<\/p>\n
17 July 2024<\/p>\n
9687TH MEETING (AM & PM)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Security Council today heard growing calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as speakers reiterated their concern about the ongoing war\u2019s unspeakable toll on civilians and the dwindling prospect for a two-State solution for Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis terrible war must end,\u201d said Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General, as he delivered the remarks of the United Nations chief, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres, to the 15-member organ, calling for a refocused effort to find a political solution that will end Israel\u2019s occupation of Palestine territory and resolve the conflict that has reportedly killed over 38,000\u00a0Palestinians, brought the humanitarian support system in Gaza close to total collapse and displaced nearly its entire population of 2\u00a0million.<\/p>\n
With the tireless efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, negotiations to formulate a deal for the release of the hostages and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire continue with some reported progress, he said, urging: \u00a0\u201cThe parties must reach such a deal now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu does not care about Palestinian civilian lives or even the hostages\u2019 lives,\u201d and only cares about his own political survival, said Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine.\u00a0 Although \u201cthere is more convergence on the Palestine question than on any other matter on the international agenda, one isolated, fanatic Government\u201d is rejecting this consensus and attacking the international law-based order, he said.<\/p>\n
The war in Gaza will not end until all hostages are released, insisted Israel\u2019s representative, warning that Hamas members hide themselves in the schools run by the\u00a0United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA).\u00a0 He then turned his attention to Iran\u2019s destabilizing role in the region. \u00a0\u201cIf we reach a situation of full-scale war in Lebanon, it is only because Hizbullah has shot thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians with Iran\u2019s support and funding,\u201d he asserted, exhorting the Council not to ignore the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been progress,\u201d said the representative of the United States, spotlighting the efforts of her country, Qatar, Egypt and other partners to bring about an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and a surge of aid to Palestinians in need.\u00a0 The Council must maintain pressure on Hamas to accept the deal and begin implementing it without delay, she said, adding that Israel must take additional immediate steps to eliminate barriers to the delivery of aid at scale.<\/p>\n
On that, Sven Koopmans, European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking in its capacity as observer, said: \u00a0\u201cHow can anyone condition the effective delivery of food to hungry people and medical support to the wounded and pregnant, on the outcome of a political negotiation?\u00a0 How can anyone hold innocent civilians hostage for nine months in a war?\u201d<\/p>\n
Sierra Leone\u2019s delegate said continuing the war in Gaza \u201crisks breeding a generation that is traumatized, uneducated, maimed, orphaned, homeless and \u2014 more dangerously \u2014 aggrieved\u201d.<\/p>\n
Also expressing frustration, Guyana\u2019s delegate said that \u201cwe hear that a ceasefire agreement cannot be reached due to red lines\u201d, asking:\u00a0 \u201cWhat red lines are there that allow for the continuous killing of women and children, and the bombing of schools, refugee camps and hospitals?\u201d<\/p>\n
Echoing such sentiment, the representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom described\u00a0\u201cthe deal on the table\u201d \u2014 endorsed by the Council in\u00a0resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024)\u00a0\u2014 as \u201cthe best chance to secure this\u201d.\u00a0Both sides must show flexibility in negotiations and demonstrate a clear and firm commitment to ensure proper implementation of the deal, she urged.<\/p>\n
Algeria\u2019s diplomat observed that \u201cthe international community appears powerless to stop the relentless killing machine that targets innocent people in the streets of Gaza\u201d, appealing:\u00a0 \u201cThe time for unity is now.\u201d\u00a0 On that, the speaker for Ecuador said: \u00a0\u201cIf an [immediate ceasefire] agreement had already been reached, hostilities would have stopped, hostages would have been released, humanitarian aid could have been delivered in a safe, sufficient and timely manner, and we would not be deploring still more victims.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the day-long debate featuring 70\u00a0speakers, the Council also heard stark warnings against Israel\u2019s continuous attacks in Gaza, its expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank and concern over the war\u2019s regional spillover\u00a0\u2014 all of which threaten a two-State solution.<\/p>\n
Eltaher Salem Elbaour, Libya\u2019s acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the international community is clearly watching a genocide, adding that the systematic violations on the Palestinian people have gone beyond \u201ceven the law of the jungle\u201d.\u00a0His country therefore joined South Africa in the lawsuit it brought to the International Court of Justice, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill Member States continue to be spectators of these violations and the denial of Palestinian\u2019s inalienable right to freedom and self-determination?\u201d, asked South Africa\u2019s representative, underscoring that \u201cthe question of peace in the Middle East will not be resolved unless the question of Palestine is resolved\u201d.<\/p>\n
The representatives of Japan and the Republic of Korea were among those who highlighted Israel\u2019s settlement activities as an obstacle to peace, with the latter stating:\u00a0 \u201cIt is particularly alarming that Israel has seized more land in the West Bank so far this year than in the past 20\u00a0years combined.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounding the alarm over the danger of the war expanding into his country, Abdallah Bou Habib, Lebanon\u2019s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, cited statements by senior Israeli officials threatening to \u201cburn his nation\u201d and \u201cblow it back to the Stone Age\u201d. \u00a0His country put forward an integrated framework for sustainable calm on its southern border, which includes a call for marking Lebanon\u2019s internationally recognized borders of\u00a01923, which has been stressed in the Lebanese-Israeli armistice agreement signed in\u00a01949.\u00a0 As such, Israel should withdraw from all Lebanese territory, he urged.<\/p>\n
Ali Bagheri, Iran\u2019s acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated:\u00a0\u201cIsrael\u2019s warmongering leaders have been under the illusion that expanding the war to Lebanon can save them from the quagmire of Gaza.\u201d\u00a0 Teheran rejects \u201cany adventurous action by this rogue regime and its consequences\u201d, he stressed.<\/p>\n
Abdullatif Bin Rashid al Zayani, Bahrain\u2019s Minister for Foreign Affairs, recalled that the thirty-third Arab Summit in May called for the convening of an international conference for peace in the Middle East to resolve the Palestinian issue based on a two-State solution, expressing his country\u2019s readiness to host such an event. \u00a0The Council and the international community must \u201cwork seriously and effectively with Arab States to end this long-standing conflict and deliver a better future for the Middle East region and their peoples\u201d.<\/p>\n
