UNITED NATIONS: Security Council member states have called for full adherence of Gaza ceasefire along with “the immediate need for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly in Gaza.” After blocking earlier drafts, the US delegation also supported the latest statement. The ceasefire was reached after the most deadly clashes between Israel and Hamas in recent years. A total of 248 Palestinians, including 66 children, and 12 Israelis including 1 child lost lives in the most recent round of hostilities between the two sides.

China had criticized the US for blocking an earlier draft at UN by the US delegation which said that “Security Council members condemned all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as acts of provocation, incitement and destruction.”

The blocked draft also included the emphasis on respecting the existing status-qup around the holy sites. The draft “expressed concern about the tensions and violence in east Jerusalem, especially in and around the holy sites, and urged for the respect of the historic status quo at the holy sites.”

The final statement, proposed by China, Norway and Tunisia, simply noted that the Council members “mourned the loss of civilian lives resulting from the violence.”

It supported a call from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the international community to work with the UN to develop a “robust package of support for a swift, sustainable reconstruction and recovery.”

The Council reiterated the importance of achieving a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where Israel and the Palestinians live side by side in peace with secure borders.

The statement also recognised “the important role Egypt (and) other regional countries” played in it, as well as the so-called Middle East Quartet, comprising the US, Russia, the European Union and the UN.

The Security Council is scheduled to take up the Israeli-Palestinian issue again Thursday during a regular monthly meeting scheduled before the violence broke out.

A day after the ceasefire took hold Friday, ending deadly Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave and the rocket fire out of it toward Israel, authorities were distributing supplies in Gaza, an AFP reporter said.

The UN said Saturday that at least 6,000 people had been made homeless in the territory controlled by the Hamas group.

Despite calls from the UN, Israeli state has failed to ensure a permanent end of hostilities, particularly around the Al Aqsa complex. Now, Israeli army and police is not involved in violating the sanctity of the holy mosque but right wing Zionist settlers are carrying attacks on worshipers inside the mosque. Usually, these attackers enjoy the protection of Israeli police.  Many experts in the region have called this new trend disturbing and a negative development. Israel will continue to play peaceful on diplomatic front, but violence against Muslims will continue, they fear.