<\/p>\n
29 May 2024<\/p>\n
Briefing by UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland at the 9638th Security Council meeting<\/a><\/p>\n Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, the Special Coordinator for that region\u2019s peace process urged Member States to support Gaza\u2019s political future, work with the new technocratic Palestinian Government and develop a framework of its recovery, as many speakers, condemning the recent strike on Rafah, renewed calls for a ceasefire\u00a0to enable humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reported that since the 7\u00a0October attacks, more than 36,000\u00a0Palestinians and over 1,500\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals were killed.\u00a0 \u201cIt is clear that all sides must urgently change course,\u201d he stressed, noting that no attempt to address the humanitarian and security challenges will be sustainable without consideration of Gaza\u2019s political future.\u00a0Emphasizing the need for Gaza\u2019s recovery framework, he said that Member States should provide support and work with the new technocratic Palestinian Government under Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa.<\/p>\n Noting that political, institutional and economic reforms will be needed, he underscored that they must be achievable, credible and financed.\u00a0 Donors and investors will not be forthcoming without concrete steps to ensure that \u201cGaza is not rebuilt only to be destroyed yet again\u201d, he told the 15-nation organ, stressing that if Member States neglect to lay down the foundations of a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution and end the occupation, the price of failure will reverberate for generations.\u00a0Without progress on addressing the drivers of the conflict, \u201cwe will begin the process of undermining what we have not yet even started,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n In the ensuing discussion, many speakers condemned Israel\u2019s recent attack on the displaced persons\u2019 camp in Rafah, also voicing their opposition to its ongoing military operation in that city and calling for an immediate ceasefire to enable humanitarian aid deliveries.\u00a0 Some also added their support for the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice, while others aligned themselves with the draft resolution to stop the Israeli military operation on Rafah, prepared by Algeria.<\/p>\n Among those speakers was the representative of China, who called on Council members to put aside \u201cpolitical calculations\u201d and save lives by supporting the adoption of the Algerian draft text.\u00a0 Noting that his delegation will soon propose a more effective international peace conference for the establishment of a two-State solution roadmap, he spotlighted the upcoming tenth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation on 30\u00a0May.<\/p>\n Similarly, France\u2019s<\/strong> delegate noted that his country will propose a draft resolution relating to a two-State solution and peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians.\u00a0 He highlighted\u00a0the indignation of his country\u2019s president, Emmanuel Macron,\u00a0following\u00a0the recent Israeli strikes that resulted in many civilian casualties, underscoring that in line with the International Court of Justice\u2019s provisional orders, Israel must immediately cease its military offensive.<\/p>\n The representative of Mozambique, Council President for May, spoke in his national capacity to note that despite the \u201cchorus of international warnings\u201d about the potential for mass casualties, the military offensive in Rafah has proceeded.\u00a0 Observing that the resulting global outrage and condemnation from world leaders further enhances Israel\u2019s international isolation, he called for a \u201cglobal concerted action\u201d to end this military operation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should not expect the Israeli military machine to stop its actions anytime soon,\u201d the Russian Federation\u2019s delegate noted, spotlighting the unprecedented number of victims since the Second World War.\u00a0 Stressing that the Council must continue to put pressure on Israel and its ally, the United States,\u00a0she pointed out that the worsening situation is caused by Washington, D.C.\u2019s attempt to monopolize the UN\u2019s mediation function to \u201csolve all global problems alone\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the\u00a0Deputy Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine recalled that\u00a0Israel\u2019s Prime Minister repeatedly used the phrase \u201cIsrael from the river to the sea\u201d and held a map to that effect on the General Assembly podium, \u201cdisappearing Palestine altogether\u201d.\u00a0 Stressing that Israel wants \u201coccupation and violent oppression for Palestinians and peace and security for itself\u201d, he observed that that country can \u201ckill any Palestinian and call them either terrorist or human shield to justify their murder\u201d.<\/p>\n Echoing this sentiment, the representative of the United Arab Emirates, speaking for the Arab Group, said that ending this war, which has been described by the United Nations as a \u201cwar against children\u201d, has become an urgent demand.\u00a0 Observing that Israel has \u201cpersistently and deliberately crossed all red lines\u201d, he also noted that \u2014 for the third time \u2014 it ignored the orders of the International Court of Justice.<\/p>\n However, Israel\u2019s delegate stressed that its war is only with Hamas, not the people of Gaza.