{"id":290041,"date":"2023-10-24T11:09:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T15:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=290041"},"modified":"2023-10-25T15:25:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T19:25:35","slug":"amid-increasingly-dire-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza-secretary-general-tells-security-council-hamas-attacks-cannot-justify-collective-punishment-of-palestinian-people-press-release","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/amid-increasingly-dire-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza-secretary-general-tells-security-council-hamas-attacks-cannot-justify-collective-punishment-of-palestinian-people-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid Increasingly Dire Humanitarian Situation in Gaza, Secretary-General Tells Security Council Hamas Attacks Cannot Justify Collective Punishment of Palestinian People – Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
9451ST MEETING (AM & PM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
SC\/15462<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
24 OCTOBER 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

Speakers Stress Urgency of Protecting Civilians, Unrestricted Aid Delivery, Avoiding Regional Conflagration, in Day-Long Debate<\/h4>\n

The situation in the Middle East grows more dire by the hour, with the war in Gaza raging and risking\u00a0spiralling throughout the region,\u00a0United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres warned the Security Council today, calling for humanitarian aid without restrictions and an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt a crucial moment like this, it is vital to be clear on principles\u00a0\u2014 starting with the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians,\u201d Secretary-General Guterres said, during a day-long ministerial debate on the Palestinian question, amid an escalation of Israel\u2019s military offensive in Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cNothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians\u00a0\u2014 or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recalling his unequivocal condemnation of the horrifying and unprecedented\u00a07\u00a0October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel, he called for the immediate release of the hostages.\u00a0 As well, he stressed the need for humanitarian aid to be delivered without restrictions, adding:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTo ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer, and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n

The attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum, he noted, with the Palestinian people being subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation, during which they saw their land devoured by settlements; their economy stifled; their homes demolished; and their hopes for a political solution vanishing. \u00a0However, the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. \u00a0\u201cAnd those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,\u201d he said, emphasizing:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEven war has rules.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0At this critical hour, he appealed to everyone to pull back from the brink before the violence claims even more lives and spreads even farther.<\/p>\n

Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, said that Hamas\u2019 abhorrent 7\u00a0October attack and Israel\u2019s ongoing military operation in Gaza have taken a staggering toll on civilians. \u00a0In the \u201csickening killing spree\u201d by Hamas and other Palestinian militant-groups, more than 1,400\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, and 220\u00a0civilians, including women and children, as well as soldiers, were taken into Gaza as hostages. \u00a0On that day, Israel\u2019s Security Cabinet declared a state of war, with its forces commencing a massive bombardment of what they said were Hamas sites throughout Gaza, targeting some 5,000 locations.\u00a0 On\u00a08\u00a0October, Israel\u2019s Minister for Defense announced a complete siege of Gaza, blocking all entry of goods, including electricity, water, food and fuel.<\/p>\n

He outlined the devastating impact of Israel\u2019s ongoing air strikes, with Gaza\u2019s\u00a0Ministry of Health reporting more than 5,000\u00a0Palestinians killed, including over 1,100 women and 2,000\u00a0children, as well as journalists, medical workers and first responders. \u00a0One\u00a0million Palestinians have been displaced, with entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u202f(Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA) schools and hospitals\u00a0\u2014 many sheltering displaced Palestinians\u00a0\u2014 having been hit.\u00a0 Warning of a significant risk of a regional spillover with the already worrying violence in the occupied West Bank having increased since the outbreak of war, he stressed the need to advance a negotiated peace that\u00a0fulfils the long-held vision of two States, in line with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions, international law and previous agreements.<\/p>\n

Also briefing the Council was Lynn Hastings,\u00a0Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, who said that nearly 1.4\u00a0million people were displaced in the Gaza Strip, nearly 600,000 of whom are sheltering in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA facilities \u201cin increasingly dire conditions\u201d. \u00a0\u201cThere is nowhere to seek refuge in Gaza.\u00a0\u00a0When it comes to decisions on whether and where to flee, civilians are damned if they do and damned if they don\u2019t,\u201d she said. \u00a0Citing figures from the\u00a0Gaza Ministry of Housing, she said that at least 42\u00a0per\u00a0cent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been either destroyed or damaged since\u00a07\u00a0October, calling into question the ability of people to return to their homes.<\/p>\n

Gaza remains under a full electricity blackout and hospitals are on the brink of collapse. \u00a0Deliveries into the besieged city\u00a0via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, while welcome, amounted to no more than\u00a04\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the daily average volume of commodities entering Gaza prior to current hostilities and do not include fuel.\u00a0 \u201cNo fuel means no functioning hospitals, no desalination of water and no baking,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0Pointing out that people are drinking saline groundwater, increasing the risk of cholera and other health issues, she called on Israel to bring water and electricity supplies back to pre-conflict levels and work with her teams to find a secure way of bringing fuel into Gaza. \u201cIt will be important also that the Israeli crossings for the movement of people and goods are opened,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

During the day-long debate, over 80 Heads of State, ministers, Government officials and representatives voiced alarm at the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, stressing the need for water, fuel and medicine to enter the besieged enclave. \u00a0Many delegates underscored the urgent need to avoid a regional conflagration and to recommit to a two-State solution. \u00a0Speakers, however, varied in emphasis, with some full-throatedly asserting Israel\u2019s right to defend itself against an existential terror threat, while others deplored the blockade and the seemingly indiscriminate nature of the strikes and called for international law to be respected.<\/p>\n

Riad Al-Maliki,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, urged the Council and the international community to put an end to the ongoing\u00a0massacres perpetrated by the occupying Power, Israel, against the Palestinian civilian population. \u00a0\u201cThe Security Council has a duty to stop them.\u00a0\u00a0Continued failure at this Council is inexcusable,\u201d he emphasized, calling on the 15-member organ to call for a ceasefire, secure humanitarian access in all parts of Gaza, end the forced displacement, provide international protection for the Palestinian people, and achieve justice through accountability.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fate of the Palestinian people cannot continue to be dispossession, displacement, denial of rights and death,\u201d he said, pointing out that over 5,000\u00a0Palestinians have been killed in the past two weeks, almost all of them civilians.\u00a0 Over\u00a02\u00a0million Palestinians are on a survival mission every day and every night.\u00a0\u00a0Calling for an urgent end to the bloodshed, the only way to avoid an even greater humanitarian catastrophe and a regional spillover, he stressed:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPeace and security cannot and will not be achieved by crushing the skulls of infants or through \u201cwiping out Gaza\u201d or \u201cturning it into a hell\u201d or \u201creducing its area\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Nor will it materialize by arming thousands of terrorist settlers and encouraging them to continue their attacks against\u00a0the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n

Eli Cohen,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, held up a collage with pictures of\u00a0the hostages held by Hamas, stressing: \u00a0\u201cThese children and babies have not caused evil, but they are victims of evil.\u201d \u00a0On\u00a07\u00a0October, more than 1,500 terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad infiltrated Israel and killed over 1,400 men, women and children.\u00a0\u00a0They went from house to house, slaughtering entire families in their beds, people on their way to synagogues, raping women, burning them alive, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cHamas are the new Nazis\u201d, and the civilized world must stand united behind Israel to defeat them.\u00a0\u00a0The international community should call on Qatar, which finances Hamas, to enable the immediate release of the hostages held by the terrorists.<\/p>\n

While\u00a0Israel gave Palestinians Gaza down to the last millimetre, instead of building hospitals, office buildings and commercial centres, they took the money to dig tunnels and to build rocket factories.\u00a0 \u201cListen to these monsters\u00a0\u2014 the West is next,\u201d he said, stating that the ongoing war is \u201cnot just Israel\u2019s war.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s the war of the free world.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He thanked the United States for standing with Israel during its darkest hour, adding that if all nations do not stand with Israel to \u201celiminate these monsters from the face of the Earth\u201d after the most brutal and vicious terror attack in modern history, the United Nations will \u201chave no moral justification to exist\u201d.<\/p>\n

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States, asserting that Israel has \u201cthe right and indeed the obligation to defend itself\u201d against terrorism, said:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEvery one of us has a stake and responsibility in defeating terror.\u201d \u00a0Palestinian civilians must be protected, and Hamas must cease to use them as human shields.\u00a0\u00a0Food, medicine and water must flow into Gaza, and\u00a0humanitarian pauses must be considered, he said, noting that his country has prepared a resolution containing practical steps to address the crisis, building on the text by Brazil. \u00a0Noting Iran\u2019s support for Hamas and Hizbullah, he stated that if the country or its proxies attack United States personnel, the United States \u201cwill defend our people and our security swiftly and decisively\u201d.<\/p>\n

