Secretary-General/Cyprus, Refugee Convention, Security Council & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

How are you? Good afternoon, everyone. Tomorrow, my guests will be Julian Harniss, who is the UN Senior Ebola Coordinator, and Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme. They will both be joining us virtually from Bunia in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to update us on the Ebola response on the ground. The Secretary-General is currently in Cyprus. His visit comes as part of his Good Offices mission and to show his strong commitment to the Cyprus issue. Earlier today, he met separately with Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, leader of the Greek Cypriot community, and with Mr. Tufan Erhurman, leader of the Turkish Cypriot community. Following his meetings, the Secretary-General emphasized that this is a visit of solidarity with the people of Cyprus, and that he will do everything he can to support the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in this very important moment. The Secretary-General held a number of meetings today, including the co-chairs of the technical committees and civil society representatives. The Secretary-General also visited the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, which is the island's oldest bicommunal institution, as well as the Committee's Anthropological Laboratory. The Secretary-General visited the UN Buffer Zone, where he laid a wreath at the permanent monument dedicated to the service and sacrifice of all the peacekeepers who have served on the island since 1964. The monument honors the memory of the 187 peacekeepers from 11 countries who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace in Cyprus. He then toured the buffer zone. Later today, the Secretary-General will have a joint dinner with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. He will continue his engagements in Cyprus tomorrow. Today is the 75th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the Secretary-General said that the Convention has saved millions of lives and stands among the clearest expressions of our common humanity. Today, he warned, that promise is under strain. Conflicts are multiplying, persecution persists, and growing numbers are forced to flee. Meanwhile, the right to seek asylum is too often questioned, restricted, or denied. The Refugee Convention is not a relic of another era, Mr. Guterres said. It remains as necessary today as when it was adopted. It is not an obstacle to be circumvented. But a foundation to be upheld through access to protection, fair and humane asylum procedures, and full respect for the principle of non-refoulement, all without discrimination. It also means rejecting policies that externalize protection responsibilities or penalize people for seeking safety or make protection conditional on nationality, religion, ethnicity, or route of arrival. He calls on every member state to renew its commitment to the letter and spirit of the Convention, and to choose solidarity over indifference, and humanity over fear. The full statement is online. Also, on the anniversary of the Refugee Convention, 75 leading figures from across society have joined— have today joined the UN Refugee Agency in launching The Promise, a global statement of solidarity with refugees. Convened by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Saleh, the initiative aims to build a global coalition in support of refugee protection at a time when the international system faces growing challenges. Among the signatories are actor-filmmakers Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, and Ben Stiller, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Malala Yousafzai, Nadia Murad, and others. Their participation reflects broad support from across society for protecting the right to seek asylum and standing in solidarity with refugees. Remiz Al-Akbarov, the Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council this morning, and he warned that the situation in the West Bank is rapidly deteriorating. This is compounding the already alarming conditions across the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, with a wider escalation increasingly likely unless immediate steps are taken to reverse course, he said. Mr. Alakbarov said that the situation in Gaza has improved somewhat, but progress is far too slow. Recent weeks have seen some welcome progress in clearing solid waste from key areas and coordinating the entry of desperately needed sanitation equipment and supplies. These are relevant steps, he said, but they remain highly insufficient in the face of the immense needs on the ground. Meanwhile, the Deputy Special Coordinator said that in the past week, The escalating violence in the West Bank has resulted in civilian casualties, displacement, damage to property, and growing insecurity across affected communities. He urged Israel to take immediate and effective measures to prevent settler violence, protect Palestinian communities, and ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable. And he added that Palestinians must unequivocally reject violence and incitement and take all necessary measures to prevent attacks against Israelis. Turning to the occupied Palestinian territory, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that the reported instruction by Israeli leadership for the military to take over a 4th refugee camp in the West Bank could have a devastating humanitarian impact on thousands of people. Since last year, Israeli operations in the camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams have displaced more than 30,000 people, including children, and destroyed homes, livelihoods and essential services. These operations have also deepened humanitarian needs. All the while, the ability of local authorities and international humanitarian organizations— first and foremost, our colleagues from the UN Relief and Works Agency— to help those affected is impeded through harsh restrictions and financial constraints, resulting in people's needs remaining largely unmet. This reported announcement comes amid an escalation in violence across the West Bank, involving settler attacks, operations by Israeli forces, confrontation with Palestinians, the use of lethal force, and further displacement of Palestinian families. Yesterday, there was a question about the Nablus area. I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns the attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, including the reported arson attacks on 2 mosques, vandalism of private property, and attacks targeting Palestinians and their livelihoods. Attacks against places of worship are heinous and unacceptable and risk further inflaming an already volatile situation. The Secretary-General calls for those responsible to be swiftly identified and held accountable, in line with Israel's obligations under international law. The Secretary-General further calls on the Israeli authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent further attacks by settlers against Palestinians and their property, including places of worship, and to ensure the protection of civilians. The Secretary-General urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint, prevent any further escalation, and take immediate steps to restore calm and reduce tensions. Meanwhile, since Friday, our security and safety colleagues have recorded military activities across all of Gaza's governorates. Airstrikes, shelling, gunfire, and naval fire have been reported primarily in areas west of the so-called Yellow Line, Spanning less than half of the Strip, where most people are crowded in harsh conditions. Several incidents, including those resulting in fatalities and injuries, have reportedly affected civilians. Yesterday, our humanitarian colleagues received reports of more than a dozen families who were newly displaced in eastern Gaza City. The UN and our humanitarian partners are mobilizing support for those affected. Also yesterday, Israeli forces and municipal officials forcibly entered the Qalandia Training Center, a United Nations facility located in occupied East Jerusalem, disrupting ongoing educational activities and raising renewed concern over the protection of UN premises under international law. At the time of the incursion, students and faculty were actively engaged in classes. Israeli personnel gathered staff and students together and confined them for the duration of the operation. No documentation was presented to explain the purpose of the entry, and municipal officials systematically took photographs of buildings, office spaces and training facilities. The KTC is a vocational training centre of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. As a United Nations property, it is afforded explicit protections under international law. UNRWA calls on the Israeli authorities to uphold their obligations under international law and to refrain from any further interference with the agency's facility, staff and beneficiaries. Turning to Lebanon, yesterday, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, visited the villages of Chakra and Barachit in Nabatiya Governorate. He was joined by the UNICEF representative Marco Luigi Corsi and OCHA's Head of Office, Kristin Knudsen. The 2 communities in Bintjebeil district lie outside the Israeli military zone and are partially accessible to displaced families returning home. And today, Mr. Riza and Mr. Knudsen— and Ms. Knudsen, together with the Head of the Order of Malta, Marwan Sinoui, visited the border villages of Ain Abel, Ramesh, and Debel in Nabatiya to assess humanitarian needs and support for communities that remained throughout the conflict despite months of insecurity. Local authorities, returnees, displaced families, and community representatives spoke to them about the challenges people continue to face. These include damaged infrastructure, lack of or limited access to basic services, Particularly water, health, and education, as well as disrupted livelihoods. Meanwhile, hostilities continue to affect civilians in southern Lebanon. According to local authorities, demolition operations and shelling persist in parts of Nabatiyeh Governorate. On Saturday, authorities reported that a critical water pumping station in the village of Markaba in the Nabatiyeh Governorate was destroyed, jeopardizing access to water for numerous villages in southern Lebanon. OCHA reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. Sustained humanitarian support and recovery assistance remain essential to help affected communities rebuild their lives and let them return to their homes safely, voluntarily, and with dignity. Turning to Sudan, our colleagues at the UN Children's Fund tell us that at least 23 children have reportedly been killed, with a further 25 reportedly injured in North Kordofan in the 2 months since conflicts intensified around El-Obeid. UNICEF said that across Sudan, children bear the brunt of more than 3 years of conflict. In the first 6 months of the year, at least 330 children were reportedly killed or injured. Ongoing violence, repeated displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure are putting children's lives, well-being and future at risk. UNICEF calls on all parties to protect civilians, including children, and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Today, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and our Human Rights Office released the latest updates on the human rights situation and the cross-border civilian casualties in the country, as well as the update on enforcement of hijab requirements in Herat City. Between October 1st, 2025, and June 30th, 2026, UNAMA Human Rights Service A single incident in Bhaktika Province resulted in 13 civilian casualties. The updates also highlight issues related to women's rights and access to UN premises and education, corporal punishment, and freedom of the media. All updates are available online. The World Heritage Committee will wrap up its 48th session in Busan, Republic of Korea tomorrow, with the addition of 2 new sites to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's World Heritage List. Among the list are Mount Olympus in Greece and the Amazonian Theaters in Brazil. 3 African countries are joined— also joined the list for the first time: Comoros, São Tomé and Príncipe, and South Sudan. The committee added 6 sites on the list of World Heritage in Danger as well, including sites in the State of Palestine, Lebanon and Ukraine, recognizing the immediate threats they are facing. A full list of inscribed sites can be found on UNESCO's website. Ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, observed on 30 July, the International Organization for Migration today warned that hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have been trafficked by criminal networks and forced to participate in online scams in a multibillion-dollar criminal industry. IOM noted that trafficked victims are often lured by fake job ads promising legitimate work abroad. Survivors report enduring torture, sexual abuse, starvation, and solitary confinement. IOM pointed out that the scale of the crime is staggering. New UN Office on Drugs and Crime data estimates that— estimates combined annual losses from scam offenses across East Asia Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand are between $88.3 billion and $114.1 billion for 2025 alone. Between 2022 and 2025, IOM assisted more than 3,500 victims of trafficking for forced criminality across Southeast Asia from 39 countries, with the largest numbers originating from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Bangladesh. And last, today is World Hepatitis Day. With 1.3 million reported deaths from chronic hepatitis B and C in 2024, this year's theme, Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down, is a call to remove the barriers that stand between people and the services that could save their lives. That is it from me. Yes, Edie.

