Abbas urges Hamas to free Gaza hostages as Israeli strikes kill 25

DUBAI: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Houthis to release dozens of UN and aid workers who have been detained for nearly a year.
The arrest and detention of aid workers has “a direct impact on the delivery of lifesaving assistance to people in critical need of aid” in a country enduring one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, the two rights groups said in a joint statement.
Since May 2024, the Houthis have carried out several waves of arrests in regions under their control, targeting UN staff as well as workers in local and international humanitarian organizations.
The arrests have prompted the UN to limit its deployments and suspend activities in some regions of the country devastated by more than a decade of civil war.

The Houthis at the time claimed there was an “American-Israeli spy cell” operating under the cover of aid groups — accusations firmly rejected by the UN.
Only seven aid workers have been released, while at least 50 remain in detention “without adequate access to lawyers or their families, and without charge,” HRW and Amnesty said, calling on the rebels to “immediately and unconditionally release” them.
“It is shocking that most of these UN and civil society staff have now spent almost a year in arbitrary detention for simply doing their work in providing medical and food assistance or promoting human rights, peace, and dialogue,” said Diala Haidar, Yemen researcher at Amnesty International.
“They should never have been arrested in the first place,” she continued.
Niku Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at HRW, meanwhile, said: “The Houthis need to facilitate the work of humanitarian workers and the movement of aid.
“All countries with influence, as well as the UN and civil society organizations, should use all the tools at their disposal to urge the release of those arbitrarily detained and to provide support to their family members.”

NEW YORK: Arab representatives at the UN on Friday praised countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, and urged other nations to follow suit.

“Recognition is not just symbolic, it is a step toward lasting peace,” said Mohamed Abushahab, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN and chair of the Arab Group for May, a forum for Arab nations to outline their positions on various issues.

The comments came as Saudi Arabia and France prepare to co-chair a global conference later this month that will seek to hasten implementation of a two-state solution and end decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians.

The effort gained further support this month as the devastating toll of Israel’s resumed assault on Gaza sparked international anger.

Arab representatives say the upcoming conference, which will take place in New York, must go beyond diplomacy and deliver tangible steps toward peace.

Speaking at a UN General Assembly meeting earlier this month in preparation for the forum, Saudi Arabia said that recognizing the state of Palestine is a “strategic necessity” that is “the cornerstone of a new regional order based on mutual recognition and coexistence.”

“Regional peace begins with recognizing the state of Palestine, not as a symbolic gesture, but as a strategic necessity,” the Kingdom said.

The high-level conference is scheduled to begin on June 17 at the UN headquarters and aims to urgently adopt concrete measures toward the implementation of the two-state solution.

Palestine is officially recognized by 147 of the UN’s 193 member states and has observer status at the UN, but is not a full member.

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel unleashed its military operation in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack killed 1,200 people in October 2023.

As the death toll and suffering in Gaza has increased, more nations have moved to recognize Palestine, including Ireland, Norway, and Spain last year.

The Arab Group also issued an urgent call for immediate action from the UN Security Council to end the “catastrophic war” and deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Abushahab emphasized the group’s collective condemnation of Israel’s military campaign and blockade on Gaza.

“The Arab Group stands united in our determination to mobilize and put an end to the catastrophic war on Gaza,” he said.

“We demand the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid and its distribution based on humanitarian principles. Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war.”

Abushahab criticized Israel’s proposed aid distribution mechanism, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.

He reiterated the Arab Group’s demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, alongside the release of all hostages and detainees.

The UN representative urged the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution on Gaza advanced by the elected members of the council, and called on member states to take “concrete actions” to advance the two-state solution.

Majed Bamya, Palestine’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: “It is enough for anybody to understand the human tragedy unfolding before our eyes.”

Referring to the relentless bombardments, mass displacement, starvation, and the killing of children, he added: “Outrage is not enough. We need action.”

Bamya stressed the need for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and prisoners, and the massive delivery of humanitarian aid.

He praised Egypt and Qatar for their mediation efforts, and acknowledged US involvement in attempts to secure a ceasefire.

“The Palestinian people are being subjected to an attempt to liquidate their cause by force,” Bamya said, accusing Israel of using starvation and aid obstruction to displace the population and seize land.

He firmly rejected any new aid distribution mechanism proposed by Israel, insisting on the UN plan that ensures equitable aid access throughout Gaza.

“We cannot expect people to survive this alone,” he said. “Israel wants to convince them that if they want life, they can only find it away from their land. Our collective responsibility is to help our people find life and liberty in their homeland.”

As the humanitarian toll mounts, the Arab Group’s call to the Security Council reflects increasing pressure for global powers to take a firmer stance on the crisis.

“The time of half-measures has passed,” said Bamya. “Palestinian lives are not less valuable than any other lives. The council must act accordingly.”