AFP, United Nations :
Conflict is likely to once again engulf Gaza if a deal on the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Hamas-controlled enclave fails, the UN envoy for the Middle East warned on Monday.
Addressing the Security Council on the eve of talks in Cairo between Palestinian factions, UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov said the Egyptian-led “process must not be allowed to fail.”
“If it does, it will most likely result in another devastating conflict,” warned Mladenov. “Whether it would be triggered by a meltdown of law and order in Gaza, by the reckless action of extremists or by strategic choice, the result will be the same – devastation and suffering for all.”
Leaders from 13 factions including Gaza’s rulers Hamas and the West Bank-based Fatah will meet Tuesday in Egypt to discuss modalities for the return of the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas, the Islamist movement that has ruled Gaza since 2007, and Israel have fought three wars since 2008, the last conflict dating back to 2014.
Under the unity deal signed last month, the Palestinian Authority is to resume full control of the Gaza Strip by December 1.
At the weekend, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza was reopened after the Palestinian Authority took control of the crossing for the first time since 2007.
“Two million Palestinians in Gaza have high hopes that the government’s return will improve their lives,” said Mladenov.
