Questions and Answers 4 Noon Briefings
My Questions to Mr. Dujarric on 04 February 2025
Is it the Occupied State of Palestine or the OPT?
Did Mr. Fletcher discuss Palestine prisoners with Israeli Jails?
Jenin Updates
Jordan Aid to Gaza.
DRC, Guest Tomorrow, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing
Starts at 16:30 – 18:01 and also starts 20:40 – 21:52
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guest Tomorrow, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | UN Web TV
Question: Thank you. Just happening that I have another four tiny questions.
Spokesperson: Well, let's do two, and we'll take a Jordan pause, like we do with Edie, and then I'll come back to you.
Question: Okay. The first one is clarification, because you said Mr. Fletcher went to Israel and Palestinian occupied territories. I remember last year when Mr. [Mahmoud] Abbas was here, you issued a statement. You said Mr. [António] Guterres met with the President of the State of Palestine. What's the difference between Palestinian occupied territories or Palestine or the State of Palestine, occupied territory?
Spokesperson: Well, Mr. Abbas and his representatives here are accredited with the language they're accredited. I was just referring to the geographic place, and I mentioned that yesterday, he [Fletcher] was in Ramallah. Your next question?
Question: My next question, there is a war in Jenin, and I think the Security Council will meet at 3:00 to discuss in closed consultations. Do you know who's going to brief from the Secretariat?
Spokesperson: Yes. There will be, as far as I understand, Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag, who's the Special Coordinator [ad interim] for the Middle East Peace Process, and Tom Fletcher was scheduled to brief in closed consultations. We'll confirm that. As for the situation in Jenin, the West Bank, we've been updating you, almost on a regular basis.
question: Again, back on Mr. Fletcher’s visit to Palestine and Israel. You mentioned also that he asked for the release of all hostages. That's what you mentioned, right?
Spokesperson: If you paid attention, I paid attention. Yes.
Question: Okay. Did he also discuss with the Israeli side the release of all prisoners, which is almost 10,000 in Israeli jails? Did he discuss?
Spokesperson: I don't know if that specific issue was discussed. I know the bulk of his discussions with the Foreign Ministry and with COGAT was about the immediate humanitarian issues. Our position on the administrative detainees that we see in Palestine remains unchanged, and we've asked for their release.
Question: Okay. And the last one?
Spokesperson: Yep.
Question: Jordan is sending aids to Gaza through road, almost every other day or every week. Does the UN have any role in distribution in those materials or not?
Is it the Occupied State of Palestine or the OPT?
Did Mr. Fletcher discuss Palestine prisoners with Israeli Jails?
Jenin Updates
Jordan Aid to Gaza.
DRC, Guest Tomorrow, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing
Starts at 16:30 – 18:01 and also starts 20:40 – 21:52
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guest Tomorrow, Occupied Palestinian Territory & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | UN Web TV
Question: Thank you. Just happening that I have another four tiny questions.
Spokesperson: Well, let's do two, and we'll take a Jordan pause, like we do with Edie, and then I'll come back to you.
Question: Okay. The first one is clarification, because you said Mr. Fletcher went to Israel and Palestinian occupied territories. I remember last year when Mr. [Mahmoud] Abbas was here, you issued a statement. You said Mr. [António] Guterres met with the President of the State of Palestine. What's the difference between Palestinian occupied territories or Palestine or the State of Palestine, occupied territory?
Spokesperson: Well, Mr. Abbas and his representatives here are accredited with the language they're accredited. I was just referring to the geographic place, and I mentioned that yesterday, he [Fletcher] was in Ramallah. Your next question?
Question: My next question, there is a war in Jenin, and I think the Security Council will meet at 3:00 to discuss in closed consultations. Do you know who's going to brief from the Secretariat?
Spokesperson: Yes. There will be, as far as I understand, Ms. [Sigrid] Kaag, who's the Special Coordinator [ad interim] for the Middle East Peace Process, and Tom Fletcher was scheduled to brief in closed consultations. We'll confirm that. As for the situation in Jenin, the West Bank, we've been updating you, almost on a regular basis.
question: Again, back on Mr. Fletcher’s visit to Palestine and Israel. You mentioned also that he asked for the release of all hostages. That's what you mentioned, right?