The representative of the Russian Federation, observing that\u00a0\u201cthe scale of the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip has exceeded all of our worst imaginations\u201d,\u00a0said that the world is expecting a call for a swift and unconditional ceasefire from the Council, which is not in the current draft resolution from the United States.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTherefore, we don\u2019t see any point in it, and we cannot support it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0However, his delegation has prepared an alternative draft resolution based on humanitarian language with important elements from the United States, Brazil and the first\u00a0Russian Federation drafts, which he has requested to be put to a vote straight after the United States draft.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the speaker for\u00a0Iran\u00a0pointed out that the Council has faced obstacles in taking decisive action on the situation mainly due to the United States, which has vetoed over 40 resolutions.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe United States\u2019 unwavering support for occupation and aggression has rendered it an active part of the problem,\u201d he said, adding that it and other Western States attempted to shift the blame from the wrongdoer to the victim.\u00a0 International law and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter recognize the legitimate right to self-determination, as well as the right to self-defence for Palestinian people, \u201cincluding resistance groups like Hamas\u201d, he emphasized.<\/p>\n

The delegate of Jordan, speaking\u00a0for the Arab Group, said that the international community\u2019s common humanity is being put to the test today, pointing to a spiral of violence based on despair over decades of occupation, injustice and oppression and \u201ca raging war that is razing Gaza to the ground\u201d. \u00a0Calling on the Council to adopt a resolution for a ceasefire to stop the war, he noted that the 15-member organ was established to\u00a0apply international law and maintain that there is no State above the law, \u201cbut it seems that Israel is above the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Egypt\u2019s representative, deploring that \u201cthe war machine continues indiscriminately to claim lives without any distinction\u201d, asserted that, given that 2.5\u00a0million civilians are being killed, starved and forcibly displaced, \u201csilence in this case is tantamount to giving blessings\u201d. \u00a0The solution to the Palestinian question is not military action or forced displacement but granting the Palestinians their legitimate rights and letting them live in peace and safety on their own territories, he said, adding:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEgypt will not accept for the Palestinian people to be forcibly displaced and we will not accept any liquidation of the Palestinian question at\u00a0Egypt\u2019s expense.\u201d<\/p>\n

For her part, Switzerland\u2019s delegate said that, as the depositary of the Geneva Conventions, her country prioritizes the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law, adding:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe are committed to a Council that, even in times of emergency\u00a0\u2014 and especially in times of emergency\u00a0\u2014 makes respect for international humanitarian law a priority.\u201d \u00a0She called for an investigation to be carried out into the incident at Al Ahli Arab Hospital, and for all violations of international law to be investigated, so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.<\/p>\n

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Briefings<\/u><\/p>\n

ANT\u00d3NIO GUTERRES,\u00a0Secretary-General of the United Nations<\/u>, warned that the situation in the Middle East grew more dire by the hour, with the war in Gaza raging, and risking spiralling throughout the region.\u00a0 \u201cAt a crucial moment like this, it is vital to be clear on principles \u2014 starting with the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Recalling his unequivocal condemnation of the horrifying and unprecedented 7\u00a0October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel, he stated, \u201cnothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians \u2014 or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.\u201d\u00a0 All hostages must be treated humanely and released immediately and without conditions, he said, noting the presence of members of their families.<\/p>\n

The attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum, with the Palestinian people being subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation, during which they saw their land devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced; their homes demolished, and their hopes for a political solution vanishing, he went on.\u00a0 However, the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas.\u00a0 \u201cAnd those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,\u201d he said, emphasizing:\u00a0 \u201cEven war has rules.\u201d\u00a0 All parties must uphold and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law; take constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare civilians; and respect and protect hospitals and respect the inviolability of United Nations facilities which today are sheltering more than 600,000 Palestinians.<\/p>\n

He went on to voice deep alarm over the relentless bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces, the level of civilian casualties and the mounting destruction of entire neighbourhoods, underscoring the importance of protecting civilians in any armed conflict.\u00a0 \u201cProtecting civilians can never mean using them as human shields,\u201d he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cProtecting civilians does not mean ordering more than 1\u00a0million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself.\u201d\u00a0 Voicing concern over the clear violations of international humanitarian law being witnessed in Gaza, he said, \u201cLet me be clear:\u00a0 No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.\u201d\u00a0 While some humanitarian relief is finally getting into Gaza, it represented \u201ca drop of aid in an ocean of need\u201d.\u00a0 United Nations fuel supplies in Gaza will run out in a matter of days, he said, adding:\u00a0\u201cThat would be another disaster.\u201d<\/p>\n

The people of Gaza need continuous aid delivery at a level that corresponds to the enormous needs, he continued, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThat aid must be delivered without restrictions.\u201d\u00a0 He commended his United Nations colleagues and humanitarian partners in Gaza risking their lives to provide aid to those in need, stressing:\u00a0 \u201cTo ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer, and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.\u201d\u00a0 Even in \u201cthis moment of grave and immediate danger\u201d, he emphasized that a two-State solution is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability.\u00a0Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent State realized, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.<\/p>\n

Finally, he called for human dignity to be upheld.\u00a0Observing that polarization and dehumanization are being fuelled by a tsunami of disinformation, he said, \u201cwe must stand up to the forces of antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and all forms of hate.\u201d\u00a0 He noted that today is United Nations Day, marking 78 years since the Charter of the United Nations entered into force, reflecting Members\u2019 shared commitment to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights.\u00a0 At this critical hour, he appealed to all to pull back from the brink before the violence claims even more lives and spreads even farther.<\/p>\n

TOR WENNESLAND,\u00a0Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process<\/u>, expressed his most sincere condolences to the thousands of families \u2014 in Israel, Palestine and across the globe \u2014 including the families of 35\u00a0Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ staff killed in Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cThe abhorrent attack launched by Hamas on 7 October and Israel\u2019s devastating, ongoing military operation in Gaza have taken a staggering toll on civilians and deeply shaken Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d he said, pointing to the unprecedented events which risk expanding to the wider region.\u00a0 He recounted that on the morning of 7\u00a0October, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a large-scale, complex assault on Israel, with an estimated 1,500\u00a0Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants from Gaza infiltrating some 20\u00a0Israeli communities and military facilities in the Gaza periphery by land, sea and air, while thousands of rockets were launched towards central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

\u201cTestimony and evidence emerging from that tragic day reveal a sickening killing spree, designed to terrorize, with appalling scenes of brutality, massacres and hostage-taking, including against infants and young children,\u201d he said, reporting that in all, Hamas and other Palestinian militant-groups killed over 1,400\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals \u2014 the bloodiest attack in Israel\u2019s history.\u00a0 At least 220\u00a0civilians, including women and children, as well as soldiers, were abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip as hostages, he added, welcoming the release of four hostages and recognizing the important role of Qatar in that regard.\u00a0Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have continued to launch indiscriminate rocket fire from there into Israel, and to date, according to Israeli sources, some 7,700\u00a0rockets have been launched.\u00a0 \u201cOn the day of the attack, Israel\u2019s Security Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time in over 50\u00a0years, with the aim of \u2018the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad\u2019,\u201d he recalled, adding that that same day, Israeli forces began a massive bombardment of what they said were Hamas sites throughout Gaza.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s air assault in the Strip has continued to date, with some 5,000\u00a0such sites targeted, according to the Israel Defense Forces, he reported, further recalling that, on 8\u00a0October, Israel\u2019s Minister for Defense announced a complete siege of Gaza, blocking all entry of goods, including electricity, water, food and fuel.\u00a0 The air strikes have been devastating, he stressed, noting that, thus far, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported over 5,000\u00a0Palestinians killed, including over 1,100 women, 2,000\u00a0children as well as journalists, medical workers and first responders, with more than 15,000\u00a0injured.\u00a0 Over 1\u00a0million Palestinians have been displaced, he added, noting that the level of physical destruction has left entire neighbourhoods in rubble and critical infrastructure destroyed or damaged.\u00a0 Schools, including United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA) schools, and hospitals \u2014 many sheltering displaced Palestinians \u2014 have been hit.\u00a0Underlining the immense humanitarian impact, he welcomed Egypt\u2019s facilitation to open the Rafah border crossing on 21\u00a0October and echoed the Secretary-General\u2019s appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe risk of a significant further deterioration of the situation in the occupied West Bank or spillover of the conflict in the region remains significant,\u201d he warned, emphasizing that the already worrying violence in the occupied West Bank has increased since the outbreak of war.\u00a0Israeli authorities have imposed widespread movement restrictions and conducted extensive arrests.\u00a0 High numbers of daily clashes and armed exchanges between Palestinians and Israeli security forces and settlers have been recorded, as well as settler-related violence and Palestinian attacks against Israelis.\u00a0 \u201cMeanwhile, across the Blue Line, and amid heightened rhetoric from actors on the ground, there have been daily intermittent but intense exchanges of fire since 8\u00a0October,\u201d he said, reporting that Hizbullah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched rockets and anti-tank missiles towards Israel, while Israel Defense Forces responded with artillery fire and air strikes, leading to casualties on both sides.\u00a0 On the Golan, the Israel Defense Forces responded on 10\u00a0October with artillery and mortar shells towards what they said were a number of launches from Syria towards Israel.\u00a0 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Disengagement Observer Force\u00a0(Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵDOF) continues to engage with both parties, urging them to exercise maximum restraint and respect their obligations under the 1974\u00a0Agreement on the Disengagement of Forces, he said.<\/p>\n

