HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MARTIN NESIRKY
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
(extract)
Asked about Egypt's construction activity near the Gaza border, the Spokesperson later reiterated that it is the UN's understanding that Egyptian efforts to counter illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into the Gaza Strip, as all states are called upon to do by UN Security Council Resolution 1860, are ongoing.
As for any potential humanitarian consequences, he said, the United Nations continues to be gravely concerned about socio-economic conditions in Gaza. The key to a sustainable solution to the crisis in Gaza is for resolution 1860 to be implemented in full, including an end to the Israeli blockade and the reopening of all legitimate crossings between Gaza and Israel and Gaza and Egypt, as prescribed in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.
Asked about the closing of a checkpoint from Israel into Gaza, Nesirky said that the Secretary-General has repeatedly called for the removal of impediments to access into Gaza.