Seafarers, West Bank & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (24 July 2026) | United Nations

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: - Secretary-General/Syria - Deputy Secretary-General/Travel - Secretary-General/Red Sea - UN Office for Project Services - Seafarers - West Bank - Occupied Palestinian Territory - South Sudan - Sudan - Burundi - Venezuela - Ukraine - Climate - International Days UN OFFICE FOR PROJECT SERVICES In a statement issued today, the Executive Director of the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva, said that the UN Task-force for the Strait of Hormuz that he has been coordinating has developed, in consultation with relevant parties, a practical confidence-building mechanism to facilitate safe, orderly and predictable maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, with a specific focus on fertilizers and related raw materials to prevent a massive food crisis.  In the last four months, the Task Force team has consulted extensively with Member States and has received overwhelming support, particularly from the most vulnerable countries.  This Mechanism is ready to become operational, subject to the will of all Parties in the conflict and in the region.  Mr. Moreira da Silva said it is time to give a chance to an operational mechanism to build confidence and to build trust. He continues to engage with all relevant parties through the Task Force, while reiterating the Secretary-General’s own call for restraint and de-escalation.  SEAFARERS The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, unequivocally condemned the latest reported attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea area.  These attacks are indefensible, he said. They endanger the lives of seafarers, while threatening the security of international shipping, of the safety and security of marine environment and the stability of the global supply chains.  Meanwhile, Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, also called for urgent action to remedy the plight of thousands of stranded seafarers who are facing a dire humanitarian and human rights crisis across the Strait of Hormuz. He said his Office has received information that some seafarers have been abandoned at sea by shipowners who have left them without support, without repatriation plans or even without paying their wages. WEST BANK The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, today said that the continued loss of civilian life across the occupied West Bank is deeply alarming. He said today’s violent incidents southwest of Nablus, which resulted in the killing of four Palestinians and two Israelis, injuries to several others, and extensive damage to Palestinian property, underscore the urgent need to protect civilians and prevent further escalation in the occupied West Bank. Mr. Alakbarov said Israel must take immediate steps to prevent settler violence, to protect civilian communities, and ensure those responsible for attacks are held accountable. And he said Palestinians must unequivocally reject violence and incitement to take immediate steps to prevent attacks against Israelis. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-24


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