COURTENAY RATTRAY,\u00a0Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General<\/u><\/strong>, briefed the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on behalf of Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres.\u00a0 Last December, the hostilities in Gaza and Israel created appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma, leading to the exceptional invocation of Article\u00a099 of the Charter of the United Nations by the UN chief. \u00a0Over 38,000\u00a0Palestinians have been reported killed, with some 87,000\u00a0injured and thousands missing, including many women and children, he said.\u00a0Over 1,500\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals have been reported killed, with more than 7,000\u00a0injured and 125\u00a0hostages still held in Gaza.\u00a0 Today, \u201cthe humanitarian support system in Gaza is close to total collapse,\u201d he said, also warning that \u201cthere is a complete breakdown of public order, and the spectre of further regional spillover is increasing by the day, as exchanges of fire across the Blue Line between Hizbullah and Israel continue\u201d.\u00a0 “Nothing can justify the 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 horrific acts of terror by Hamas and other armed groups and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n He noted that, in recent weeks, Israeli military operations and fighting intensified across Gaza while rockets continue to be launched by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza towards Israeli population centres.\u00a0 Rafah is in ruins. \u00a0Nowhere in Gaza is safe, with 2\u00a0million people \u2014 nearly the Strip\u2019s entire population \u2014 displaced.\u00a0 Almost half a million people face acute food insecurity. \u00a0Humanitarian convoys are frequently unable to collect and distribute life-saving goods in safety as attacks against them and strikes on or near health and humanitarian facilities continue.\u00a0 Despite ongoing dialogue with Israeli authorities and some improvements, much more is needed.\u00a0 \u201cIt is long past time for a safe enabling environment for effective humanitarian operations in Gaza, in line with international humanitarian law,\u201d he appealed.<\/p>\n Turning attention to the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, he noted\u00a0<\/strong>that between 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 and 8\u00a0July\u00a02024, 553\u00a0Palestinians \u2014 including 131\u00a0children \u2014 were killed.\u00a0 During the same period, 22\u00a0Israelis, including 9\u00a0members of Israeli forces, were killed by Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank. \u00a0Meanwhile, the Israeli security cabinet reportedly approved a series of punitive steps against the Palestinian Authority, including the legalization of five Israeli outposts, the advancement of thousands of settlement housing units, and demolitions in parts of Area\u00a0B in the West Bank.\u00a0 On a positive note, Israel\u2019s finance minister lifted the suspension of revenue transfers to the Palestinian Authority and also renewed the letter of indemnity for Israeli correspondent banking with Palestinian banks.\u00a0 Both measures are critical for Palestinian fiscal stability, but much more is required.<\/p>\n \u201cRecent developments are driving a stake through the heart of any prospect for a two-State solution,\u201d he cautioned, citing Israel\u2019s steps to alter the geography of the occupied West Bank, such as the issuance of two military orders in May to transfer powers to a civilian deputy.\u00a0This move is a further step towards extending Israeli sovereignty over this occupied territory. \u00a0If left unaddressed, these measures risk causing irreparable damage.\u00a0 \u201cWe must change course,\u201d he stressed, urging all settlement activities to cease immediately. \u00a0Israeli settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and a key obstacle to peace.<\/p>\n Against this backdrop, the United Nations is sparing no effort to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, he emphasized. \u00a0He then called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. \u00a0With the tireless efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, negotiations to formulate a deal for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire continue with some reported progress. \u00a0\u201cThe parties must reach such a deal now,\u201d he urged. \u00a0International support for these efforts is critical, particularly for the essential work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA).\u00a0 \u201cThis terrible war must end,\u201d he said, calling for a refocus on finding a political solution that will end the occupation and resolve the conflict.\u00a0Ensuring the restoration of governance in Gaza under a single, legitimate Palestinian government is also essential.\u00a0 The United Nations will continue to support all such efforts.<\/p>\n RIYAD H. MANSOUR, Permanent Observer for the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>,<\/strong> noting that trees are often planted by those who know they will never sit in its shade, said the international law-based order is similar: \u00a0it was put in place by those who endured the worst tragedies, tree by tree, to provide shade to future generations. \u00a0\u201cIsrael has uprooted every one of those trees in Gaza,\u201d he said, noting that it has killed those most entitled to protection \u2014 civilians, including children, humanitarians, doctors and journalists. \u00a0Its own soldiers do not hesitate to share recordings of their crimes with the world. \u00a0\u201cWhat is happening in Gaza will go down as the most documented genocide in history,\u201d he said, adding that Israel has also manufactured a humanitarian catastrophe with famine at its core, wielding starvation, dehydration and the spread of diseases as the ultimate weapons. \u00a0\u201cTwo\u00a0million people, who were subjected to a 17-year old blockade are now confronted with a hermetic siege, dying of hunger and disease, while food and medicine are available only meters away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Rejecting Israel\u2019s use of security as a pretext for killing Palestinians, he said security cannot be achieved through injustice. \u00a0Starting with the Nakba of\u00a01948, which attempted to uproot an entire people, he pointed out, successive Israeli Governments have tried to get rid of the Palestinian problem through occupation, invasion and blockading.\u00a0 They managed to avoid the only solution possible: \u00a0freedom for the Palestinian people and peace for all. \u00a0\u201cThere is a reason Israel behaves this way,\u201d he said, adding that everything in its history has convinced the country it will get away with it. \u00a0It is betting this time will be no exception, he pointed out. \u00a0Recalling Council resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024), which was adopted to achieve an immediate ceasefire, he noted that it was meant to lead to the release of hostages and prisoners on both sides, a surge in humanitarian aid and regional de-escalation. \u00a0\u201cBut, Netanyahu does not care about Palestinian civilian lives or even the hostages\u2019 lives,\u201d he only cares about his own political survival, he said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.<\/p>\n Although \u201cthere is more convergence on the Palestine question than on any other matter on the international agenda\u201d, he said, \u201cone isolated, fanatic Government\u201d is rejecting this consensus and attacking the international law-based order, accusing its representatives of terrorism and antisemitism. \u00a0\u201cUntil when will we pretend this Government is anything else than what it proclaims to be?