He and the Secretary-General have been pursuing any and every opportunity to address the situation on the ground and to prevent further civilian death and misery, he said, stressing:\u00a0 \u201cIt is critical, that we, as a united international community, employ all our collective efforts to end the bloodletting and prevent any further expansion of hostilities \u2014 including in the region.\u201d\u00a0 He appealed to all relevant actors to act responsibly as \u201cany miscalculation could have immeasurable consequences\u201d.\u00a0 Pointing to the unresolved conflict and continued occupation, he said:\u00a0 \u201cFor 15\u00a0years, the population has been living under militant rule and a strict closure regime, as the Palestinian divide hardened.\u00a0 For a generation, hope has been lost and despair has prevailed for those who see prospects for a more peaceful future pulling still further away.\u201d\u00a0Stressing that only a political solution will move the international community forward, he said:\u00a0 \u201cThe steps we take to address this crisis must be implemented in a way that ultimately advances a negotiated peace that fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis \u2014 the long-held vision of two-States, in line with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions, international law and previous agreements.\u201d<\/p>\n

LYNN HASTINGS,\u00a0Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory<\/u>, briefed the Council that violence is at historically high levels on both sides.\u00a0 In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 1.4\u00a0million displaced people, nearly 600,000 of which are sheltering in Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA facilities \u201cin increasingly dire conditions\u201d, she said.\u00a0 The average number of internally displaced people has reached more than two and one half times the capacity.\u00a0 \u201cThere is nowhere to seek refuge in Gaza.\u00a0 When it comes to decisions on whether and where to flee, civilians are damned if they do and damned if they don\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 She noted that displaced families are reportedly returning to north Gaza because they cannot meet their basic needs including safety in the south.<\/p>\n

According to the Gaza Ministry of Housing, at least 42\u00a0per\u00a0cent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been either destroyed or damaged since 7\u00a0October, calling into question the ability of people to return to their homes.\u00a0 Gaza remains under a full electricity blackout.\u00a0 Hospitals are on the brink of collapse.\u00a0 Doctors are forced to operate without anaesthesia.\u00a0 Since 7\u00a0October, 16 health workers in Gaza have reportedly been killed and 30 injured while on duty, she said.<\/p>\n

She said that the agreement to allow essential humanitarian supplies into Gaza via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, has provided a glimmer of hope to people living in appalling conditions.\u00a0 But she added that these deliveries are a drop in the bucket compared to the vast scale of needs.\u00a0 They amount to no more than 4\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the daily average volume of commodities entering Gaza prior to these hostilities.\u00a0 \u201cNeeds are now, of course, significantly greater.\u201d\u00a0Most crucially, these deliveries do not include fuel that is essential for powering the services needed for people to survive.\u00a0 Without fuel our humanitarian operation will stop, she said:\u00a0 \u201cNo fuel means no functioning hospitals, no desalination of water and no baking.\u00a0 Many people are drinking on saline groundwater, increasing the risks of diarrhoea, cholera, and other health issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

She called on Israel to bring water and electricity supplies back to pre-conflict levels and work with her teams to find a secure way of bringing fuel into Gaza.\u00a0 \u00a0While the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ negotiates with the Government of Israel, it has 400,000 litres of trucks ready to go, which would provide fuel for approximately two and a half more days, she noted.\u00a0 For Gazans to get access to adequate food, water, medical care and other essential supplies, we must be able to scale up deliveries of all goods, and we must be able to replenish fuel supplies, she said.\u00a0 \u201cIt will be important also that the Israeli crossings for the movement of people and goods are opened.\u201d\u00a0 She urged the Member States to redouble funding to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA and other humanitarian agencies on the ground without delay and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire \u201cto ease this epic human suffering\u201d.<\/p>\n

Statements<\/u><\/p>\n

RIAD AL-MALIKI,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine<\/u>, urged to stop the killing and massacres being committed against his people.\u00a0 He said that the ongoing massacres perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian civilian population under its illegal occupation must be stopped.\u00a0 \u201cThe Security Council has a duty to stop them.\u00a0 The international community is obliged under international law to stop them.\u00a0It is our collective human duty to stop them \u2014 now.\u00a0 Continued failure at this Council is inexcusable,\u201d he emphasized, praising the efforts of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agencies and humanitarian staff on the ground, particularly Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, and mourning the senseless killing of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA staff and other humanitarian workers, including doctors, nurses and paramedics who were directly targeted by the ongoing barbarous aggression.<\/p>\n

He stressed that over 2\u00a0million Palestinians are on a survival mission every day and every night.\u00a0 \u201cBy the time representatives are done delivering their speeches today, 150\u00a0Palestinians will have been killed, including 60\u00a0children,\u201d he said, adding that, in the last two weeks, over 5,000\u00a0Palestinians have been killed, including over 2,300\u00a0children and 1,300\u00a0women.\u00a0\u201cAlmost all those killed by Israel are civilians,\u201d he underscored, also spotlighting over 1\u00a0million Palestinians displaced and 170,000\u00a0housing units destroyed.\u00a0 He went on to state that only international law and peace are worthy of unconditional support.\u00a0 \u201cMore injustice and more killing will not make Israel safer,\u201d he stressed, adding that no amount of weapons and no alliance will bring to it security, but only peace with Palestine and its people will.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fate of the Palestinian people cannot continue to be dispossession, displacement, denial of rights and death,\u201d he emphasized, adding that the freedom of the Palestinians is the condition of shared peace and security.\u00a0\u201cFor those actively engaged to avoid an even greater humanitarian catastrophe and regional spillover, it must be clear that this can only be achieved by putting an immediate end to the Israeli war launched against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip,\u201d he said, urging to stop the bloodshed.\u00a0 \u201cPeace and security cannot and will not be achieved by crushing the skulls of infants\u201d or through \u201cwiping out Gaza\u201d or \u201cturning it into a hell\u201d or \u201creducing its area\u201d, as has been announced repeatedly by everyone who carries out these killing and destruction.\u00a0 It will also not materialize by arming thousands of terrorist settlers and encouraging them to continue their terror attacks against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, he stated.<\/p>\n

He stressed that the urgent solution required from the Council today is to call for a ceasefire, an immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression, to work urgently to secure humanitarian access in all parts of the Gaza Strip, to end the forced displacement, to provide international protection for the Palestinian people and to achieve justice through accountability.\u00a0He also called for the necessary practical measures to address the root causes of the issue and end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory with Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian State as per the Council\u2019s resolutions and as per the peace process and international law, and also empowering the Palestinians to enjoy their inalienable rights, including the return of refugees and self-determination, as per General Assembly resolution\u00a0194\u00a0(III).\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cAll eyes are fixed on Gaza, do not fail the test,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

ELI COHEN,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel<\/u>, said that young babies and children are held in Gaza, a situation beyond imagination.\u00a0These children and babies have not caused evil, but they are victims of evil, he said, adding that Saturday, 7\u00a0October \u2014 when more than 1,500 terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad infiltrated Israel and killed more than 1,400 men, women and children, wounding more than 4,000 \u2014 will go down in history as a brutal massacre and a wakeup call to the free world.\u00a0 They went from house to house, slaughtering entire families and individuals in their beds, people on their way to synagogues, raping women, burning them alive, he said.\u00a0 \u201cHamas are the new Nazis,\u201d he said, and the civilized world must stand united behind Israel to defeat them.\u00a0 Qatar, which finances Hamas, could influence and enable the immediate and unconditional release of the more than 220 hostages held by the terrorists, he said, adding that members of the international community should demand that Qatar does just that.<\/p>\n

