In a bid to assess the dire situation in Gaza following the blocked ceasefire resolution, United Nations Security Council ambassadors embarked on an unofficial visit to Egypt. Organized by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, the one-day trip aimed to connect with Palestinian victims of the recent Israeli offensive.
Despite the urgency of the humanitarian crisis described by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a “graveyard,” the United States, which vetoed the ceasefire resolution, and France chose not to send representatives. Approximately a dozen ambassadors, including those from Russia and Britain, visited a hospital in El Arish near the Rafah border crossing, witnessing firsthand the aftermath of the conflict.
Wafaa Asaad, a 27-year-old Gaza resident, shared her heartbreaking story with the diplomats. Pregnant when her house was hit by an Israeli strike, she lost her husband and sustained injuries. Evacuated to Egypt for medical treatment, Wafaa miraculously gave birth shortly after having an arm and leg amputated.
Ecuador’s envoy, Jose de la Gasca, expressed deep emotional impact, stating, “I don’t ever want to see again what I have just seen. It’s horrible.” The diplomats were scheduled to visit the Rafah crossing, the sole gateway into Gaza, where departures are tightly controlled.
UAE envoy Lana Nusseibeh clarified that the trip was not official Security Council work but part of individual national initiatives. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, briefed the envoys on the worsening humanitarian situation, emphasizing the challenges in achieving a consensus for a ceasefire.
“Hunger is prevailing in Gaza. More and more people haven’t eaten for one day, two days, three days… people lack absolutely everything,” Lazzarini stated. The conflict, triggered by a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, has led to a devastating military offensive by Israel, resulting in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza
