Akm Shehabuddin Kisslu: The UN chief condemned the killing of 12 civilians, mainly children and teenagers in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan and conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured.
Calling on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint,” Guterres sent his “deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives” while adding that “civilians, and children in particular, should not continue to bear the burden of the horrific violence plaguing the region,” according to a statement by the office of his spokesperson.
“Civilians, and children in particular, should not continue to bear the burden of the horrific violence plaguing the region,” said a note issued on Sunday by Mr. Guterres’s Spokesperson.
It went on to say that the Secretary-General calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and reiterates once again his consistent call on all concerned to avoid any further escalation.
“The exchanges of fire across the Blue Line must cease immediately. All parties must comply with their obligations under international law,” said the note, adding that parties must urgently recommit to the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701 and immediately return to a cessation of hostilities.
“We deplore the death of civilians – young children and teenagers – in Majdal Shams. Civilians must be protected at all times, said, respectively, envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro.
The two officials urged the parties to exercise maximum restraint and put a stop to the ongoing intensified exchanges of fire, fearing “it could ignite a wider conflagration that would engulf the entire region in a catastrophe beyond belief