Spokesperson: If you paid attention, I paid attention. Yes.
Question: Okay. Did he also discuss with the Israeli side the release of all prisoners, which is almost 10,000 in Israeli jails? Did he discuss?
Spokesperson: I don't know if that specific issue was discussed. I know the bulk of his discussions with the Foreign Ministry and with COGAT was about the immediate humanitarian issues. Our position on the administrative detainees that we see in Palestine remains unchanged, and we've asked for their release.
Question: Okay. And the last one?
Spokesperson: Yep.
Question: Jordan is sending aids to Gaza through road, almost every other day or every week. Does the UN have any role in distribution in those materials or not?
(878) Lebanon, Palestine & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations - YouTube
Question: Since this is the first time I have seen you, happy New Year, Steve.
Spokesperson: Thank you.
Question: I have four tiny questions.
Spokesperson: Four tiny questions, alright. I will decide on the size of the questions. Go ahead.
Question: Thank you. We go from the last about Haiti. Does the UN force, which started to deploy, I think, this week, have the right to shoot? This is question number one.
Spokesperson: Well, as you know, it's not a United Nations force. It is a… [Cross talk]
Question: Yeah. The multi…
Spokesperson: It is a multinational support force that operates under a mandate of the Security Council. It is not under the command, operational or otherwise, of the UN. We would expect its forces to respect international law, human rights law. But in terms of questions on their operations, I would ask you to ask them, it's not for me to answer.
Your second question?
Question: Yeah. Who are them? You said them. I ask them.
Spokesperson: Well, the Kenyans are in the lead. There is a spokesperson. It's not a UN force, so I cannot speak for them.
Question: Okay. On the ceasefire negotiation in Doha between Israel and Hamas, how are you informed about results?
Spokesperson: We are in touch and, with some of the people in Doha, and being kept abreast.
Question: Those people are United Nations people or they’re government official?
Spokesperson: What do you mean?
Question: You said we are in touch.
Spokesperson: Well, us, the United Nations, are in touch with the people who are involved in the mediation.
Question: Okay, sir. Two more. Do you know how many children prisoners in Israeli jail, Palestinian prisoners?
Spokesperson: I don't have that number in front of me, but you should ask our human rights colleagues who would have it.
Question: And, the last one, does the UN have any volunteers, UN volunteers, in Gaza or West Bank, including Jerusalem?
Spokesperson: What do you mean? You mean people working on…
Question: UNV.
Spokesperson: UNV? That's a good question. I can check for you.
On 08 he answered “And one of your colleagues, I think it was Jordan but he is not here, asked me about UN volunteers working in the region, and I can tell you that we have 82 UN Volunteers working across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and they work for six agencies, funds and programmes, and Secretariat entities.”
Question: Since this is the first time I have seen you, happy New Year, Steve.
Spokesperson: Thank you.
Question: I have four tiny questions.
Spokesperson: Four tiny questions, alright. I will decide on the size of the questions. Go ahead.
Question: Thank you. We go from the last about Haiti. Does the UN force, which started to deploy, I think, this week, have the right to shoot? This is question number one.
Spokesperson: Well, as you know, it's not a United Nations force. It is a… [Cross talk]
Question: Yeah. The multi…
Spokesperson: It is a multinational support force that operates under a mandate of the Security Council. It is not under the command, operational or otherwise, of the UN. We would expect its forces to respect international law, human rights law. But in terms of questions on their operations, I would ask you to ask them, it's not for me to answer.
Your second question?
Question: Yeah. Who are them? You said them. I ask them.
Spokesperson: Well, the Kenyans are in the lead. There is a spokesperson. It's not a UN force, so I cannot speak for them.
Question: Okay. On the ceasefire negotiation in Doha between Israel and Hamas, how are you informed about results?
