UNITED NATIONS: Calling for an end to the war, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday admonished all parties participating in Gaza ceasefire talks, saying it was “clear” neither side was interested in a halt to fighting.

Speaking to CNN ahead of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Mr Guterres also cast doubt on the possibility of a ceasefire.

“It is for me clear that both sides are not interested in a ceasefire. And that is a tragedy, because this is a war that must stop,” he said, adding: “Neither the government of Israel nor Hamas really want the ceasefire”.

After an intensification of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah this week, the UN chief also warned of the risk of transforming Lebanon into ‘another Gaza’.

Guterres said: “What concerns me (is) the possibility of transforming Lebanon (into) another Gaza.”

Separately on Sunday, Egypt’s foreign minister warned of the risk of an all-out regional war as fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah intensified, saying the escalation “negatively impacted” Gaza truce talks.

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Egypt, which has been one of the main states facilitating the Gaza truce talks alongside the US and Qatar, has complete determination and commitment to continue efforts to broker a truce agreement, Badr Abdelatty said.

“All the components of the deal are ready,” Abdelatty said. “The problem is the lack of political will on the Israeli side,” he added.

Abdelatty also blamed Israel’s “provocative policies” for the intensified fighting with Hezbollah.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2024