Maurice Ripert during the consultations said Israel must do more to release prisoners and alleviate restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian territories. Ripert said he was “disturbed by recent settlement activities” and also recommended that Israel open up checkpoints for goods and for Palestinians to “combat terrorism.” Costa Rica's UN Ambassador Jorge Urbina said he was “frustrated” that the Council was unable to resolve differences on the presidential statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza prompted the UN Security Council to convene consultations on a draft presidential statement on Gaza last Monday resulting in a draft statement last Tuesday. The Council failed to achieve a consensus on the issue and the statement was thrown out of the Council on Tuesday. The Arab League is meeting on Thursday to discuss possibly sending the statement on Gaza to the General Assembly for approval.