\u201d, he asked. \u00a0Imagining a parallel world in which the international community upheld the rules, stopped the war and ensured safety for all Palestinian and Israeli civilians, he called on it to \u201cstrengthen those who seek peace rather than arm those who seek extermination\u201d and recognize the Palestinian State rather than witness the destruction of the two-State solution. \u00a0Noting that, in two days, the \u201chighest judicial body on earth\u201d will render its authoritative opinion on the question of Palestine, he said this expression of the law should serve as the basis for collective action. \u00a0\u201cAs all your nations refuse to forego their rights, the Palestinian people will never accept to relinquish theirs,\u201d he underscored.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that \u201cIran has been obsessed with killing Jews everywhere\u201d and is exporting its bloodshed and destruction to all corners of the region.\u00a0 However, instead of focusing on the cause, the Council focuses on the symptom of the situation in the Middle East, he observed, adding that the true reason for the devastation and bloodshed is \u201cnever to be named\u201d.\u00a0 Practising such \u201cwilful blindness\u201d, this Council regularly ignores the issue, preferring to focus on Israel.\u00a0 Iran is failing its people and has subjugated its citizens since\u00a01979 when it launched a revolution that only brought destruction.\u00a0 The people of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have all suffered due to Iran\u2019s attempts to inflame the region.\u00a0 Despite chanting \u201cdeath to Israel\u201d, Iran\u2019s leaders still receive the red-carpet treatment at the Council, he said, noting that, recently, that country launched over 350\u00a0missiles and drones at Israel.\u00a0 \u201cIt has taken its annihilationist obsession against Israel to a whole new level,\u201d with a digital countdown clock in Tehran showing how many days remain until the destruction of Israel by the year\u00a02040.\u00a0 \u201cWhere is the outrage?\u201d, he asked, warning that Iran is weeks from having enough enriched uranium to develop a nuclear bomb.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we reach a situation of full-scale war in Lebanon, it is only because Hizbullah has shot thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians with Iran\u2019s support and funding,\u201d he asserted, urging the Council to take immediate action.\u00a0Moreover, Iran has supplied military equipment to be used against Ukraine, he pointed out, citing the country as \u201cthe greatest threat to global security\u201d. \u00a0Stressing that the war in Gaza will not end until all hostages are released, he said that Hamas hide themselves in UNRWA schools.\u00a0 Exporting its destruction to all corners of the region, Tehran is much bigger and more powerful than Da\u2019esh, with near-nuclear-weapon capabilities. \u00a0\u201cIts genocidal ambitions are not just a missing element in any conversation on Gaza, but the central element,\u201d he emphasized, adding that \u201cwithout taking meaningful action on Iran, the death and bloodshed will only spread\u201d.<\/p>\n SERGEY V. LAVROV,\u00a0<\/strong>Minister for Foreign Affairs of the<\/strong> Russian Federation<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0and Council President for July, spoke in his national capacity to recall his country\u2019s historical support for both Israel and Palestine and stress the importance of implementing relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and Security Council.\u00a0 However, he said that the \u201ccolonial and mandate-based past of the Middle East and North Africa remains a burden on the countries of the region\u201d \u2014 a situation \u201cmade worse by the West\u2019s new geopolitical experiments\u201d.\u00a0 Countries of the region should independently determine their own path towards strengthened sovereignty, independence and socioeconomic development.\u00a0 Stressing, however, that the most critical and urgent issue today is the Palestinian one, he recalled the Council\u2019s adopted resolutions and observed that \u201cthe ongoing bloodshed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory only reaffirms that all of these decisions have remained on paper\u201d.\u00a0 He also pointed out that 10\u00a0months of conflict in Gaza \u201chave yielded twice as many civilian casualties as 10\u00a0years of the conflict in Ukraine\u201d.\u00a0 Adding that \u201cthe current explosion of violence in the Middle East is largely a consequence of US policy in the region\u201d, he called for a permanent ceasefire, sufficient humanitarian access to all in need and an immediate cessation of unlawful settlement activity.\u00a0 \u201cToday, we all have a responsibility to stop the unfolding human tragedy,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n WOLFGANG AMADEUS BR\u00dcLHART,\u00a0Special Envoy on the Middle East and North Africa of Switzerland<\/u><\/strong>, emphasized that the lack of implementation of the four Council resolutions on the situation since 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 is \u201cunacceptable\u201d and urged intensified efforts to break the spiral of violence and return to \u201cthe principles of humanity that have been flouted for too long in this conflict\u201d. \u00a0He also called for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate, unconditional release of the hostages, encouraging the parties to conclude and implement an agreement to this effect as quickly as possible.\u00a0 Safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access must be provided through all possible crossing points throughout the Gaza Strip. \u00a0A ceasefire in Gaza will make a major contribution to regional de-escalation. \u00a0But, that is \u201cnot enough\u201d, he said, calling for a return to the path of peace and respect for international law in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.\u00a0 To this end, Israel must refrain from measures to introduce demographic and administrative changes in the occupied territory. \u00a0\u201cThe way forward begins with respect for international law and dialogue between the parties to the conflict, the States of the region, the members of this Council and other key players,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u><\/strong>, spotlighting the efforts of her country, Qatar, Egypt and other partners to bring about an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and a surge aid to Palestinians in need, said \u201cthere has been progress\u201d. \u00a0The Council must keep pressure on Hamas to accept the deal and begin implementing it without delay, she said, adding that Israel must take additional immediate steps to eliminate barriers to the delivery of aid at scale. \u00a0\u201cPalestinian civilians are living in hell over and over,\u201d she said, noting the recent\u00a0Israel Defense Forces strike on a UN-supported school. \u00a0She also voiced concern about the Houthi attacks on commercial and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, as well as the diplomatic, private sector and other personnel detained by them. \u00a0\u201cWe must not forget about the situation in the West Bank,\u201d she added, noting the uptick in deadly violence against Palestinian civilians by violent extremist settlers. \u00a0Recalling her country\u2019s latest round of designations naming three Israeli individuals and five entities connected to violence in the West Bank, she also expressed concern about Israel’s recent announcement expanding settlements.