Israel gave Palestinians Gaza down to the last millimetre \u2014 there is no dispute regarding the land of Gaza, he said.\u00a0 But they took the money they received from the world and instead of building hospitals, office buildings and commercial centres, they took the money to dig tunnels and to build rocket factories, he said.\u00a0\u201cListen to these monsters \u2014 the West is next,\u201d he said, adding that the war which was imposed on Israel is \u201cnot just Israel\u2019s war.\u00a0 It\u2019s the war of the free world.\u201d\u00a0 As for calls for proportionality or a ceasefire, what is the proportional response to the killing of babies, for the raping and burning of women, for beheading a child, he asked, adding that the proportional response to the 7\u00a0October massacre is the total destruction of Hamas.\u00a0 The free world should remember and never forget what happened on 7\u00a0October.\u00a0 Today this barbaric terror happened in Israel; tomorrow it will be on everyone\u2019s doorstep, he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe have not chosen this war.\u00a0 But have no doubt.\u00a0 We are going to win it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As Iran\u2019s proxy, Hamas had three objectives for its barbaric attack:\u00a0 the murder of Jews, the kidnapping of hostages and the derailment of peace, stability and normalization in the region, he said, adding that Israeli citizens are under heavy missile and rocket fire from Gaza.\u00a0 Meanwhile, there is a clear attempt to escalate and provoke a war on Israel\u2019s northern border where the Iran proxy Hezbollah is targeting Israeli cities, he said.\u00a0 Last week, cruise missiles were launched at Israel from Yemen.\u00a0 Have no illusion who is behind it or what is the reason, he said.\u00a0The international community must understand who is under threat and who is the aggressor, he added.\u00a0 \u201cThe world now faces a clear choice of moral clarity:\u00a0one can either be part of the civilized world or surrender to the forces of evil and barbarism,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no middle ground.\u00a0 No room for moral ambiguity.\u201d<\/p>\n

He thanked Member States who had designated Hamas a terror organization and called on others to do so immediately.\u00a0 He also thanked United States President Joseph R. Biden and United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for showing moral clarity and standing with Israel at this dark hour.\u00a0 He said if all nations do not stand decisively and clearly with Israel to “eliminate these monsters from the face of the Earth\u201d after the most brutal and vicious terror attack in modern history, this will be \u201cthe darkest hour of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u201d and the United Nations will \u201chave no moral justification to exist\u201d.<\/p>\n

MAURO VIEIRA,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil<\/u>, and President of the Council for October, speaking in his national capacity and echoing his President\u2019s appeal that \u201cthere needs to be a minimum of humanity in the insanity of war\u201d, said the situation is both a hostage and humanitarian crisis.\u00a0 While the world mourns the passing of innocent people including Brazilians, he said, it cannot condone acts of terrorism, as violence only breeds more violence.\u00a0 Brazil therefore calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages, particularly women and children.\u00a0 He added that dealing with the situation must include respect for human rights, humanitarian law and refugee law.\u00a0 Highlighting the situation with regards to power supply, health facilities, and access to drinking water, he said the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, humanity, necessity and precaution must guide and inform all actions and military operations and urged the Council to not lose sight of the root causes of the conflict.<\/p>\n

He said achieving peace requires strict adherence to international law as well as working towards the two-State solution.\u00a0 Israel must stop all settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.\u00a0 He underscored the importance of preserving the historical status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint.\u00a0 Brazil is committed to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, and believes diplomacy and dialogue remain as the most powerful assets.\u00a0 Decrying the fact that the Security Council has not passed a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian situation since 2016, he urged the Council to not shy away from its responsibility in the situation.\u00a0 \u201cWe need solutions, no matter how politically difficult they may be.\u00a0 A peaceful and prosperous Middle East is to the benefit of all of us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

ANTONY J. BLINKEN,\u00a0Secretary of State of the United States<\/u>, said he had put forth a resolution containing practical steps to address the crisis, building on elements of the text by Brazil.\u00a0 First, it recognizes the right and imperative of States to defend themselves against terrorism, and condemns Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack against Israel, during which, he said, \u201cyoung people were gunned down with glee, young people were beheaded, parents were executed in front of their parents, and children were executed in front of their parents, and so many were taken hostage.\u201d\u00a0 In this context, he said, \u201cit must be asked:\u00a0 where is the outrage? Where is the explicit condemnation of these horrors?\u201d\u00a0The Council must denounce Member States arming, funding or training Hamas.\u00a0 Noting that the violence had affected United Nations employees, and many Member States, including Council Members, he said:\u00a0 \u201cEvery one of us has a stake and responsibility in defeating terror.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Israel has \u201cthe right and indeed the obligation to defend itself\u201d, Palestinian civilians must be protected, and Hamas must cease to use them as human shields, he continued.\u00a0 Food, medicine and water must flow into Gaza, and humanitarian pauses must be considered.\u00a0 On that, he highlighted efforts by his Government\u2019s recently appointed Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, David Satterfield, and the United States\u2019 additional $100\u00a0million aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, bringing the total aid provided this year to Palestinians to $1.6\u00a0billion.\u00a0\u201cA civilian is a civilian is a civilian, no matter their nationality, gender, or faith,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He welcomed the release of four hostages and implored all Council members to use their leverage to secure the release of the 200 hostages still in the grip of Hamas.\u00a0 Member States must also send a united message to those considering opening another front to the conflict; \u201cDon\u2019t throw fuel on the fire,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Pointing to Iran\u2019s support to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, he stressed:\u00a0 \u201cThe United States does not seek conflict with Iran but if it or its proxies attack United States personnel, we will defend our people and our security swiftly and decisively.\u201d\u00a0 The two-State solution is the only way to break out of the cycle of violence and achieve broader regional security, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cTwo paths lie before us \u2014 one path is offered by Hamas, and it leads to death, destruction, and darkness.\u00a0 The other is the path to greater peace, normalization and integration; the path to the Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination and a state of their own.\u201d\u00a0 Hamas does not get to choose the path the world takes, he stressed.<\/p>\n

CATHERINE COLONNA,\u00a0Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France<\/u>, said:\u00a0 \u201cIt is our duty to condemn unambiguously Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack and that of other terrorist groups against Israel.\u201d\u00a0 Hamas\u2019 7\u00a0October attack also struck France, she said, noting that 30 French people died and another nine of its nationals are missing and reportedly being held hostage.\u00a0 She called once again for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.\u00a0She affirmed her country\u2019s solidarity with Israel and underscored its right to defend itself and protect its people, while noting that Israel must do so while respecting international law, in particular international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Hamas in no way represents the Palestinians, she emphasized, underscoring that it is the duty of the international community, including Israel, to guarantee the ongoing provision to civilians in Gaza of basic goods:\u00a0water, food, medicine and fuel.\u00a0She urged the international community to guarantee safe, swift, unimpeded and sustainable humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, and uphold international humanitarian law and its principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.<\/p>\n

France, like the European Union, has increased its humanitarian assistance, she said, noting that, since the start of the crisis, it has mobilized an additional \u20ac20\u00a0million in supplementary humanitarian aid for the population of Gaza, through Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, the World Food Programme\u00a0(WFP), the International Committee of the Red Cross\u00a0(ICRC) and non-governmental organizations.\u00a0 It has also chartered a special flight with emergency humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, to assist Egypt\u2019s efforts, adding that her country\u2019s total aid to the Palestinians will reach \u20ac100\u00a0million in 2023.\u00a0 Stressing that certain stakeholders must refrain from benefiting from the current situation, she cautioned them against any regional escalation that would drag the region into a downward spiral.\u00a0Pointing to the well-known conditions for lasting peace, she stressed that the only viable solution is the two-State solution and called on the Council to fully exercise its responsibility to that end.<\/p>\n

R\u00c9GIS MICHEL M. ONANGA NDIAYE,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gabon<\/u>, urged captors to release all hostages.\u00a0 He said the siege of Gaza \u201cis pushing the levels human distress to an unbearable scale\u201d and called for health facilities and personnel to be protected.\u00a0 The recent delivery of aid is \u201ca glimmer of hope for the millions of people in Gaza clamped within the vice-like grip of the warring parties\u201d, he said.\u00a0 He welcomed efforts by Egypt and the United States to this end and appealed for the continuous opening of the Rafah crossing point.\u00a0 He regretted that the Council had not reached consensus on resolutions on the conflict.\u00a0\u201cGabon believes that it is high time for humanity to prevail over political and geopolitical alliances.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the continued policy of expanding settlements, demolitions and expulsions \u2014 particularly in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem \u2014 the blockade of Gaza, religious provocations, terrorist attacks on Israeli soil, the recurrence of bellicose speech and the freezing of tax funds collected by Israel from the Palestinian Authority on its behalf, are major obstacles to building a just and lasting peace.\u00a0 The manifest violations of international law and Security Council resolutions, notably resolutions\u00a01860\u00a0(2009) and 2334\u00a0(2016), must urgently cease.\u00a0 He reaffirmed his country\u2019s commitment to the two-State solution.<\/p>\n

IGLI HASANI,\u00a0Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania<\/u>, said that his country stands with Israel, like with every other nation under attack in its legitimate right to self-defence in accordance with international humanitarian law.\u00a0 \u201cIn such difficult and defining moments, Israel and its people need the support of the community of the free nations in responding to terrorists who have committed horrible crimes and continue to question its right to exist,\u201d he stressed, adding that innocent lives matter equally, be they Israeli or Palestinian.\u00a0Hamas, their leaders who live a comfortable life outside Gaza and their supporters knew very well what they were doing when they unleashed \u201cthe beasts to kill, burn, massacre and kidnap everyone they could,\u201d he said, emphasizing that their hope and their win would be to make the world turn against Israel.\u00a0 There is only one party that is rejoicing with what is happening.\u00a0 It is the country known to sponsor of terrorism, in Gaza, in West Bank, in Yemen, in Lebanon, in Syria, anywhere they can, he said without naming the country.<\/p>\n