Thank you, Farhan. I'm not sure I quite understood the status of the UNRWA training center. Is it open today? Are the Israelis still blocking people from going in?

I believe that what happened yesterday, they had come at the time of classes and and had an operation that lasted for some hours, but that ended over the course of the day. So I believe it's working today. Yes, Gabriel, and then Namo.

Thank you. Thank you, Farhan. As you noted, in his briefing to the Council, Mr. Al-Aqbarov said that the escalation in the occupied West Bank is increasing And, uh, likely— let me rephrase it, I'm sorry, apologies. As you noted, uh, in his remarks to the Council, Mr. Alekbarov said that a wider escalation is increasingly likely unless immediate steps are taken to reverse course. What would the Secretary-General like to see those immediate steps be? In his remarks to the Council, the Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour said that settlers should be disarmed. Does the Secretary-General agree?

He certainly believes that there should not be any armed attacks by settlers against Palestinians, and he wants all measures taken to make sure that all such attacks are prevented. Yes, Namo.

Thank you, Farhan. A follow-up on what I asked you yesterday. The Secretary-General's press conference in Damascus included no Kurdish journalists. My own colleague at Rudaw based in Damascus says she received no invitation from Syrian authorities while others were invited. Is the Secretary-General concerned that the transitional authorities might be excluding media from a certain group in attending important press conferences and events?

Well, I don't speak, obviously, for the Syrians who organized the press conference. From our standpoint, of course, we want to have all press outlets invited and all communities represented. Abdelhamid?

Thank you, Farhan. The US representative said UNRWA has no place in Gaza. She repeated that. Do you have any comment on that?

We have continually reaffirmed the importance of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza and throughout the region. They have been the backbone of our operations. As you know, our staff there performed a heroic job when they themselves were under attack. Nearly 400 of our staff were killed since October 2023, and they continued to provide crucial relief services for the people of Gaza, and we continue to stand by them.

Yes, please. I have a second question.

Sure, and then, and then your colleague will.

Yes.

Okay. Mr. Al-Akbarov said that 3 Israelis were killed. He mentioned 6 Palestinians were killed and 3— but he didn't put it in context, and that is very unfair characterization. The Palestinians were attacked by about 20 soldiers. One old man who's an imam of a masjid, of a mosque, when he was attacked by these 20 soldiers, he grabbed one of their guns and shot 2 of them. So is there any other option before these people except to defend their land and their dignity.

We will not defend the killing of any civilians by anyone, and Mr. Al-Aqbarov is simply making that point.

Yes?

Thank you, Farhan. So my question is about the US and Iran. So over the past few days, we have seen a pause in the fighting. So does the Secretary-General believe this is a real opportunity for diplomacy? And any encouraging signs so far?

We certainly hope that the parties will use this particular lull in the fighting as an opportunity to strengthen their diplomatic efforts and to work with the mediators. And we encourage the mediators, including Pakistan, Qatar, and others, to continue with their work trying to bring the parties back to negotiations. Yes, Pam.

Thank you, Farhan. The mayor of New York, as you know, had proposed arresting— had said he would arrest the Prime Minister of Israel, changed his opinion after speaking with his legal experts and then called for protests. Today, the Israeli ambassador said that that gives him pause and makes him worried about what will happen here at UN Headquarters during UNGA Week. Are you worried about what may be the first time a mayor of New York called for protests against a visiting official?

Thank you. I don't think we have any particular concerns about the safety and security of all the delegations that are coming here. We go about, as you know, with security preparations for, for the UN General Assembly every September, and they're proceeding in an orderly fashion as they, as they always do.

And do you expect them to be elevated at all?

At this stage, like I said, we're doing our preparatory work and, and, and it seems to be going along in the normal in the normal fashion.

Thank you.

Yes.

Farhan, and forgive me if you mentioned this first, does the Secretary-General have any reaction to the earthquake that struck Japan this morning?

We're certainly— our hearts go out to the people affected by this earthquake. We're well aware that there have been people placed under danger from this earthquake. We do extend our sympathies to the people of Japan. We're aware the national authorities are leading the response, but we stand ready to support if needed. Yes, Abdul Hamid.

Follow-up to Pam's question. The Israeli ambassador to the UN said that Mamdani accused the Prime Minister of being a war criminal. Is that an accusation in your opinion, or is there an— there is a state— I mean, there is a verdict came out from ICC that he committed war crimes.

Uh, it's, it's not a verdict, but obviously there are charges laid out by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and, and you can refer to those. All right, have a good afternoon, everyone.