The UN Security Council held a meeting to discuss developments in the Middle East, reports. Among the speakers who briefed the council was Tor Wennesland, the UN’s Middle East peace envoy. The Middle East is at a “grim crossroads” after a year of war and bloodshed, Wennesland said. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has now spread across the region, engulfing Lebanon and triggering escalatory exchanges between Israel and Iran, Wennesland added. “We are living a nightmare. The trauma and grief that has been unleashed is immeasurable … These events will reverberate for generations and shape the region in ways we cannot yet fully comprehend,” Wennesland said.