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Secretary-General remarks to the press on the Middle East

 

New York, 21 June 2024

I felt compelled today to voice my profound concerns about escalation between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line. Escalation in continued exchanges of fire. Escalation in bellicose rhetoric from both sides as if an all-out war was imminent.

The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real -- and must be avoided.

One rash move – one miscalculation -- could trigger a catastrophe...