Spokesperson: We are in touch and, with some of the people in Doha, and being kept abreast.
Question: Those people are United Nations people or they’re government official?
Spokesperson: What do you mean?
Question: You said we are in touch.
Spokesperson: Well, us, the United Nations, are in touch with the people who are involved in the mediation.
Question: Okay, sir. Two more. Do you know how many children prisoners in Israeli jail, Palestinian prisoners?
Spokesperson: I don't have that number in front of me, but you should ask our human rights colleagues who would have it.
Question: And, the last one, does the UN have any volunteers, UN volunteers, in Gaza or West Bank, including Jerusalem?
Spokesperson: What do you mean? You mean people working on…
Question: UNV.
Spokesperson: UNV? That's a good question. I can check for you.
On 08 he answered “And one of your colleagues, I think it was Jordan but he is not here, asked me about UN volunteers working in the region, and I can tell you that we have 82 UN Volunteers working across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and they work for six agencies, funds and programmes, and Secretariat entities.”
Noon Briefing: 22 October 2024 Deputy Farhan Haq
BRICS, Iraq, Gaza/UNSCO & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | UN Web TV
Minutes: 23:30-26:15 also on 34:55-end
(148) Iraq, Gaza/UNSCO, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (22 Oct 2024) | United Nations - YouTube
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Nice to see you all the time. On the BRICS. Do you think the SG will also discuss with the leaders the situation in Gaza?
Spokesperson: Oh, yes, certainly.
Question: And question on UNIFIL. Some countries that contribute to troops, namely Italy, said we have to empower UNIFIL mandate. Does SG also support their changing the mandate from chapter 6 to chapter 7, then they will be able to defend?
Spokesperson: Well, these are discussions that are going on among the troop contributing countries and we take all of their interests and their considerations seriously. I believe Jean-Pierre Lacroix has spoken at some length about this in various interviews. But the basic point is any changes to the mandate would have to be agreed by the members of the Security Council.
Question: One more on Somaliland. What is the relationship between the organization United Nations and Somaliland? You know, there is trouble, because I think the Somaliland signed an agreement with Ethiopia to have access to the sea. Also, there is lately news that Israel will have a military base in Somaliland. Thank you.
Spokesperson: Our dealings with all of the entities in Somalia are with respect for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Somalia. Yes, Serife, and then Gabriel.
Question: Yesterday, Israel hit Damascus. What is the reaction of the SG?
Spokesperson: We have expressed our concerns about all of the attacks on the various neighboring countries, including against Syria.
BRICS, Iraq, Gaza/UNSCO & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | UN Web TV
Minutes: 23:30-26:15 also on 34:55-end
(148) Iraq, Gaza/UNSCO, Lebanon & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (22 Oct 2024) | United Nations - YouTube
Question: Thank you, Farhan. Nice to see you all the time. On the BRICS. Do you think the SG will also discuss with the leaders the situation in Gaza?
Spokesperson: Oh, yes, certainly.
Question: And question on UNIFIL. Some countries that contribute to troops, namely Italy, said we have to empower UNIFIL mandate. Does SG also support their changing the mandate from chapter 6 to chapter 7, then they will be able to defend?
Spokesperson: Well, these are discussions that are going on among the troop contributing countries and we take all of their interests and their considerations seriously. I believe Jean-Pierre Lacroix has spoken at some length about this in various interviews. But the basic point is any changes to the mandate would have to be agreed by the members of the Security Council.
Question: One more on Somaliland. What is the relationship between the organization United Nations and Somaliland? You know, there is trouble, because I think the Somaliland signed an agreement with Ethiopia to have access to the sea. Also, there is lately news that Israel will have a military base in Somaliland. Thank you.
Spokesperson: Our dealings with all of the entities in Somalia are with respect for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Somalia. Yes, Serife, and then Gabriel.
Question: Yesterday, Israel hit Damascus. What is the reaction of the SG?
Spokesperson: We have expressed our concerns about all of the attacks on the various neighboring countries, including against Syria.