\u00a0 While there are currently four terror battalions in Rafah, the precise strike was conducted on Sunday, eliminating two senior Hamas terror officials, he said, calling the charges brought before the International Court of Justice in the case of\u00a0South Africa v. Israel<\/em>\u00a0\u201cfalse\u201d.\u00a0 Israel is fighting a defensive war on behalf of its hostages but also for all of civilization, he stated, adding:\u00a0 \u201cStop taking the side of terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the South Africa\u2019s representative said the Court\u2019s orders make it clear that there is a severe risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.\u00a0 Therefore, State parties must act immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide.\u00a0Requesting the Security Council to give effect to the Court\u2019s judgements, she observed:\u00a0 \u201cFor international law to be credible, it should be uniformly applied and not selective.\u201d<\/p>\n TOR WENNESLAND,\u00a0Special<\/strong> Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process<\/strong><\/u>, said that in seven months since the 7\u00a0October attacks, more than 36,000\u00a0Palestinians and over 1,500\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals were killed.\u00a0 As well, 126\u00a0hostages are still held in Gaza.\u00a0Nearly 2\u00a0million Palestinians have been displaced, many of them multiple times, he reported, adding that 100,000\u00a0Israelis have also been displaced from their communities in the north and the south.\u00a0 \u201cAgreement on a deal to achieve ceasefire and secure release of hostages is blocked,\u201d he reported, recalling the \u201cappalling incident\u201d on Sunday, in Rafah, that killed 45\u00a0Palestinians and injured 200.\u00a0 Noting that the West Bank remains a \u201cpressure-cooker of negative trends\u201d, he pointed to the risk of regional conflagrations.\u00a0 \u201cThis trajectory must change if we are to avoid further catastrophe,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n Highlighting acute shortages of food, water and medicine, he said that the humanitarian response is woefully inadequate.\u00a0 Humanitarians are continuing to deliver assistance in a difficult environment, but unsafe conditions are compounded by overcrowding, desperation and a breakdown of law and order.\u00a0 Just hours ago, this breakdown resulted in the looting of the log base of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA) in Rafah.\u00a0 In regard to the West Bank, he expressed concern over Israel\u2019s lifting of the military order banning Israelis from entering three evacuated settlements in the northern part \u2014 a policy in affect since the 2005 disengagement law.\u00a0Also pointing to the regional escalations across the Blue Line between Israel and Hizbullah and other non-State armed groups, he said that on the Golan, Israel\u2019s strikes against targets in Syria and Iran have also continued.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a combustible mix\u201d, he stressed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is clear that all sides must urgently change course,\u201d he continued, noting that no attempt to address the humanitarian and security challenges will be sustainable without consideration of Gaza\u2019s political future.\u00a0To this end, \u201cwe should be putting in place the framework for Gaza\u2019s recovery\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThere can be no long-term solution in Gaza that is not fundamentally political.\u201d\u00a0 Recalling his recent meeting in Brussels, that included the International Partners Meeting on Palestine, he emphasized that Security Council members must strengthen and preserve the Palestinian Authority\u2019s institutions \u201cbefore it is too late\u201d.\u00a0 The new technocratic Palestinian Government under Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, with eight ministers from Gaza, represents an important opportunity to support tangible steps in the right direction.\u00a0 Therefore, Member States should provide support and work with the new Government to address the Palestinian Authority\u2019s dire fiscal crisis and strengthen its governance capacity to, ultimately, govern the whole of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n Noting that political, institutional and economic reforms will be needed, he said they must be achievable, credible and financed. Conforming to the Interim Damage Assessment \u2014 conducted by the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Union \u2014 the cost of critical infrastructure damage was quantified at $18.5\u00a0billion.\u00a0 However, donors and investors will not be forthcoming without concrete steps by the parties to find a political solution and ensure that \u201cGaza is not rebuilt only to be destroyed yet again\u201d.\u00a0 If Member States neglect to lay\u00a0down the foundations of a lasting resolution\u00a0to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict\u00a0and end the occupation, the price of failure will reverberate for generations, he said, adding that these foundations should be also laid in the West Bank.\u00a0 Without progress on addressing the drivers of the conflict \u2014 violence, settlement advancements and militant activity \u2014 \u201cwe will begin the process of undermining what we have not yet even started\u201d, he stressed.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United<\/strong> States<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said:\u00a0 \u201cWe are heartbroken and horrified by the deaths of dozens of Palestinian civilians and the more than 200\u00a0individuals who are seriously injured, including children, following Israeli airstrike on 26\u00a0May.