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Guyana<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that \u201cthe silence has been deafening on a possible solution to end the war in Gaza\u201d, with the multilayered catastrophe worsening with each passing day.\u00a0 \u201cYet, even in their seemingly unending suffering, Palestinians look to the United Nations to bring this catastrophe to an end,\u201d she said, underscoring the need to advance the peace process. \u00a0\u201cNine months of Israel\u2019s barbaric war on Gaza has birthed a severely mutilated population, driven from corner to corner of the Strip while bombs incessantly rain down on their severely weakened bodies,\u201d she said, adding that bombs, starvation, inadequate health care and essential goods and services have seen the civilian population robbed of everything necessary for their survival.\u00a0 Also, attacks against refugee camps \u2014 including Al Mawasi, Bureij and Nuseirat \u2014 have intensified. \u00a0\u201cYet, we hear that a ceasefire agreement cannot be reached due to red lines,\u201d she said, asking: \u00a0\u201cWhat red lines are there that allow for the continuous killing of women and children, and the bombing of schools, refugee camps and hospitals?\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0China<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that the situation in Gaza deteriorates as \u201cthe red lines of international law and international humanitarian law have been breached time and again\u201d.\u00a0 The international community must promote a ceasefire to save lives and \u201calleviate the ongoing disaster without delay\u201d, he stressed, recalling the United States\u2019 repeated claim during the adoption of resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024) that Israel had accepted the agreement.\u00a0 However, more than a month later, Israeli military operations in Gaza continue.\u00a0 \u201cAt this moment, what Gaza needs is a hope for peace,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Israel must immediately cease all military operations in Gaza and stop the collective punishment of its people, and countries with influence should push the parties to implement relevant Council resolutions.\u00a0Adding that hunger should not be weaponized \u2014 nor humanitarian issues politicized \u2014 he said that the closure of the floating pier made clear that land transport routes are the most effective means to provide humanitarian access at scale.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that Keir Starmer, her country\u2019s new Prime Minister, set out the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, immediate release of all hostages and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza. \u00a0In this vein, she welcomed the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.\u00a0\u201cThe deal on the table \u2014 endorsed by this Council in resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024) \u2014 is the best chance to secure this,\u201d she said, urging both sides to show flexibility in negotiations and demonstrate a clear and firm commitment to ensure proper implementation of the deal.\u00a0She then called on Israel to protect civilians, allow unfettered aid into Gaza and ensure the UN and humanitarian actors have the access and equipment necessary to safely get aid to those in need.\u00a0She rejected Israel\u2019s declarations of 2,357\u00a0hectares of land in the West Bank as \u201cState lands\u201d \u2014 the largest such action since the Oslo Accords.\u00a0 Peace will only be sustainable if both sides recommit themselves to a two-State solution.\u00a0 The world needs a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State, she asserted.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Republic<\/strong> of<\/strong> Korea<\/strong><\/u>, calling on Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal without further delay, expressed concern about the Israeli strike on a so-called \u201csafe zone\u201d, reportedly killing more than 90\u00a0Palestinians.\u00a0 This demonstrates once again that \u201cnowhere in Gaza is safe\u201d, he said, adding that \u201cIsrael is not doing what it describes as \u2018everything\u2019 to protect civilians\u201d. \u00a0Hospitals, schools, places of worship and humanitarian facilities must not be targeted, he added, especially since such facilities are serving as shelters for helpless civilians, many of whom have been forcibly displaced multiple times due to Israel’s recurrent evacuation orders. \u00a0Hamas must seize endangering civilians by using densely populated areas in Gaza as bases to launch rockets.\u00a0 \u201cIt is particularly alarming that Israel has seized more land in the West Bank so far this year than in the past 20\u00a0years combined,\u201d he said, also expressing concern about the situation across the Blue Line and the daily exchanges of fire between Israel and Hizbullah.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Algeria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that \u201cthe international community appears powerless to stop the relentless killing machine that targets innocent people in the streets of Gaza\u201d. \u00a0The Israeli occupying forces displace Palestinians from their homes, destroy their communities and inflict death with impunity. \u00a0\u201cThese people thrive on Palestinian suffering and violate international law and humanitarian norms, using aid as a tool for pressure and bargaining,\u201d he observed.\u00a0 As a result, Palestinians now face famine \u2014 \u201cthis is a war crime,\u201d he asserted, urging the Council to take the necessary steps, as outlined in resolution\u00a02417\u00a0(2018).\u00a0 The provisional measures of the International Court of Justice were clear: \u00a0the occupation authorities must immediately provide essential services and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.\u00a0Instead, they have responded with more obstacles, targeting aid trucks and preventing UNRWA from carrying out its vital work. \u00a0The Rafah crossing \u2014 which the Court ordered to remain open \u2014 has been destroyed. \u00a0Underscoring the need to uphold the Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cThe time for unity is now.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Sierra<\/strong> Leone<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>observed that \u201cnine months on, the narratives from the Gaza Strip remain horrendous\u201d, as parties to the conflict refuse to implement Council resolutions, comply with binding orders from the International Court of Justice or respect their obligations under international law.\u00a0 Recalling that his delegation joined others in good faith to vote in favour of resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024) \u201con the assurance that a deal has been reached\u201d, he noted that, since that adoption on 10\u00a0June, about 1,300\u00a0more Palestinians have been killed and protected objects have been targeted by missile strikes.\u00a0 \u201cThere aren\u2019t, and there will never be, any winners in this Israel-Palestine conflict,\u201d he stressed, adding that continuation of the war in Gaza \u201crisks breeding a generation that is traumatized, uneducated, maimed, orphaned, homeless and \u2014 more dangerously \u2014 aggrieved\u201d.\u00a0Changing this narrative demands collective, immediate action to secure lasting peace, end impunity and ensure accountability for atrocity crimes committed during the conflict.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Slovenia<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that \u201cneither Hamas nor Israel cares about civilians,\u201d noting that the former is hiding among the camps for internally displaced persons and thus endangers the lives of their fellow Palestinians.