Outgoing Dutch minister Kaag becomes new UN Gaza envoy
Last week, the UN Security Council called for comprehensive humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip in a painstakingly negotiated resolution. In the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas, all sides must allow the "safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid on a large scale", it said. However, the resolution did not call for an immediate ceasefire.
The Gaza war, which has seen the most casualties to date, began on 7 October with the unprecedented attack on Israel by the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas. Hundreds of Hamas fighters committed atrocities, according to Israeli figures around 1140 people were killed and 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. 129 hostages are still in the Palestinian territory.
In response to the attack, Israel has been attacking the Gaza Strip ever since. According to the latest figures from the Hamas Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 20,900 people have been killed so far.
Kaag has been deputy head of government and finance minister in the Netherlands since January 2022. She previously held various senior positions within the UN, including as Special Representative for Lebanon and for the joint mission of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to destroy chemical weapons in Syria.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
- Houthi rebels want to launch further attacks despite international coalition
- USA forms military coalition against Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
- As the outgoing Dutch Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Sigrid Kaag, accepts her new position as the UN's Gaza envoy, she will aim to facilitate comprehensive humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.
- Significantly, the UN Security Council had recently urged all parties involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas to enable "safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid on a large scale" to the Gaza Strip.
- The Gaza Strip, which has been the epicenter of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, faces immense humanitarian needs, particularly after the recent escalation of violence that resulted in significant casualties.
- Prior to her role as the Dutch Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, Sigrid Kaag gained extensive experience working within the UN, serving as the Special Representative for Lebanon and playing a crucial role in the joint mission with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to destroy chemical weapons in Syria.
- Thus, the UN is counting on Sigrid Kaag's experience and diplomatic expertise to help reconstruct efforts in the Gaza Strip, harmonizing with the UN's goal to bolster peace and humanitarian aid in the region.
- The decision to appoint Kaag as the new UN Gaza commissioner follows the UN's commitment to promote stability in the Gaza Strip and ensure the delivery of essential aid, despite the tense political climate and ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas.
- However, the UN Security Council resolution did not call for an immediate ceasefire, leaving it up to the international community and the two warring parties to deescalate the situation and pave the way for sustainable peace in the Gaza Strip.
- Thus, as the international community grapples with the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the appointment of Sigrid Kaag as the UN's Gaza envoy showcases the UN's ongoing commitment to fostering peace and supporting humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Source: www.stern.de