\u201d\u00a0 Palestinians affected by the airstrikes have been displaced multiple times, seeking shelter in the camps.\u00a0 Israel claims that the civilian deaths were a mistake, and the strike was aimed at two senior Hamas terrorists who also died, he observed, urging Israel to do more to protect innocent Palestinian lives and to undertake a swift, transparent and comprehensive investigation.\u00a0 While Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, it also has the obligation to protect civilians, he stressed.\u00a0 It must also connect its military operations to a political strategy that can ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas, the release of all hostages and a better future for the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n However, he stressed that \u201cthe continued pattern of significant civilian harm\u201d resulting from incidents like the 26\u00a0May airstrikes undermines Israel\u2019s strategic role in Gaza.\u00a0 Echoing the order of the International Court of Justice, he underscored that Israel must avoid a major military operation in the heart of Rafah that would put \u201ca huge number of civilians at risk\u201d.\u00a0 Further, he called on Israel to remove all obstacles to the flow of aid through all crossings in Gaza, noting that the closure of the Rafah border crossing has impacted the humanitarian and security situation in the Strip.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0said the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by some European Union members \u201cwill not only contribute to global efforts towards lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, but could also facilitate economic and infrastructural support and development in post-conflict Palestine.\u201d\u00a0 Rafah City \u2014 the \u201clast refuge\u201d for 1.4\u00a0million displaced Palestinians \u2014 has become an active war zone, he said, adding that reports of an exchange of gunfire between Israeli and Egyptian soldiers at the Rafah crossing resulting in the death of at least one Egyptian soldier are very concerning.\u00a0Deeply concerned about the attack on a displaced persons\u2019 camp in Rafah, he called on all parties to the conflict to respect civilian life and international humanitarian law.\u00a0 \u201cThe conflict in the Gaza Strip has long-standing, complex roots, but it is not an intractable situation,\u201d he stressed, calling on the Council to remain united in calling for lasting ceasefire, and for all parties to the conflict to respect the International Criminal Court provisional orders.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Switzerland<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas against Israel on 26\u00a0May.\u00a0 She also condemned the Israeli strike, which caused dozens of civilian casualties, including many children, in a camp for displaced persons in Rafah on the same Sunday evening.\u00a0 \u201cCivilians in Gaza are living in unacceptable conditions, unprotected by repeated displacement, starvation and incessant hostilities,\u201d she said, opposing the current military operation in Rafah and calling for an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 Israel has the obligation to protect civilians and allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians through all crossing points and to the whole of the Strip, as required by the International Court of Justice.\u00a0 Further, she condemned the violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers \u2014 including against UNRWA offices in East Jerusalem and humanitarian aid convoys in the West Bank.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Malta<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said that an intensification of Israeli military operations in Rafah and a return to fierce fighting in north Gaza, coupled with evacuation orders imposed on desperate civilians, highlights the severely compromised security and humanitarian crisis.\u00a0 On Sunday, more civilians lost their lives and were harmed following an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Rafah.\u00a0The constant bombardment of hospitals \u2014 combined with aid restrictions \u2014 has led to the collapse of the health-care system, putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at risk.\u00a0\u201cThis is also putting mothers and their newborns at risk of significant physical and mental harm,\u201d she observed, noting that over 155,000 pregnant and lactating women are unable to access essential services.\u00a0 Additionally, she spotlighted the staggering reports that an estimated 17,000 children are currently unaccompanied or separated from their families.\u00a0 Against this backdrop, she called for the Rafah crossing to be reopened and a massive upscale of aid to the civilian population.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0France<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said his country \u201ccalls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and reiterates its opposition to the military operation in Rafah,\u201d\u00a0highlighting the indignation of his country\u2019s president, Emmanuel Macron\u00a0following the recent Israeli strikes that resulted in many civilian casualties.\u00a0 In line with the International Court of Justice\u2019s provisional orders, Israel must immediately cease its military offensive, he underlined, adding that France supports the Court\u2019s authority.\u00a0 He called for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza and voiced regret over the recently announced death of one of three French hostages.