He told the UN Security Council that while ongoing efforts to improve the situation in the Gaza Strip must progress rapidly, broader goals cannot be overlooked.
He also stressed the need to achieve the two-state solution on the basis of United Nations resolutions, laws and bilateral agreements.
Hastings, who is also the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, considered it necessary for Israel to implement additional measures in order to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to the Palestinian territories.
He stressed that without the regular and predictable entry of goods into Gaza, the response would be in jeopardy, as livelihoods as well as the overall economy would be affected.
In this sense, the Canadian diplomat added, improving movement and access to the occupied Palestinian territories are essential to stability in the region.
He stressed that the Tel Aviv government should ease restrictions imposed on the movement of goods and people to and from Gaza, with the aim of eventually eliminating them.
He warned that despite the continuation of the truce agreed on May 21 after 11 days of hostilities and shelling by the Israeli military forces against Gaza, the situation is still very fragile.
The damage caused by this escalation is estimated at 290 million and 380 million dollars, according to an assessment of the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union, according to Hastings details.
In addition, he continued, the social sector in Gaza was hit hard, weakening the safety net of the most vulnerable population, while immediate and short-term recovery and reconstruction could cost up to $485 million.
The senior official said that so far, about $45 million has been collected from 95 million requests in the urgent humanitarian appeal launched by the United Nations last May.
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council devoted an open discussion session to the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, and several representatives expressed concern about the demolition of Arab property by the occupying power.
The creation and recognition of a Palestinian state is one of the longest-standing issues at the United Nations, despite the fact that the State of Israel has existed for 70 years.
Currently, the majority of the international community agrees that it is Tel Aviv that must end the colonization of the Palestinian territories in order to progress towards peace, and that only a two-state solution can bring stability to the region.
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