\u00a0 The latter shows complete disregard for the suffering of civilians in pursuing Hamas fighters.\u00a0 Proposing a three-step approach to be taken by the Council, he said that the first is an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 Council resolutions and International Court of Justice orders on provisional measures must be fully implemented.\u00a0 The second step should be a renewed political process leading to a two-State solution.\u00a0Past and existing frameworks are clearly not functioning. \u00a0Only a coherent approach backed by strong political will can provide a clear path forward. \u00a0An international peace conference under the UN auspices would provide a platform for a revitalized exchange.\u00a0 The third step is rebuilding, as in Gaza. \u00a0\u201cFor this to happen, we need a strong Palestinian Authority able to carry out its internal reform processes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Japan<\/u><\/strong>, highlighting the killing of at least 90\u00a0people in the\u00a0air strike\u00a0on a so-called \u201csafe zone\u201d and the destruction of UNRWA headquarters, said \u201cthese are just two notable examples of the many horrors happening regularly on the ground\u201d. \u00a0Calling on Hamas to stop using civilians as human shields, he expressed concern about the nearly 2\u00a0million internally displaced Palestinians, many displaced multiple times, with little to no access to food, water, medicine and other basics. \u00a0It is alarming to see yet another evacuation order by Israel for Khan Younis and Gaza City. \u00a0Acknowledging Israel’s cooperation with humanitarian agencies, he called for more, including effective deconfliction mechanisms, reopening the Rafah crossing, full use of Ashdod Port and humanitarian access. \u00a0Also expressing concern about Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank, he took note of the country\u2019s latest transfers of parts of clearance revenues to the Palestinian Authority and urged it to release all withheld revenues.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Mozambique<\/u><\/strong>, voicing concern over the aggravation of the already dramatic situation in Gaza and the region, stated:\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately, we see no progress leading to a ceasefire and the release of hostages on the horizon.\u201d \u00a0A deplorable vivid example is the recent attacks on Gaza by the Israeli armed forces in which civilians, medical personnel, humanitarian workers and journalists have been killed.\u00a0 Also, reports on the discovery of five mass graves where bodies of people were exhumed at Nasser and Al Shifa Hospitals are alarming, he said, calling for the creation of an international, independent and impartial investigation team to bring to light this barbaric act. \u00a0Urgent actions must be taken for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to millions of Palestinians in need. \u00a0He cautioned that the situation on the ground is not improving, as attacks continue to cause civilian deaths, forced displacement and aggravation of the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinians.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Malta<\/u><\/strong>, recalling that her delegation has \u201cunfailingly\u201d called for a ceasefire in Gaza since 7\u00a0October\u00a02023, called on Hamas and Israel to accept and implement the ceasefire proposal outlined in resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024).\u00a0 Spotlighting Israel\u2019s recent order for the forced displacement of all Palestinians from Gaza City, she stressed that recurring displacement exacerbates the dangers Palestinians face and forces them into smaller areas, where their safety \u2014 \u201ceven in supposedly designated humanitarian zones\u201d \u2014 cannot be guaranteed.\u00a0She also expressed concern over the war\u2019s effect on women and children, underscoring that Israel\u2019s bombing of schools and hospitals is \u201cunconscionable\u201d.\u00a0 Further, a decimated health-care system, persistent food insecurity and lack of access to clean water put children, newborns and pregnant women in significant peril \u2014 contrary to their unique protections under international law.\u00a0While observing that challenges in ensuring peace for Israelis and Palestinians persist, she urged:\u00a0 \u201cBut, we must not let this extinguish all hope.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Ecuador<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>recalled that the Council adopted resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024) in June to support a ceasefire proposal.\u00a0The deal is still under negotiation despite the parties being urged to accept and implement it without delay or conditions.\u00a0 \u201cIf an agreement had already been reached, hostilities would have stopped, hostages would have been released, humanitarian aid could have been delivered in a safe, sufficient and timely manner, and we would not be deploring still more victims,\u201d he said.\u00a0Unfortunately, it is not the case, he said, exhorting the parties to exhibit their goodwill and flexibility to finally end the violence and start down the road towards peaceful coexistence. \u00a0However, this road to peaceful coexistence is threatened not only by the war in Gaza, but also by Israel\u2019s acts undermining the viability of a two-State solution, such as the legalization of settlements in the West Bank or the hobbling of the finance and functioning of the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 He then called for full respect and implementation of resolution\u00a02334\u00a0(2016) and other relevant Council decisions.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0France<\/u>,<\/strong> stressing the need to reach agreement on a ceasefire, said Council resolutions must be fully implemented. \u00a0Expressing solidarity with the Israeli people and outrage regarding the Israeli strikes on Al-Mawasi camp and an UNRWA school, he said that country must uphold international law. \u00a0Settlement activity must come to an end, he stressed, adding that settlers must be held accountable. \u00a0Reaffirming support for a political solution, he also expressed concern about the ongoing clashes between Israel and Lebanon, and called for restraint from both parties. \u00a0The implementation of Council resolution\u00a01701\u00a0(2006) is crucial for the security of both countries. \u00a0A diplomatic solution is essential, he said, also calling on the Houthis to cease their attacks on the Red Sea. \u00a0Iran, which is financing the Houthis, must stop its destabilizing actions, he said, calling for the release of all personnel detained by the Houthis.<\/p>\n ALI BAGHERI,\u00a0Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran<\/strong><\/u>, said that over the past 285\u00a0days, the Israeli regime has been committing extensive international crimes in Gaza.\u00a0 In this deadly campaign of brutality and terror, about 20\u00a0people are killed or injured every hour. \u00a0Israel has destroyed over 80\u00a0per cent of residential areas and all infrastructure, including hospitals, mosques, churches, educational centres and historical sites in Gaza.\u00a0 Further, it has weaponized starvation as a means of war by blocking aid routes. \u00a0The bombing of refugee camps in Rafah and attacking displaced people in Khan Yunis are just two examples of these recent inhumane crimes. \u00a0Despite the global condemnation of its genocide and war crimes, Israel continues its brutal crimes against Palestine with full impunity.