He was worried by a frightening increase, to very dangerous levels, of antisemitism \u2014 fuelled by hatred, misinformation and disinformation \u2014 particularly through social media, urging the world to \u201cnot stay indifferent in face of calls and behaviours that come from the Nazi playbooks.\u201d\u00a0 He welcomed arrangements made so far for humanitarian convoys into Gaza, stressing \u201cefforts must continue and diplomacy must always prevail\u201d, and commending the efforts of Egypt, United States, Israel and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General in this regard.\u00a0 Welcoming the release of hostages with the assistance of Qatar, he said:\u00a0\u201cIsrael needs and deserves security; Palestinians need and deserve their State.\u201d\u00a0 Albania reiterates its support for two States for two peoples, he underscored.<\/p>\n

IAN BORG,\u00a0Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta<\/u>, acknowledged Israel\u2019s right to self-defence while also emphasizing that Israel must oblige by international humanitarian law.\u00a0 He welcomed the release of four hostages and called on Hamas to release the remaining captives safely and unconditionally without delay.\u00a0 He went on to express grave concern over the current humanitarian situation in Gaza.\u00a0Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, he said, and condemned all attacks against civilians, medical and humanitarian workers, United Nations personnel as well as religious places and civilian infrastructure.\u00a0 He called for an independent investigation into the blast at Al Ahli Arab Hospital on 18\u00a0October.\u00a0 He expressed deep concern over Israel\u2019s decision to cut off water, electricity, food and fuel to Gaza.\u00a0 This action is resulting in dire humanitarian consequences for the civilian population and will inevitably lead to a public health catastrophe, he said.<\/p>\n

He stressed the need for unimpeded, sustained delivery of humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing and the establishment of humanitarian corridors and commended efforts by the United Nations, Egypt and the United States, strongly reiterating a call for the establishment of an immediate humanitarian pause.\u00a0 \u201cThe legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people should not be confused with the extremist ideology of Hamas,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is crucial that this distinction is made clear to all to avoid further inflammatory polarization and potentials of regional escalation.\u201d\u00a0 He added that since 7\u00a0October, killing and forced displacement of Palestinians has sharply increased, including through settler violence and hundreds of arrests.<\/p>\n

MAYA TISSAFI,\u00a0State Secretary of Switzerland<\/u>, said that, as the depositary of the Geneva Conventions, her country prioritizes the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law.\u00a0 \u201cWe are committed to a Council that, even in times of emergency \u2014 and especially in times of emergency \u2014 makes respect for international humanitarian law a priority,\u201d she said.\u00a0 Switzerland calls for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in Gaza as it recognizes Israel\u2019s legitimate concern for national defence and security.\u00a0 \u201cWe remind the parties of the binding nature of all its rules, without exception, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities.\u00a0 Joining the Secretary-General to unequivocally condemn the incident at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, she called for an investigation to be carried out so that the facts can be clarified, also stressing the need to protect civilians and investigate all violations of international law, so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.<\/p>\n

She said her country is rapidly mobilizing additional funds for ICRC and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to address the catastrophic\u00a0 humanitarian situation in Gaza.\u00a0 It is imperative that adequate volumes of aid enter Gaza and that rapid, full, safe and unhindered access is allowed and facilitated in line with international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Humanitarian pauses are also necessary.\u00a0 She further called on the Council to \u201cexert our influence on the parties to prevent an even more serious escalation, or even a regionalisation of the conflict\u201d.<\/p>\n

TOM TUGENDHAT,\u00a0Minister of State for Security of the United Kingdom<\/u>, observing that the events of the past 17\u00a0days have shocked all those who value the dignity of human life, said: \u00a0\u201cIsrael is a nation in mourning.\u00a0 It is also a nation under attack.\u201d\u00a0 The violence did not end on 7\u00a0October, he said, noting terrorist rockets still raining down on Israeli towns, and around 200\u00a0of its citizens are held hostage in Gaza, some of whom are British citizens.\u00a0 Palestinians are suffering, too, he said, noting that thousands have been killed in the conflict, while more than 1\u00a0million have been displaced.\u00a0 \u201cWe know that Hamas are using innocent Palestinian civilians as human shields; they have embedded themselves in civilian communities,\u201d he said, adding that the group cares more about the opinions of their paymasters in Tehran than their fellow citizens.\u00a0 The United Kingdom stands with Israel in defending itself against terror.<\/p>\n

He underscored the urgent need for sustained, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, for civilians to receive life-saving support. The recent opening of the Rafah crossing to aid trucks, while welcome, is not enough.\u00a0 He echoed the Secretary-General\u2019s call for sustainable and adequate humanitarian access, observing the desperate need for \u201ca constant stream\u201d of water, fuel, medicine and food.\u00a0 The United Kingdom has committed $37\u00a0million of extra support for civilians in Gaza.\u00a0 The conflict must not engulf the wider region, he said, noting attacks by Hizbullah to the north of Israel and rising tensions in the West Bank, among other worrying signs.\u00a0 \u201cNow is the time for dogged diplomacy that recognizes the hard realities on the ground and delivers help now,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 Voicing support for a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State, he stressed:\u00a0 \u201cHope and humanity must win out.\u201d<\/p>\n

REEM EBRAHIM AL HASHIMY,\u00a0Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates<\/u>, stressed that every diplomatic effort must be made, and all capabilities harnessed to achieve an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.\u00a0 Pointing to growing tensions in the region, including in southern Lebanon, the Red Sea and the occupied Syrian Golan, she warned that \u201can unchecked slide into regional war risks ominous outcomes\u201d that will threaten regional security and affect stability around the world.\u00a0 As such, regional and international efforts must focus on de-escalation and restoring calm as soon as possible, she stressed, welcoming the 21\u00a0October Cairo Summit for Peace.\u00a0 Immediate, safe, sustainable and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip in a manner that meets the basic needs, she stressed, voicing appreciation for the support to aid delivery of Egypt and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.\u00a0She pointed out, however, that the small number of trucks that have crossed into the Gaza Strip in recent days does not meet the massive needs on the ground and represent only 4\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the volume of commodities that used to enter before the outbreak of this crisis.<\/p>\n

Stressing that the attacks launched by Hamas on 7\u00a0October are barbaric and heinous, she demanded that the group release hostages immediately and unconditionally.\u00a0 Hamas\u2019 crimes against civilians can never justify the policy of collective punishment towards the Gaza Strip, she underscored, stressing that Israel must respect its obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians.\u00a0 She reiterated once again her country\u2019s unequivocal rejection of Israel\u2019s order to evacuate more than 1\u00a0million people from northern to southern Gaza and demanded that those orders be cancelled.\u00a0 Stressing that the Gaza Strip has been under siege for more than 17\u00a0years, she asked:\u00a0 \u201cShould we leave the people of the region to live in a series of wars, violence and hatred accumulated from one generation to the next?\u201d\u00a0 She urged the adoption of a resolution calling for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, and serious work after that to find a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the conflict that allows both people to live in lasting peace and security.<\/p>\n

VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation<\/u>) said \u201cthe scale of the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip has exceeded all of our worst imaginations.\u201d\u00a0 We all face the more urgent challenge to stop the violence and ensure the supply of humanitarian assistance to Gazans who face arbitrary strikes by Israel and violations of international humanitarian law.\u00a0 He noted that the Russian Federation draft resolution for a ceasefire was not passed earlier in October, with ongoing violence as the result.\u00a0 The world is expecting a call for a swift and unconditional ceasefire from the Council, which is not in the current draft resolution from the United States.\u00a0 \u201cTherefore, we don\u2019t see any point in it and we cannot support it.\u201d\u00a0For the Council to carry out its main purpose, the Russian Federation has prepared an alternative draft resolution based on humanitarian language with important elements from the United States, Brazil and the first Russian Federation drafts.\u00a0 He asked the Presidency of the Council to put it to a vote straight after the United States draft.<\/p>\n

HERN\u00c1N P\u00c9REZ LOOSE (Ecuador<\/u>) praised the efforts of the Secretary-General and others who have made the delivery of humanitarian aid possible, as well as the release of some hostages, and demanded that all hostages taken by Hamas be released immediately and unconditionally.\u00a0 He noted that the situations in the West Bank and on the border between Lebanon and Israel are particularly disquieting.\u00a0\u201cThis Security Council must not become an arena for rivalries, but rather, it must be a space for building peace, and peace in the Middle East is one of the principle pending questions that we have,\u201d he said, underscoring that almost eight decades of conflict and thousands of deaths are the clearest evidence that violence is not the solution.\u00a0He reiterated that the only way to end this conflict is through a peaceful, negotiated, definitive and just solution for the parties, with the existence of two States, Palestine and Israel, on the basis of the 1967\u00a0borders and the relevant resolutions.<\/p>\n