\u00a0 Strongly condemning Hamas\u2019 recent rocket attacks on Tel Aviv and the Kerem Shalom crossing, as well as Israeli settler attacks on humanitarian convoys, he called full respect of international human rights law.\u00a0 Only a two-State solution will bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians, he stressed.\u00a0 France will propose a resolution to that end and calls for the Council\u2019s support.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Russian Federation<\/strong><\/u>,<\/strong> noting that 36,500\u00a0Palestinian civilians have died since 7\u00a0October, said it is an unprecedented number of victims since the Second World War.\u00a0 She observed that a majority of Member States have condemned Israel\u2019s actions in Rafah.\u00a0 \u201cWe should not expect the Israeli military machine to stop its actions anytime soon,\u201d she said, also noting that the negotiations process is stalled.\u00a0 She reported that since October 2023, the Russian Federation\u2019s emergency services aircraft has delivered 500\u00a0tons of humanitarian cargo to Egypt, while non-governmental organizations have collected more than 100\u00a0tons of medications and basic supplies.\u00a0Stressing that the Council must continue to put pressure on Israel and the United States \u2014 which allocated $24.6\u00a0billion in military aid to Israel \u2014 she said that the worsening situation is caused by Washington, D.C.\u2019s attempt to monopolize the UN\u2019s mediation function to \u201csolve all global problems alone\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Japan<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0noted that the international community must uphold its strong condemnation of Hamas\u2019 actions on 7\u00a0October while recognizing the ongoing horrors in Gaza, where there are no safe places for civilians, aid workers or journalists.\u00a0 Voicing concern that Israel has begun military operations in Rafah, he recalled that the recent provisional measures by the International Court of Justice are binding.\u00a0 Voicing further deep concern over the Israeli Defense Forces\u2019 air strike in Rafah resulting in many civilian deaths, he called for an immediate ceasefire so that unhindered humanitarian activity is ensured, and the hostages released.\u00a0Japan supports negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the United States in that regard, he emphasized.\u00a0 Moreover, his Government unequivocally condemns the arson attack on UNRWA headquarters, he said, stressing that international organizations must be allowed to execute their missions safely.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Slovenia<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0recalled resolution 2728 (2024), which demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the ensuring of humanitarian access.\u00a0 Further, the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah.\u00a0 Yet, though Security Council resolutions and International Court of Justice decisions are binding, the operation continues, and the international community has witnessed \u201cheart-breaking\u201d footage of it.\u00a0 Condemning this week\u2019s strike on a supposed safe zone in Rafah, she also stated how appalled her Government is regarding the humanitarian conditions for the internally displaced in Gaza.\u00a0 Voicing further concern over growing struggles in the West Bank and the legislation in the Knesset on UNRWA, she emphasized:\u00a0 \u201cInternational law is not a menu to choose from.\u201d\u00a0 The Council must step up to its responsibilities instead of \u201cmerely observing grave violations.\u201d\u00a0 It must act with a clear resolution, she emphasized.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Ecuador<\/u>,<\/strong> voicing concern over the bombings that seriously affected the civilian population in Rafah, declared:\u00a0\u201cIt is time to stop the cycle of violence and suffering.\u201d\u00a0 Recalling the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, he stressed that hostilities must cease immediately so that humanitarian aid can reach all those in need in a safe, sufficient and timely manner.\u00a0 Noting that the rules of international humanitarian law are mandatory for all parties and that their violation entails serious responsibilities, he urged for the corresponding investigations to ensure accountability.\u00a0Further, negotiations between the parties must be resumed to allow for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, he said, voicing support for the mediation efforts carried out by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Guyana<\/u>,<\/strong> expressing \u201chelplessness\u201d at the disregard for the rule of law and impunity, said the Palestinian people\u2019s desire for their homeland has been \u201cperhaps, one of the greatest tragedies of modern times\u201d.\u00a0 Even greater a tragedy has been that the United Nations has not yet been able to bring this injustice to an end.\u00a0 Turning to Rafah, she stressed:\u00a0 \u201cWe must not continue to accept the all too familiar explanations of these incidents being mistakes or miscalculations.\u201d\u00a0 She underlined the importance of a ceasefire to improve the security situation for humanitarian aid deliveries, also urging Israel to open all land routes.\u00a0 She also demanded serious long-term efforts towards achieving the two-State solution.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0China<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0expressed concern that allowing the fighting in Gaza to continue will plunge the region into turmoil.\u00a0 While the Council and the International Court of Justice have issued resolutions and orders to Israel stop its operations, that country has bombed more than a dozen camps in Gaza.