1. The government of the Republic of Korea is deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, such as the recent escalation of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah and the consequent surge in civilian casualties.

2. The ROK government reiterates the obligation to protect civilians through strict compliance with international law including international humanitarian law, and strongly urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid worsening the situation and to strive for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.