ZHANG JÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵ (China<\/u>) said more than 2\u00a0million lives in Gaza hang by a thread and called on the Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 Whatever the justification, if the fighting in Gaza is allowed to continue, the result will not be a military victory for either side but a catastrophe that consumes the entire region, he said.\u00a0 The Security Council must do everything in its power to achieve peace rather implicitly green-light further escalation, he said.\u00a0 He appreciated the efforts by Egypt, other countries and Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres to help open humanitarian corridors, though he warned that assistance is just a drop in the bucket.\u00a0 The Security Council must use its most unequivocal language to require the occupying Power to immediately lift the siege of Gaza, restore water, electricity and fuel supplies, and stop the collective punishment of the population in Gaza, he said, urging Israel to stop air strikes and ensure safe aid delivery and the lifting of the evacuation order for northern Gaza.<\/p>\n

ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan<\/u>), condemning the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants, called for an immediate release of hostages and a redoubling of diplomatic efforts to contain the conflict and prevent a regional spillover.\u00a0 All parties must comply with international law and address the humanitarian situation in Gaza while also protecting medical and humanitarian personnel.\u00a0Japan supports any diplomatic activities that can lead towards de\u2011escalation and an improvement of the humanitarian situation, including the Cairo Summit for Peace and ongoing negotiations to free hostages.\u00a0 He also called for humanitarian corridors to be set up to continue the delivery of life-saving assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza.\u00a0 He urged the Council to act with unity, saying that its silence is unacceptable and emphasizing that the conflict demonstrates the importance of the two-State solution.\u00a0 \u201cWhat we need now is to help innocent lives, not political gain,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

CAROLYN OPPONG-NTIRI (Ghana<\/u>), noting that today is United Nations Day, said it is regrettable that the Council has failed to reach consensus on a comprehensive humanitarian response.\u00a0 She recalled that, after the 7\u00a0October attacks launched by Hamas in southern Israel and the abduction of Israeli citizens and nationals of other countries, Ghana condemned the actions of Hamas and called on the group to cease its attacks and release the hostages without condition.\u00a0 Commending the efforts of the Secretary-General, the leaders of Egypt, Israel and the United States, and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Emergency Relief Coordinator in negotiating the opening of the Rafah border crossing, she appealed to the Government of Israel to allow more humanitarian aid deliveries, especially fuel, which is badly needed to power Gaza\u2019s health centres and water-treatment plants.<\/p>\n

PEDRO COMISS\u00c1RIO AFONSO (Mozambique<\/u>) said the situation in the Gaza Strip since 7\u00a0October has been concerning, and remains volatile and dangerous, adding:\u00a0 \u201cIt is a humanitarian crisis that has been ongoing for years, with many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.\u201d\u00a0 Associating himself with the Council\u2019s efforts to protect civilians and respect international law, he underscored the urgent need to open humanitarian access corridors, and ensure access to water, electricity, food and medicine.\u00a0 All parties must de-escalate tension, halt the attacks, stop the suffering in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian access.\u00a0\u201cThe humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is unfolding before our eyes,\u201d he said, reiterating the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure.\u00a0 The Council must work together to contain the conflict, end the cycle of violence and prevent a regional escalation.\u00a0 \u201cWe must support the strengthening of the Palestinian Authority, which represents the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

AYMAN SAFADI,\u00a0Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan<\/u>, speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Arab Group<\/u>, noted that the international community\u2019s common humanity and moral values are being put to the test today, pointing to a spiral of violence based on despair over decades of occupation, injustice and oppression and \u201ca raging war that is razing Gaza to the ground\u201d. \u00a0The Security Council was established for this moment, he said, to apply international law and stop the war and violence and maintain that there is no State above the law regardless of its might or its barbarism. \u00a0\u201cBut it seems that Israel is above the law,\u201d he emphasized.\u00a0 It is violating international law without deterrence and running roughshod over Council resolutions, building settlements without any consequences and confiscating Palestinian land without accountability. \u00a0The Security Council did not even call for a ceasefire in the current war in Gaza, which is killing 14 Palestinian civilians every hour, he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough with the war,\u201d he declared. \u00a0Addressing those who think they are serving Israel in its war against Gaza, he said: \u00a0\u201cYour position that is supportive of Israel will not serve Israel and will not convince Palestinians.\u201d \u00a0Condemning the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians and calling for liberty for everyone is a very important humanitarian position and one that his bloc has taken, he said.\u00a0 Any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians inside or outside their occupied land is a war crime, he stressed, warning that his bloc will confront any forced displacement to neighbouring countries. \u00a0Detailing the death and destruction in Gaza, he stressed: \u00a0\u201cIsrael will enjoy security when Palestinians enjoy security.\u201d\u00a0 The Security Council must adopt a resolution for a ceasefire to stop the war, condemn the killing of civilians on both sides, and prevent the starvation of Palestinians and their collective punishment.\u00a0Moreover, it must take a clear stand that reassures 2\u00a0billion Arabs and Muslims that international law will be applied.<\/p>\n

He urged the international community to work together to return to a true peace process and serious negotiations based on international law and Council resolutions to end the occupation and achieve a comprehensive, durable and just peace on the basis of the two-State solution within a set time frame and with international guarantees for peace for Palestinians, Israelis and the whole region.<\/p>\n

SAMEH SHOUKRY,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt<\/u>, said the \u201cPalestinian territories are going through horrific developments\u201d, noting that more than 5,000 people had been killed there, including over 2,000 children.\u00a0\u201cThe war machine continues indiscriminately to claim lives without any distinction,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is shameful that some continue to justify what is happening, citing the right to self-defence and resisting terrorism,\u201d he said, asking:\u00a0 \u201cWhat right justifies not distinguishing between an enemy to be targeted and unarmed civilians destined to live for centuries in this particular part of their homeland and to be subjected to a blockade?\u201d\u00a0 Two and a half\u00a0million civilians are being killed, starved and forcibly displaced.\u00a0 He asserted that \u201csilence in this case is tantamount to giving blessings,\u201d not naming things by their names, and merely calling for respecting international humanitarian law without describing what is happening as a violation of the law, is tantamount to participating in the crimes.<\/p>\n

He condemned the targeting of any unarmed civilians by any party or capturing them to use as a bargaining chip, adding that \u201chumanity is indivisible and not selective\u201d.\u00a0 Some want to play the blame game, but today\u2019s situation did not come from nothing, rather from accumulated practices and policies with the goal of entrenching an illegal occupation, usurping the land from its rightful owners and imposing a new demographic reality.\u00a0 The solution to the Palestinian question is not military action or forced displacement, he said, rather the only solution is justice, by granting the Palestinians their legitimate rights and letting them live in peace and safety on their own territories.\u00a0 \u201cEgypt will not accept for the Palestinian people to be forcibly displaced and we will not accept any liquidation of the Palestinian question at Egypt\u2019s expense,\u201d he said.\u00a0 What has the world gained as a result of deferring the solution \u2014 more tension and pain in occupied Palestine, in Israel, and in the whole region.<\/p>\n

He regretted that the Council had not been able to adopt a resolution for a ceasefire and was surprised that its draft resolutions don\u2019t include a ceasefire, without which the region might head to a dangerous juncture.\u00a0 Some of what\u2019s being tabled amounts to a new attempt to justify the continuation of this war, he said, adding that this is not in line with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter and the Council\u2019s mandate.\u00a0 He added that his country has tried to provide a platform in Cairo this month to contain the situation and offer a political framework, with a non-politicized approach taking into account the urgent humanitarian dimension of this catastrophe, aiming to achieve consensus on de-escalation to prevent more destruction and revive the peace process.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will not rest until this war ends,\u201d he said, regretting the double standards applied to the humanitarian dimensions.\u00a0 He called for a sustainable, immediate ceasefire without conditions; an end to practices aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians either within or outside their lands; international protection for unarmed Palestinian people and ensuring safe, sustained humanitarian aid to Gaza.\u00a0 He also called for Israel bearing its responsibility as the occupying Power, a process for a Palestinian State, and the Council investigating violations of international law and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

P\u00c9TER SZIJJ\u00c1RT\u00d3,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary<\/u>, said that global security has been in its worst shape since the cold war.\u00a0There can be no excuse for launching thousands of rockets on the territory of a sovereign country and killing a large number of innocent people by such an attack, he stressed.\u00a0 \u201cWe do find unacceptable all kinds of attempts which aim at explaining this phenomenon or aim at putting it into any kind of context or aim at finding any excuse for such a barbarian attack,\u201d he said, underscoring that Israel has the right to protect itself and that it is the interest of the entire international community that such an attack will never take place again.\u00a0 \u201cWhat has to happen now is a fight against terror and fight against a terrorist organization\u201d, he emphasized, calling for this fight against terror not to turn into a war between nations.<\/p>\n

