The recent bombardment of Israeli troops by Hezbollah in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras has reignited tensions in the region, rekindling fears of renewed clashes between the two opposing sides. The escalation of violence comes at a time of increasing Israeli ground incursions on the border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah fighters said they targeted Israeli forces in Maroun al-Ras with a salvo of rockets, in direct response to the Israeli incursions. The move was preceded by other attacks on military positions in northern Israel, heightening already palpable tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Hamas, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamist movement, claimed responsibility for a barrage of rockets on Tel Aviv, a year after the unprecedented attack that sparked the war in Gaza. This attack, which occurred on October 7, 2023, caused the death of 1,205 people and the disappearance of 97 hostages, whose fate remains uncertain.
The UN, through its Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, stressed the importance of condemning the acts of violence perpetrated by Hamas, while expressing its solidarity with the victims and their families. He called for the release of the hostages and a return to peace in the region, stressing the need to end the suffering that is shaking the Middle East.
Since the attack of October 7, 2023, the region has been the scene of an escalation of violence and suffering, affecting both the Palestinians in Gaza and the Lebanese people. In this context, the UN calls for unity and action to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict, the only way to true and lasting peace in the region.
As the victims of the recent clashes are honoured and the families of the missing desperately await answers, it is imperative that efforts for peace, mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of conflicts continue, in order to offer Israel, Palestine and all countries in the region the opportunity to live in harmony and dignity.
In conclusion, there is an urgent need to put an end to the spiral of violence that is tearing the Middle East apart, by working together for a lasting peace and a future where tolerance and dialogue will prevail over hatred and violence.