\u00a0 His country will support Algeria\u2019s draft resolution circulated yesterday, he said, calling on Council members to put aside \u201cpolitical calculations\u201d and save lives by supporting its adoption.\u00a0 He also condemned the politicization of humanitarian aid and the use of hunger as a \u201cbargaining chip\u201d, noting that Israel must allow unhindered humanitarian aid to circulate in Gaza.\u00a0 Soon, China will propose a more effective international peace conference for the establishment of a roadmap two-State solution to realize the dream of self-determination for the Palestinian people, he announced.\u00a0Meanwhile, the tenth Ministerial Conference of China-Arab States Cooperation will be held tomorrow, where China will continue talks with leaders in view to end the conflict in Gaza as soon as possible.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Republic<\/strong> of Korea<\/strong><\/u>, noting that the situation in Gaza is more alarming than before, said that innocent civilians are dying from a lack of aid as \u201crelevant countries are finger-pointing at each other\u201d regarding the inadequacy of movement both at the Rafah and Karem Shalom crossings.\u00a0 While the maritime corridor has been providing a semblance of hope, he expressed regret that it did not achieve its goal due to the inability of distributing aid inside Gaza and its further damage by bad weather.\u00a0 \u201cThe maritime corridor is no substitute to land crossings,\u201d he stressed, urging Israel to open all available crossings and take measures against looting and divergence.\u00a0 Also expressing concern over the situation in the West Bank, he voiced hope that the diplomatic efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt can lead to fruitful outcomes.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no time to waste,\u201d he underscored.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that his country is appalled by \u201cthe deeply distressing scenes emerging from Rafah\u201d and called on Israel to launch a swift, comprehensive and transparent investigation.\u00a0\u201cWe do not support a major military operation in Rafah without an acceptable plan to protect the hundreds of thousands of civilians who remain there,\u201d he asserted, adding that hundreds of thousands have already been displaced from Rafah, many for the second time, to locations without suitable provisions of shelter, food, water and access to medical treatment.\u00a0 Noting London\u2019s commitment to \u201cflood Gaza with aid\u201d, he said that this includes increasing the daily number of aid trucks entering Gaza to 500, opening the Ashdod Port to humanitarian aid and additional crossing points for aid in North Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cThe humanitarian situation is now catastrophic,\u201d he said, calling on Israel to allow aid in quantity through all crossing points, including Rafah.\u00a0 He stated that \u201call of this could stop now if Hamas laid down their arms.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Algeria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said addressing the crisis in Gaza without tackling the root cause \u2014 the occupation of Palestinian land \u2014 will not lead to lasting peace.\u00a0 The Security Council bears primary responsibility in this regard and must fully implement all relevant resolutions, including resolution 2334 (2016) which states that settlements are illegal and a violation of international law.\u00a0Meanwhile 800,000 settlers now live in the West Bank, terrorizing Palestinians, destroying their structures and \u201cjudaizing\u201d Al-Quds and its holy sites.\u00a0 Algeria will submit a draft solution urging the Council to shoulder its responsibilities, he said, calling for its support.\u00a0 \u201cWaiting for the occupying Power to voluntarily abide by international law and Security Council resolutions is pointless,\u201d he added, noting that after repeated attacks on UNRWA and a failed attempt to discredit the agency, the occupying Power is considering declaring it a terrorist organization, thus removing it from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Warning against this move, he called on the Council to protect the Agency and for the Organization to support the Palestinians\u2019 rights to an independent State with Al-Quds Sharif as its capital.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Mozambique<\/u><\/strong>, Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, said that Israel\u2019s military offensive against Gaza and Rafah is at the origin of the human tragedy in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0Despite the \u201cchorus of international warnings\u201d about the potential for mass casualties, the military offensive has proceeded, he noted, pointing to the 26\u00a0May strike on the area where displaced civilians had sought shelter.\u00a0 \u201cThe resulting global outrage and condemnation from world leaders, further enhances Israel\u2019s international isolation,\u201d he stressed, calling for a \u201cglobal concerted action\u201d to end this military operation.\u00a0 Underscoring the binding nature of Security Council resolutions 2712 (2023), 2720 (2023) and 2728 (2024), compounded by the orders of the International Court of Justice, he said they form a solid basis for collective action.\u00a0 He also expressed condemnation of the crimes discovered in the mass graves of Nasser and Al Shifa hospitals, underscoring:\u00a0 \u201cWe need to ensure accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0Deputy Permanent<\/strong> Observer<\/strong> for<\/strong> the State of Palestine<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0reported that \u201cthere is barely anything left in Gaza; Israel has destroyed everything.