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Hossam Zaki to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Plan to Displace Palestinians will not be Successful

Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Hossam Zaki to Asharq Al-Awsat: The Plan to Displace Palestinians will not be Successful

Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Arab League confirmed that an emergency summit, which will be held on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, will express a solid Arab position in support of Palestinian rights, and convey an Arab-Palestinian message to the world about the centrality of the political solution to the Palestinian cause.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, the assistant secretary general of the Arab League, Ambassador Hossam Zaki, said that Arab foreign ministers will discuss on Thursday the draft resolution submitted by Palestine, and come up with a common stance.

The Arab diplomat stressed that western countries have “fallen morally in the current Gaza crisis,” adding that all talk of human rights and respect for them “has vanished when speaking about the Palestinian human being.”

Zaki considered that the positions of Moscow and Beijing were more rational than that of the West.

“Russia and China are friendly countries and have a much greater understanding of what is happening... This situation enables them to adopt better, more balanced and rational positions than the West. We do not say that they are with us one hundred percent, but they stand in much better positions,” he said.

Asked about his assessment of the US position on the Gaza crisis, the official said it is “a stance that is not positive, to say the least, and is very unfair towards the Palestinian situation and Palestinian rights.”

The official expressed an Arab determination to thwart any Israeli plans to forcibly displace Palestinians from their lands, noting that the Arab League will establish a mechanism to monitor Israeli genocide crimes and follow them up legally.

Regarding Arab perceptions of the future of the Gaza Strip, he said: “The Arabs refuse to talk about this matter before the ceasefire.”

Although “the Arab League is not a party to the ongoing ceasefire efforts,” according to Zaki, it “is actively following these endeavors...”

“The Israeli side is still rejecting the ceasefire, and is trying to barter the truce for the release of the hostages... There are Arab and other parties assuming roles in this effort.”

He also confirmed the presence of an Israeli plan to displace the Palestinians, saying: “Yes, we are convinced that Israel has this project, ambitions, and these ideas, but, God willing, we will thwart it completely.”

Zaki went on to say: “The Palestinian issue is not a security file, or a ‘war on terrorism’ issue... This is a complex issue with backgrounds and a history known to everyone, and the world must continue to view it as a political problem and deal with it on this basis.”

A few days before the emergency Arab summit hosted by Riyadh, the Arab League assistant secretary-general said that preparations were proceeding at an excellent pace.

He added that the Arab ministerial meeting will “discuss the draft resolution proposed by Palestine, which will include a set of elements that address the political situation.”

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.