<\/p>\n Recently, \u201cIsrael\u2019s warmongering leaders have been under the illusion that expanding the war to Lebanon can save them from the quagmire of Gaza\u201d, he said, noting that this is a dangerous miscalculation that threatens to spiral an already chaotic situation out of control. \u00a0\u201cI would like to strongly warn against any adventurous action by this rogue regime and its consequences,\u201d he stated, stressing that any aggression against Lebanon will be met with a decisive response from the international community, the nations of the region and the resistance groups. \u00a0He further emphasized that the responsibility of the United States \u2014 as the strategic ally and main supporter of the regime in the region \u2014 cannot be denied in the face of any potential aggression by the regime against Lebanon.\u00a0 Accordingly, he urged the Council to compel the Israeli regime to immediately and unconditionally end genocide and aggression against Gaza, implement a permanent ceasefire and open border crossings for the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.\u00a0 Israel must also withdraw from all occupied Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese territories and refrain from any military attacks on Lebanon or other countries in the region, he asserted.<\/p>\n ABDULLATIF BIN RASHID AL ZAYANI,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of<\/strong> Bahrain<\/strong><\/u>, said that, as the war on the Gaza Strip continues, the entire Middle East \u201cstands at a crossroads\u201d.\u00a0 One path leads to expanded conflict across the region that draws State and non-State actors into destruction, misery and wasted potential.\u00a0The other calls for a resolution to the conflict in Gaza \u2014 not just an immediate ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian assistance and the release of hostages and detainees, but also a solution that accounts for other essential matters, such as reconstruction, administrative governance and post-ceasefire security arrangements.\u00a0Spotlighting the thirty-third Arab Summit held in Bahrain in May, he said this event \u201cproved beyond any doubt\u201d that Arab States \u201ccollectively adopted the path of a just and lasting peace as an irreplaceable strategic option\u201d for achieving humanitarian objectives in the \u201cbattle for peace\u201d.\u00a0 He also recalled that the Summit called for the convening of an international conference for peace in the Middle East to resolve the Palestinian issue based on a two-State solution, expressing his country\u2019s readiness to host such an event.\u00a0He added a call on the Council and the international community \u201cto work seriously and effectively with Arab States to end this long-standing conflict and deliver a better future for the Middle East region and their peoples\u201d.<\/p>\n ABDALLAH BOU HABIB,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon<\/strong><\/u>, warned of the danger of the war expanding into his country, citing dozens of statements by senior Israeli officials threatening to burn his nation and \u201cblow it back to the Stone Age\u201d. \u00a0He therefore renewed his warning of miscalculation, brinkmanship and dragging the entire region towards an explosive situation.\u00a0 He also urged efforts to avoid falling into the trap of Israeli recklessness, which seeks to continue the war and expand its geographical scope. \u00a0That would shake the entire Middle East and lead to a new displacement crisis, from which Europe will not be spared.\u00a0 For Lebanon, \u201cthe United Nations will remain the line of defence that shelters us and the last refuge from the logic of violence and occupation today\u201d.<\/p>\n Recalling the 23\u00a0January Council meeting, he said that Lebanon put forward an integrated framework for sustainable calm on its southern border.\u00a0The framework calls for a ceasefire to fully implement Council resolution\u00a01701\u00a0(2006), which has proven its ability to establish relative stability in southern Lebanon since the end of the July\u00a02006 war.\u00a0 It also demands a definitive cessation of Israeli violations by air, land and sea of Lebanon\u2019s sovereignty and for support by the UN and friendly countries to the Lebanese Government to deploy its army south of the Litani River.\u00a0 It also calls for marking Lebanon\u2019s internationally recognized borders of\u00a01923, which has been stressed in the Lebanese-Israeli armistice agreement signed in\u00a01949.\u00a0 As such, Israel should withdraw from all Lebanese territory.\u00a0 The framework also calls for commitment to supporting the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon\u00a0(UNIFIL) forces in southern Lebanon as it has been a factor for calm and stability in the region, he said, noting that his country submitted a request for the renewal of UNIFIL\u2019s mandate without any modification to the current mandate.<\/p>\n ELTAHER SALEM ELBAOUR,\u00a0Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of<\/strong> Libya<\/strong><\/u>, condemning the massacres being committed on innocent civilians on the pretext of targeting Hamas, said the various adopted resolutions continue to be \u201cwords on paper\u201d. \u00a0The international community is clearly watching a genocide, he said, adding that the systematic violations on the Palestinian people have gone beyond all international norms and \u201ceven the law of the jungle\u201d.\u00a0 Noting that some members of the international community are furnishing the occupying entity with arms, he added that the absence of political will has made it impossible to stop this bloodshed.\u00a0 His country joined South Africa in the lawsuit it brought to the International Court of Justice, he said, adding that the Palestinian\u00a0people have every right to defend themselves. \u00a0\u201cTheir cause is just,\u201d he underscored, and recalling the many attempts at reaching a settlement to this issue, he stressed that a solution can only be achieved by dealing with the root causes and by acknowledging the Palestinian people’s rights, including the right to establish an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Reaffirming support for the Palestinian State\u2019s right to full membership in the United Nations, he said that is a step towards a just solution.<\/p>\n ABDULLAH ALI A. AL-YAHYA,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of<\/strong> Kuwait<\/strong><\/u>, said Gaza has turned into a bleak landscape of destruction, with 40,000\u00a0deaths, mostly women and children.\u00a0 The total number of victims under the rubble is unknown, he added.\u00a0\u201cIsrael has turned schools into battlefields and hospitals into landscapes of pain and powerlessness,\u201d he said. \u00a0Despite the efforts to bring an end to these attacks, Israel continues to cut lives short without any distinction.\u00a0 \u201cThese operations have no military objectives, but aim to systematically destroy and terrorize Palestinians,\u201d he asserted, adding that the Israeli authorities are committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.\u00a0 Calling for unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance across Gaza, he underlined the essential role of UNRWA in supporting the Palestinian people in their darkest hour. \u00a0He further warned about double standards and expressed support for all initiatives to reach a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.<\/p>\n RUSS JALICHANDRA,\u00a0Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand<\/strong><\/u>, repeating a call for an immediate ceasefire, expressed concern over the risk that the conflict will assume \u201ca more regional dimension\u201d.\u00a0 The Council must prevent this, and he urged all parties to implement resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024) \u2013 \u201ca major step forward\u201d \u2013 as well as other relevant Council resolutions.