\u201d\u00a0 Yet, despite the International Court of Justice\u2019s orders, Israel has \u201cmade sure\u201d that famine is setting in, he said, adding that that country wants Palestinians to know that if they remain in Gaza, their fate is going to be \u201cdisplacement and death\u201d.\u00a0 Further, Israeli investigators and courts are designed to perpetuate and enable the occupation, not achieve accountability.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael can kill any Palestinian and call them either terrorist or human shield to justify their murder,\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cYou have learned to live with Israel\u2019s irrational and racist behaviour.\u00a0But we die because of it.\u201d\u00a0 For seven decades Israel has held Palestinians in captivity, one generation after another, also using them as human shields during its military incursions.<\/p>\n He went on to report that Israel has detained the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians it has killed, sometimes for over three decades. Recalling that Israel\u2019s Prime Minister repeatedly used the phrase \u201cIsrael from the river to the sea\u201d and held a map to that effect on the General Assembly podium, \u201cdisappearing Palestine altogether\u201d, he stressed: \u201cIt [Israel] wants occupation and violent oppression for Palestinians and peace and security for itself.\u201d\u00a0 Calling it \u201clogical\u201d that Israel\u2019s Government would interpret the recognition of the State of Palestine by Spain, Ireland and Norway as an \u201cattack against Israel\u201d, he observed:\u00a0 \u201cNever mind the fact that these countries have recognized Israel decades ago without asking for anyone\u2019s approval.\u00a0 That was not unilateral then but recognizing Palestine is.\u201d<\/p>\n Israel has been dehumanizing Palestine for so long that it does not understand how anyone can \u201cdecide to recognize our existence as a people, our rights as a nation, and our State,\u201d he pointed out.\u00a0 Emphasizing that Israel trusts that it can get away with its crimes, he observed that has been possible because it has had 75 years of experiencing full-fledged impunity.\u00a0 \u201cTomorrow\u2019s freedom and peace will be made possible by the decisions you take today,\u201d he stressed, urging the Member States to allow his delegation to tell the Palestinian people that help is on the way and that the solidarity they see in every corner of the globe will translate into resolute action to stop this genocide, achieve freedom and advance peace.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no objective more worthy.\u00a0 There is no time more pressing. There is no greater responsibility,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that the Council has convened again to discuss the \u201cjust and moral war Israel is fighting against the bloodthirsty and genocidal terror organization of Hamas.\u201d\u00a0 However, the 15-nation organ still refuses to recognize that the blame lies with the terrorists.\u00a0 The war began with Hamas\u2019 attacks on 7\u00a0October and continues because they still hold 125\u00a0hostages in Gaza while firing rockets on Israel\u2019s territory \u2014 even from within designated humanitarian zones in the south of Gaza.\u00a0 The war would end if Hamas were to release the hostages and lay down their arms, but they refuse, he stated.<\/p>\n Meanwhile the Council chooses to convene weekly to hold his country accountable for a war it did not want, he continued, adding that Israel has no choice but to root out terrorists in the south of Gaza and bring the hostages home.\u00a0 There are four terror battalions in Rafah currently, which is why the precise strike was conducted on Sunday, eliminating two senior Hamas terror officials.\u00a0Israel\u2019s war is only with Hamas, not the people of Gaza.\u00a0 The strike took place nearly two kilometres from the designated humanitarian zone and preliminary findings from investigations show that fire broke out from secondary explosions from munitions stored near the camps.\u00a0 \u201cWhere are the condemnations for Hamas using Gazans as human shields and civilian sites as weapons depots?\u201d he asked, adding that that group must be held accountable and the Council must not be influenced by falsehoods which paint Israel as the \u201croot of all evil\u201d.<\/p>\n He went on to say that South Africa failed once again to exploit the International Court of Justice, adding that the charges levelled against his country are false.\u00a0 Israel is fighting a defensive and just war in compliance with international law and is committed to facilitate the entry of aid into Gaza.\u00a0 The Council must uphold its mandate and cease to embolden those that want Israel\u2019s destruction.\u00a0 Demonizing one side is not conducive to a solution, but rather emboldens Palestinians to believe that solutions can achieved without negotiations nor concessions.\u00a0 Israel is fighting on behalf of its hostages but also for all of civilization, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cStop taking the side of terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that the majority of the UN members and thousands of people worldwide have been demanding a ceasefire for months.\u00a0 However, the Council\u2019s response to this call has not been entirely forthcoming, and the legally binding resolution calling for a short-lived ceasefire during Ramadan\u00a0ignored.