Italy, Saudi Arabia reaffirm support for two-state solution, Gaza ceasefire

Italy and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their support for implementing the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on Wednesday, calling for the Gaza ceasefire to be preserved, humanitarian assistance to be increased and efforts toward lasting peace to be renewed.

The call came in a joint declaration issued after talks between Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of a meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in Rome from July 28 to 29.

The two ministers welcomed the outcome of the alliance meeting and reaffirmed their support for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict.

They stressed the need to preserve the ceasefire in Gaza, demilitarize the Strip, ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance, launch early recovery efforts and support reform of the Palestinian Authority.

The declaration also condemned escalating settler violence in the West Bank, reaffirmed opposition to any form of annexation or forcible displacement of Palestinians, and stressed the importance of respecting international law, including international humanitarian law.

The Rome meeting brought together delegations from the Arab League, the European Union, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Canada and Brazil, as well as representatives of Palestine and the United Nations, to discuss ways to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

UN steps up Gaza health aid

UN humanitarians and partners are stepping up efforts to help people in Gaza reduce major public health risks, including rodent infestation, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday.

Widespread rodent and ectoparasite infestations were reported in 83% of displacement sites assessed earlier this month, alongside sewage in streets, stagnant water and poor sanitation conditions, said OCHA.

In response, humanitarian partners are scaling up rodent control this week. The UN Development Programme and other partners are distributing nine metric tonnes of rodenticides daily, brought into Gaza by the United Arab Emirates, said the office.

The office said that access to water also remains a daily challenge for families, and it's working with its partners to try to provide access to essential water, sanitation and hygiene services.

In Khan Younis, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is supporting the construction of a central water well expected to benefit about 7,000 people. In Gaza City, UNICEF is joining efforts to clean up the Sheikh Ajleen wastewater treatment plant, which served 700,000 people before it was damaged in hostilities, according to Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

(With input from Xinhua)