\u00a0 All sides must also comply with their international law obligations, including protecting civilian populations and objects and ensuring the provision of urgently needed basic humanitarian services and assistance.\u00a0 Further, UN staff and premises must be protected, and all remaining hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally \u2014 \u201cincluding Thai nationals\u201d, he added.\u00a0 Also urging the international community to resume or continue support for UNRWA, he reported that his country has recently provided an additional $50,000 to the Agency\u2019s flash appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory that covers the April- December period.\u00a0 Thailand will also donate another $100,000 to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to support humanitarian assistance for Palestinian refugees.\u00a0 \u201cThailand hopes that our contributions will help enable UNRWA to continue its mandate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Iraq<\/u><\/strong>, speaking for the\u00a0Arab<\/strong> Group<\/strong><\/u>, condemned Israeli aggression and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including the record killing of children, journalists and humanitarian workers. \u00a0Emphasizing that Israel has destroyed homes and eradicated entire families, he noted that it has deliberately targeted hospitals, schools, universities, churches and mosques, as well as UN facilities. \u00a0Israel also prevented international journalists from entering Gaza to cover the horrors, in addition to setting obstacles to the delivery of water, food and medicine. \u00a0Recalling the large numbers of people who were killed, maimed and had limbs amputated, he said: \u00a0\u201cIt was all preventable.\u201d \u00a0Highlighting the new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli authorities, he stressed that there is no safe area anywhere in Gaza.<\/p>\n Also condemning the settlements and the settler violence against Palestinians, alterations to the status quo of Al-Quds Al-Sharif and the defamation campaign against UNRWA, he said the Palestine question is central to the Arab world. \u00a0Israel can never enjoy peace if Palestinian people do not have an independent State. \u00a0Israel is also fueling tension in the region, he said condemning that country\u2019s aggression against neighboring countries. \u00a0He also called on all countries to recognize the State of Palestine and ensure that it is given\u00a0full membership in the\u00a0United Nations.\u00a0 Speaking in his national capacity, he regretted that the Council has not been able to solve the Palestinian question, despite 75\u00a0years of bloodletting. \u00a0The war launched against the Gaza Strip has gone well beyond self-defence, he added, calling on the Council to implement its own resolutions.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Qatar<\/u><\/strong>, associating herself with the Arab Group, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC) and the Non-Aligned Movement, said almost 130,000\u00a0civilians have been killed and injured in Gaza and 2\u00a0million people displaced due to targeted starvation and indiscriminate shelling of homes, hospitals and schools.\u00a0 Accordingly, she called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire that would ensure the exchange of prisoners of hostages, the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to pave the way to a serious peace process and a just political settlement.\u00a0 To this end, she spotlighted the diplomatic efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States to achieve an agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire.\u00a0Further, she strongly condemned the heinous attacks by the Israeli occupation forces on tents of displaced people, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians.\u00a0 This escalation is a clear challenge to the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, she said, calling for an immediate ending to the attack on Rafah.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Egypt<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0observed:\u00a0 \u201cHere we meet again as the war is raging on in Gaza.\u201d\u00a0 Israel\u2019s illegal aggression against the Gaza Strip has caused unprecedented death, displacement and destruction \u2014 \u201cbut the deterioration does not stop here\u201d, he said, underlining the serious risk of regional escalation.\u00a0Detailing the destruction of educational facilities, rampant food insecurity and the Israeli Government\u2019s moves to annex further territory in the West Bank, he asked aloud if Israel expects \u201cthat the Arab peoples will continue to silently watch this ongoing massacre without doing anything\u201d.\u00a0 Warning against such systematic violation of international law and of the ramifications of further Israeli escalation, he called on the Council to reach an immediate ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access and stop the forced displacement designed to \u201cliquidate the Palestinian question\u201d.\u00a0 While Egypt \u201cstill holds tight\u201d to peace, he urged those present to address the root causes of conflicts in the region \u2014 \u201cwhich are, of course, the lack of justice and failure to deliver the rights of the Palestinian people\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u><\/strong>, condemning the genocide and killing of around 40,000\u00a0Palestinians, asked: \u00a0\u201cWhat are we doing\u201d in the face of this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe?\u00a0Highlighting Israel\u2019s disregard for\u00a0United Nations principles and\u00a0resolutions, he said that, last week, the Israeli occupation blatantly targeted and bombed internally displaced persons\u2019 camps.\u00a0 The international community must hold Israel accountable and respond to these violations of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians. \u00a0Also noting that the people of Gaza have been pushed to the brink of famine, he said that 96\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Gazans face acute malnutrition while half a million are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. \u00a0His country will continue its efforts to assist them through all channels available, whether through the Jordanian crossing or through airdrops. \u00a0Stressing the important role of UNRWA, he called for the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian State.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United Arab Emirates<\/u><\/strong>, associating himself with the Arab Group, underscored that \u201cthe killing and destruction witnessed in Gaza during the past 10\u00a0months violate all legal boundaries and constitute a [\u2026] humanitarian disaster\u201d. \u00a0With the continued Israeli bombings across Gaza, hundreds of thousands of Gazans were forced to repeatedly flee to areas claimed to be safe. \u00a0However, these areas were also bombed. \u00a0This happened recently when Israel targeted the tents of displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Younis.\u00a0 Furthermore, Israel\u2019s attacks and restrictions on the movement of humanitarian aid have brought the health system to almost complete paralysis with severe shortages in fuel and medical supplies, with a famine crisis looming.\u00a0However, the psychological effects of the war are no less severe than its physical effects, he stressed, adding that \u201cthe horrific scenes of this war will remain in the conscience of the peoples in this region and around the world for many decades\u201d. \u00a0He reaffirmed his country\u2019s support to the Palestinian people, including the establishment of a field hospital in Gaza and a floating hospital in Al-Arish.