\u00a0 Noting her country\u2019s obligation as a State party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of Genocide, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice seeking an order to prevent Israel from committing genocide against the Palestinian people.\u00a0 Following Rafah, South Africa returned to the Court seeking additional provisional measures.\u00a0 The Court\u2019s orders make it clear that there is a severe risk of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.\u00a0 Third States must, therefore, act independently and immediately to prevent genocide by Israel and ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide.<\/p>\n \u201cThis necessarily imposes an obligation on all States to cease funding and facilitating Israel\u2019s military actions, which are plausibly genocidal,\u201d she asserted.\u00a0 However, she expressed regret that since the provisional measures were issued by the Court \u2014 including in its latest decision on 10\u00a0May, where it ordered Israel to halt any other actions in Rafah that may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, Palestinians continue to suffer immeasurably under the occupying Power\u2019s intensified military operations.\u00a0 Requesting the Security Council to give effect to the Court\u2019s judgements in the case of\u00a0South Africa v. Israel<\/em>, she emphasized that the international community cannot proclaim the importance of international law and the importance of the Charter of the United Nations in some situations and not in others as if the rule of law only applies to a select few.\u00a0 \u201cFor international law to be credible, it should be uniformly applied and not selective,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/u><\/strong>, speaking for the Arab Group, said that Israel\u2019s \u201cheinous massacre\u201d against civilians in Rafah on Sunday and the Al-Mawasi massacre on 28\u00a0May are the latest episodes in the series of systematic war crimes.\u00a0 Noting that this came after more than 900,000\u00a0Palestinians were displaced, he stressed that there is no longer a safe or liveable place in Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael has persistently and deliberately crossed all red lines,\u201d he observed, noting that it has \u2014 for the third time \u2014 ignored the International Court of Justice\u2019s orders.\u00a0 He, therefore, called on the Council to engage in negotiations related to the draft resolution put forward by Algeria that aims to stop the Israeli military attack on Rafah and demands an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 \u201cEnding this war, which has been described by the United Nations as war against children, has become an urgent demand,\u201d he underscored.<\/p>\n Stressing that Israel, like any other State, is required to respect its obligations under international legal frameworks, he said that this must also include the West Bank.\u00a0 Highlighting the ongoing raids by Israeli extremists against the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he observed that it constitutes a violation of the historic and legal status of Jerusalem.\u00a0 \u201cThe oppression imposed on the Palestinians has no limits,\u201d he noted, urging the Council to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid.\u00a0 Further, the dangerous juncture in the history of this conflict makes it imperative for the Council to take all efforts to save the two-State solution, end the occupation and stop the violence.\u00a0 \u201cAchieving just and lasting peace also requires strong support for the full membership of the State of Palestine in the United Nations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 29 May 2024 Briefing by UN Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland at the 9638th Security Council meeting Speakers Condemn Recent Strike on Rafah, Calling for Ceasefire, Unhindered Delivery of Humanitarian Aid Briefing the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, the Special Coordinator for that region\u2019s peace process urged […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[660,759,807,810,834,867,897,906,969,5248,1593,1065,1074,5836,1119,1128,1152,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[1362],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,1769,2005,1741,1749,1745],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-297985","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-algeria","country-china","country-ecuador","country-egypt","country-france","country-guyana","country-israel","country-japan","country-malta","country-mozambique","country-palestine-state-of","country-republic-of-korea","country-russian-federation","country-sierra-leone","country-slovenia","country-south-africa","country-switzerland","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-source-security-council","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-refugees-and-displaced-persons","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/297985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/297985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":297997,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/297985\/revisions\/297997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=297985"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=297985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Speakers Condemn Recent Strike on Rafah, Calling for Ceasefire, Unhindered Delivery of Humanitarian Aid<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/h2>\n
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/h3>\n
Briefing<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
Statements<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n