Commending the United States, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for facilitating the Abraham Accords, he said that he is counting a lot on the Gulf countries and Arab countries in the region not to let all these achievements be lost.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s scary to see images from the streets and squares of some European countries and here in North America,\u201d he said, adding that he saw terrorist organizations being praised on the streets and antisemitism on the rise.\u00a0 \u201cThis is a consequence of the massive illegal migratory flows which have hit Europe in the recent years and which have created parallel societies in many European countries,\u201d he stated, stressing that it is unimaginable that any authority in Hungary would approve any rally to praise terror attacks or organizations.<\/p>\n

NALEDI PANDOR,\u00a0Minister for International Relations of South Africa<\/u>, said the ultimate solution to the conflict is to finalize the two-State solution and called for an immediate ceasefire, the opening of a humanitarian corridor and, most urgently, on all parties to desist from fuelling this patently unjust war and the suffering of innocents. \u00a0She expressed condolences to the people of Palestine and Israel for the lives lost as well as horror at the blatant targeting of civilians, a clear violation of international humanitarian law, the Geneva Convention and its Protocols. \u00a0Both Hamas and Israel have committed these violations, she said. \u00a0The killing of civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza by Israeli forces goes against the tenets of international law. \u00a0There is an added obligation on an occupying Power, including a prohibition against collective punishment, she said, adding South Africa was also concerned about the actions of Hamas, which also targeted non-combatants.<\/p>\n

FAISAL BIN FARHAN A.F. AL FURHAN AL-SAUD,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of<\/u>\u00a0Saudi Arabia<\/u>, said that today\u2019s meeting is being held under painful circumstances. \u00a0Condemning the targeting of civilians, he called for an end of the escalation of military operations, adding that the blockade and hostilities are causing suffering for the Palestinians. \u00a0The international community\u2019s failure to end this collective punishment by the Israeli occupation forces on Gaza \u201cwill not bring us any closer to security and stability\u201d. \u00a0The Security Council\u2019s silence is unacceptable, he said, adding that the organ bears responsibility for its complacency, given the cost of the conflict in lives and property as well as the threat to the security and stability of the region. \u00a0The Council\u2019s inability to carry out its role, delaying arrival at a resolution to the crisis, casts doubt on its credibility, he said.<\/p>\n

The international community must take a firm stand to end the military operations, guarantee the protection of civilians and delivery of humanitarian assistance, and prevent an expansion of the cycle of conflict, he said.\u00a0The policy of double standards and selectivity in abiding by United Nations laws and resolutions \u201chas dangerous repercussions that go beyond the conflict\u201d, impacting international law and the ability to maintain international peace and security. \u00a0He warned that this ongoing escalation and a lack of accountability will lead to further violence, destruction and extremism \u2014 and this as a result of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions not being respected or implemented. \u00a0Ignoring the reasons behind the conflict will not lead to a just solution, and therefore a credible peace process must be revived. \u00a0Saudi Arabia hopes that the region will enjoy peace and guaranteed prosperity for succeeding generations, and a peace that guarantees a two-State solution and establishment of a Palestinian State, he said.<\/p>\n

JEAN ASSELBORN,\u00a0Minister for Foreign and European Affairs for Luxembourg<\/u>, stressing that nothing can justify the atrocities committed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists against Israeli civilians on 7\u00a0October, condemned these acts in the strongest terms, and supported Israel\u2019s right to defend itself under the framework of international law.\u00a0 However, he quoted United States President Joseph R. Biden\u2019s message to Israel to \u201cnot be guided by rage\u201d.\u00a0 The population is not Hamas, and cannot be held responsible or collectively punished for crimes committed by terrorists.\u00a0 Noting the Secretary-General\u2019s call for a ceasefire, he said that humanitarian pauses can be considered a first step, allowing for the delivery of humanitarian aid, and facilitating the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.\u00a0 He welcomed the first deliveries of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in recent days, commending the United Nations, Egypt and the United States for facilitating the safe passage of shipments.<\/p>\n

However, these deliveries did not include fuel, which is essential for hospital and water desalination, he continued.\u00a0 United Nations facilities, hospitals and schools must never be targeted, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, which is sheltering 600,000 Palestinian people, must urgently receive support.\u00a0 On that, he highlighted his country\u2019s provision of an additional \u20ac2.5\u00a0million to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, ICRC and WFP, bringing its 2023 contribution to \u20ac12\u00a0million.\u00a0Noting his visits to Gaza over his time as Minister, he described it as an \u201copen-sky prison\u201d, with Gazans doubly suffering from Israel\u2019s blockade and bombing and Hamas using them as human shields.\u00a0A regional conflagration must be avoided, he said, noting that an alarming uptick in violence by settlers in the West Bank was leading to the forced transfer of Palestinians.\u00a0 The Council and the General Assembly have a key responsibility in avoiding an escalation of the situation, he said, voicing support for a two-State solution with 1967 borders, in line with Council resolution 2334 (2016).<\/p>\n

RETNO LESTARI PRIANSARI MARSUDI,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia<\/u>, condemned the continued unprecedented aggression against civilians by Israel in Gaza. \u00a0Pointing to the humanitarian catastrophe and crimes against humanity, she asked: \u00a0\u201cAre we going to stay idle?\u201d\u00a0 She further asked the Council when it will exercise its responsibility to stop the war, create a ceasefire, open access to humanitarian assistance, call for the immediate release of civilians and stop the illegal occupation of Israel.\u00a0 Every second wasted due to political disagreement represents a humanitarian defeat for the Palestinians and creates further instability for the world, she stressed.\u00a0 Her country will not waste a single second in harnessing global support for immediate action through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation\u00a0(OIC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations\u00a0(ASEAN) and the Group of Eight meetings, pushing for a united voice to urge the cessation of violence and focus on the urgent humanitarian catastrophe.<\/p>\n

She urged the Council\u2019s united call for an immediate ceasefire, noting that blanket support shown to one side so far has led to the disproportionate use of force, violations of international law and impunity. \u00a0The Council must urge immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian passage and respect for humanitarian law. \u00a0She further called on the Council to move beyond politics and bring back humanity to the 15-member organ. \u00a0\u201cPlease use your great power to be more human,\u201d she urged, emphasizing that Palestinians deserve equal rights and treatment. \u00a0The Council holds great responsibility and\u00a0with it<\/a>\u00a0great responsibility to address the current situation in Gaza, address the root cause and ensure a path to the two-State solution, she added.<\/p>\n

FRANCISCO ANDR\u00c9,\u00a0Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Portugal<\/u>, said he recognized Israel\u2019s right to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas.\u00a0 But he added that Israel\u2019s actions must strictly respect international humanitarian law.\u00a0 Hostages must be released immediately and without preconditions, he said, and added that the humanitarian consequences of the war must be addressed.\u00a0 \u201cThe death toll on both sides is staggering.\u201d\u00a0 The increasing Palestinian civilian suffering is not acceptable, he said, noting that the basic tenets of international humanitarian law are not compatible with shutting off electricity, food, water and fuel from Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cCollective punishment of civilian populations is contrary to international humanitarian law,\u201d he said, and called for aid to reach Gaza.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a moment of tragedy and crisis, and we must transform it into a moment of hope and opportunity,\u201d he said, adding that to do so we must recognize the nature of the complexity of the issues at stake.\u00a0 He noted that Palestine has still not been granted statehood and millions of Palestinians remain displaced. \u00a0He urged for the non-violent political path to be followed and for the avoidance of a broader conflict.\u00a0 He welcomed international and bilateral involvement to avoid spillover.\u00a0 Once this crisis is over we cannot go back to the status quo, he said, calling for the two-State solution to be fulfilled.<\/p>\n

AHMED ATTAF,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of Algeria<\/u>, said that the current events are happening due to the complete marginalization and devaluation of the Palestinian cause and the unjustifiable tolerance and absolute immunity of the Israeli occupation.\u00a0Since the 1990s the Palestinian cause has not seen any serious initiatives, he stressed, citing the paralysis of the international diplomacy and the dangerous illusion that peace, security and stability are being sought in the Middle East.\u00a0 Reminding about the annexation of the Palestinian land and control of over 78\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the West Bank, he said this has negative effects on the two States project.\u00a0 \u201cWe would also recall that this immunity \u2014 according to Israel \u2014 has given rise to more racist policies that we reject, the policies that reach the occupied city of Jerusalem and seek to change the legal status quo,\u201d he stated, adding that this immunity has led to more deaths, forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the destruction of their infrastructure and housing over the last two decades.<\/p>\n