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Morocco<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0underscored that an immediate ceasefire \u201cis the only way to put an end to this tragedy\u201d, protect civilians, ensure unhindered access for the provision of humanitarian aid in sufficient quantities, release all detainees and relaunch a political process.\u00a0He also condemned \u201call violations under collective-punishment policies\u201d, as well as attempts to impose new realities on the ground.\u00a0 For its part, Morocco \u2014 through the land line used during Ramadan\u00a0\u2014 sent medical supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, including equipment to treat burns, tools for orthopaedic surgery and other necessities.\u00a0 He also stressed that \u201cJerusalem should remain a city for peaceful coexistence for the three monotheistic religions\u201d, recalling the joint appeal signed in\u00a02019 in Rabat by Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, and Pope Francis.<\/p>\n MAGED ABDELAZIZ,\u00a0Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States<\/u>\u00a0(LAS)<\/strong>, condemning Israel\u2019s aggression, noted various resolutions adopted at the League\u2019s meetings at different levels, and said its members are working to prevent the situation deteriorating into a full-on confrontation in the Middle East. \u00a0Expressing concern about the lack of accountability for the violation of Assembly and Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire, he said this gives credence to the doubts in the Arab world regarding the Council\u2019s effectiveness. \u00a0It must adopt an immediate resolution under Chapter\u00a0VII of the UN Charter to ensure that Israel complies with relevant resolutions and the provisional measures of the\u00a0International Court of Justice, he added.\u00a0 Expressing support for the\u00a0mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, he said these efforts continue to lack the necessary political pressure.\u00a0 Israel must stop linking the success of the mediation to individual internal vested interests, he said, adding: \u201cthere is nothing further from the truth\u201d than Israel’s claims that the United Nations has become a forum for antisemitism. \u00a0Stressing that it is not antisemitic to call for ending the occupation and protecting the Palestinian people from violence, he also condemned Israel\u2019s attacks on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon and Syria.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/strong><\/u>,<\/strong> associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, underscored that \u201cthe question of peace in the Middle East will not be resolved unless the question of Palestine is resolved\u201d.\u00a0 On 10\u00a0June, the Security Council adopted resolution\u00a02735\u00a0(2024), proposing a comprehensive three-phase ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza.\u00a0 A month later, the world is witnessing the blatant disregard for international human rights law and international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict in Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cWe are appalled by the continuing violence against Palestinians, the shocking targeted attacks on schools and medical facilities sheltering Palestinians,\u201d he stated. \u00a0Palestinians have endured decades of discrimination, which has escalated in the current war and genocide against them. \u00a0\u201cWill Member States continue to be spectators of these violations and the denial of Palestinian\u2019s inalienable right to freedom and self-determination?\u201d, he asked, appealing to the international community to exert its influence over parties to the conflict to abide by the decisions made by the Council and the International Court of Justice.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Syria<\/u><\/strong>, noting Israel\u2019s \u201cgenocidal war\u201d on Gaza and repeated aggression against Syria and Lebanon, asked what would push the Council to take further steps.\u00a0 He also asked why Western countries remained silent as Israel committed crimes against humanity before the eyes of the entire world.\u00a0 In a different context, he pointed out, those same countries \u201cestablished an unjustifiable mechanism under unfounded claims and pretexts\u201d.\u00a0 Stating that \u201cthe Israeli occupying entity would not have had the audacity\u201d to blatantly violate international law without the United States\u2019 direct involvement, he said the latter \u201copened their weapons depots\u201d and used their veto right five times in three months to empower Israel to continue committing crimes.\u00a0Spotlighting a \u201cflagrant aerial attack\u201d by Israel on an inhabited building in Damascus on 14\u00a0July, he said:\u00a0\u201cSuch aggressive acts portend the spread of war in the entire region \u2014 and the world \u2014 if Israel is not contained and held accountable for its crimes.\u201d\u00a0 Further, he stressed that the occupied Golan \u201cwas and remains Arab and Syrian\u201d.<\/p>\n SVEN KOOPMANS,\u00a0European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process<\/u><\/strong>, speaking in its capacity as observer, said there must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, immediate release of all hostages and an immediate substantial increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance. \u00a0\u201cHow can anyone condition the effective delivery of food to hungry people and medical support to the wounded and pregnant, on the outcome of a political negotiation? \u00a0How can anyone hold innocent civilians hostage for nine months in a war?\u201d, he asked. \u00a0Such realities are an affront to humanity and international law, he said, also underscoring that the services UNRWA provides in Gaza and across the region are essential.\u00a0 \u201cThe EU obviously condemns any attempt to label a UN agency as a terrorist organization,\u201d he said, also calling on the international community to condemn Israel’s decisions to further expand and strengthen illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n He added: \u00a0\u201cWe must all condemn terrorism in Israel and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by all perpetrators, regardless of where they come from, who they are, what their ethnicity, their passport or their status is.\u201d \u00a0He also expressed concern about attempts to change the religious equilibrium of the holy city of Jerusalem.\u00a0 Expressing support for the Palestinian Authority as it undertakes the necessary reforms, he said Israel must stop actions weakening it. \u00a0A regional war would be a catastrophe for all, he said, adding that the Union will strengthen the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL. \u00a0Nobody who rejects the two-State solution has offered a credible alternative.\u00a0 The Union will work with partners towards the preparation and implementation of the two-State solution, he said adding that there is no just or genuine peace without a sovereign Palestinian State and a safe State of Israel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 17 July 2024 9687TH MEETING (AM & PM) Delegates Warn Israel\u2019s Continuous Attacks in Strip, Settlement Expansion in West Bank, Regional Spillover Threatening Prospect for Two-State Solution The\u00a0Security Council today heard growing calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as speakers reiterated their concern about the ongoing war\u2019s unspeakable toll on 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Statements<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n