day in the enclave since Israel’s 2009 offensive. Rwandan Ambassador Eugene Richard Gasana, whose country chairs the council:
The members of the Security Council express serious concern about the growing numbers of casualties
Envoy: UN has failed
The Palestinian Envoy to the UN Security Council says the international body has failed to take action to halt violence in Gaza, as the council expresses concern after the death toll from the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory reaches 476. Ryad Mansour:
The Council failed again and again to shoulder its responsibility
UN ambassador Ron Prosor says Israel agreed to earlier ceasefire offers from Egypt, and is acting in self defence.
Approves Prince Zeid as rights commissioner
The UN General Assembly’s 193 members unanimously approve Prince Zeid of Jordan as High Commissioner for Human Rights. He replaces the outgoing Pillay. Zeid:
I am going to be the first High Commissioner from the Asian continent and from the Muslim and Arab worlds. Needless to say this reflects the commitment of the international community towards this important dossier and its commitment to push it forward in this continent as well as in other regions of the world.
The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for all human rights, promoting international cooperation to protect human rights, coordinating related activities throughout the UN, and strengthening and streamlining the UN system in the field of human rights.
UN implicates Assad in war crimes
The UN’s human rights chief says an inquiry has produced evidence that war crimes are authorised in Syria at the highest level, including by President Assad. Commissioner Pillay says her office holds a list of others implicated by the inquiry. Pillay:
[The enquiry has produced] massive evidence… [of] very serious crimes, war crimes, crimes against humanity. The scale of viciousness of the abuses being perpetrated by elements on both sides almost defies belief. [The evidence indicates responsibility] at the highest level of government, including the head of state
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Mekdad is dismissive of Pillay’s remarks.
She has been talking nonsense for a long time and we don’t listen to her.