The Palestinian people face a difficult choice \u2014 either leaving the territory and their rights behind or ethnic cleansing and eradication of the national Palestinian State project, he stressed, adding that these events put the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ to a significant test.\u00a0 He called on the Council to lift the unjust blockade of the Gaza Strip because this is a war crime and a crime against humanity; to put an end to the senseless bombing that has led to thousands of innocent victims, also a war crime and a crime of genocide; end the forced displacement of the Palestinian people which can be seen as a crime of ethnic cleansing; and to allow humanitarian assistance to be delivered to Gaza.<\/p>\n

AHMET YILDIZ,\u00a0Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East and North Africa Affairs of T\u00fcrkiye<\/u>, said the 2.5\u00a0million people in Gaza are under constant and indiscriminate bombing. \u00a0As of today, the Israeli military has killed close to 2,000 children, he said, emphasizing there can be no justification for the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza. \u00a0\u201cSome prefer to look the other way in the face of such atrocities. \u00a0They prefer not to speak about crimes against humanity and war crimes. \u00a0They prefer to pretend Palestinian people are just numbers and have no souls and no rights,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cThis is absolutely unacceptable. \u00a0This is sheer hypocrisy and an embodiment of the double standards that constitute the very root causes of the problem we are facing today\u201d. \u00a0He called for an immediate, unconditional and lasting ceasefire and said unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza must be ensured, expressing hope the Security Council will continue to help keep the Rafah crossing open.<\/p>\n

He said the two parties \u2014 Israel and Palestine \u2014 must be brought together to agree on a two-State solution. \u00a0It is true that such a vision for a settlement has remained elusive, despite serious attempts, he said, adding that what is required now is a mechanism to monitor, verify and, when needed, enforce the obligations of the parties \u2014 otherwise what is written on paper runs the risk of remaining just that. \u00a0The responsibility of stopping this bloodshed and starting a meaningful process for peace lies first and foremost with the Security Council, he said, adding that the last time the Security Council spoke with one voice on this issue was in January\u00a02009 when resolution 1860 (2009) was adopted. \u00a0He urged the Council to put aside its indifference to this carnage which can have no place in the twenty-first century.<\/p>\n

ANNALENA BAERBOCK,\u00a0Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany<\/u>, said that to find a way out of this crisis, everyone must seek to understand each other\u2019s pain. \u00a0She speaks as the Foreign Minister of a country that bears historic responsibility for the worst imaginable crime, the crime committed by Nazi Germany: \u00a0The systematic murder of 6\u00a0million Jews, with the aim of eradicating Jewish life from Europe. \u00a0\u201cNever again; to me as a German, that means that we will not rest knowing that the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors are now being held hostage by terrorists in Gaza,\u201d she said. \u00a0\u201cFor Germany, Israel\u2019s security is non-negotiable.\u201d \u00a0Like any other State, Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism within the framework of international law. \u00a0Addressing the plight of the Palestinians in no way contradicts this clear and unwavering stance.<\/p>\n

The fight is against Hamas and not against civilians, and it must be carried out in line with humanitarian law, with the greatest possible consideration for civilians in Gaza, she said. \u00a0Germany has increased its humanitarian aid to Gaza by \u20ac50\u00a0million and is advocating for the introduction of humanitarian windows so people in need can get help. \u00a0\u201cIn doing so, we must not be fooled by Hamas\u2019 playbook,\u201d she said, pointing to their use of women and children in Gaza as human shields, and their hiding of weapons under supermarkets, apartment blocks and even hospitals. \u00a0The rules of the Charter and international humanitarian law should guide the international community\u2019s work for a new tomorrow. \u00a0This means moving towards a meaningful peace process that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in peace and security, in two independent States.<\/p>\n

HANKE GERDINA JOHANNETTE BRUINS SLOT,\u00a0Minister for Foreign Affairs of Netherlands<\/u>, said the horrendous violence carried out by Hamas was an attempt to destroy people\u2019s souls, a threat which is far from over. \u00a0The international community therefore needs to stand united in supporting Israel and its right to self-defence. \u00a0She noted that the use of force in self-defence must be necessary and proportionate with international humanitarian law, and respected by all parties. \u00a0To achieve the protection of civilians, humanitarian workers and United Nations premises and personnel requires restraint on the part of Israel in the use of force. \u00a0Highlighting the catastrophic situation in Gaza, she said \u201cwe cannot afford to lose more time\u201d, as a sustained flow of humanitarian aid is needed, including fuel and an immediate restoration of water supplies. \u00a0Humanitarian pauses and a permanent humanitarian corridor are crucial to not only allow free passage, but also to prevent the situation from getting much worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Netherlands will step up its humanitarian response,\u201d she said, and announced an additional commitment of\u00a0\u20ac10\u00a0million for immediate humanitarian relief, of which\u00a0\u20ac8 million is for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, aimed at improving the living conditions for Palestinian citizens, including mental health and psychosocial support. \u00a0\u201cWe are also extremely concerned about the conflict spreading beyond the borders of Israel and Gaza,\u201d she said, and called on all parties to prevent this from happening, including into the West Bank. \u00a0Her country calls for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages. \u00a0She recalled that at the United Nations\u2019 founding, \u201cthe Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one of the first major crises calling for urgent attention. \u00a0Today, more than 75\u00a0years later, the need to find a solution to this conflict is more pressing and crucial than ever.\u201d \u00a0Her country calls on the Security Council to provide the leadership required to manage and contain this crisis.<\/p>\n

ELTAHER SALEM ELBAOUR,\u00a0Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Libya<\/u>, condemned Israel\u2019s brutal aggression against the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people, in addition to the hundreds still trapped under rubble, whom first responders are unable to reach due to the shelling.\u00a0 \u201cThis is the objective of the Zionist occupation forces:\u00a0the genocide of the residents of Gaza City,\u201d he stressed.\u00a0 \u201cNo media in the world can falsify what happened in Gaza,\u201d he said, alluding to the bombing of Al Ahli Arab hospital, which claimed 500 lives.\u00a0 To \u201cso-called civilized nations\u201d who voice support for the aggression, exposing the falsehood behind slogans about human rights, he asked:\u00a0\u201cWhat kind of message are you sending the world?\u00a0 The world is fully aware of what is happening in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0Enough double standards; enough falsifying facts.\u201d<\/p>\n

His country cannot accept the pretence that what preceded the crisis on 7\u00a0October \u2014 violations against Palestinians and the desecration of holy sites in Jerusalem \u2014 were perpetrated by unknown individuals, he continued, adding:\u00a0 \u201cYou can\u2019t ask us to stay silent or support the aggression against civilians.\u201d\u00a0International resolutions and humanitarian laws are binding moral agreements, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cDouble standards in identifying civilians who should be protected at the international level, or provided military support, is unacceptable and demeans civilian lives.\u201d\u00a0 He called for an immediate end of Israel\u2019s aggression under the pretext of protecting civilians, noting that he has seen, on the news, the occupying forces\u2019 declarations of their wish to perpetrate genocide against Gazan residents.\u00a0 The international community should support Palestine\u2019s right to establish an independent State, instead of a new geographic reality, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cWe should not talk about the borders of 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n

SANJA \u0160TIGLIC,\u00a0State Secretary for Political and Multilateral Affairs and Development Cooperation of Slovenia<\/u>, condemning in the strongest terms Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack on Israel, called on the group to stop its rocket fire into Israel and immediately and unconditionally release all hostages.\u00a0 She voiced support for Israel\u2019s right to self-defence in accordance with international law, including the principle of proportionality.\u00a0She called on all parties to fully respect international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, including full, immediate and unhindered humanitarian access to and within Gaza. \u00a0Noting that the situation in Gaza is turning into a human catastrophe, she joined the calls for an independent investigation of the attacks on Al Ahli Arab Hospital.<\/p>\n

Stressing the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire or pause, she said her country will continue to support the indispensable work of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA and has recently substantially increased its funding to the agency, she said.\u00a0 Voicing full support for the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system and the broader humanitarian community, she called on all countries in the region and beyond to act responsibly and cooperate and engage in a constructive dialogue to de-escalate the conflict.\u00a0 \u201cAs a matter of urgency, we must recommit ourselves to resuming a meaningful peace process leading to a two-State solution that brings peace and security to both sides,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

GERARDO PE\u00d1ALVER PORTAL,\u00a0First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba<\/u>, associated himself with statements to come by the Non-Aligned Movement and Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and expressed deep concern about the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine as a consequence of decades of Israeli practices of illegal occupation and colonization.\u00a0 He condemned the murders of civilians; indiscriminate bombings; destruction of homes, hospitals and civil infrastructure; and the deprivation of water, food, electricity and fuel services to Gazans.\u00a0 \u201cNothing can justify these actions, which constitute collective punishment\u201d, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes and crimes against humanity, he said.\u00a0 He demanded an immediate ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to the rhetoric of war.<\/p>\n

He called it shameful that, once again, the Council has been unable to fulfil its mandate.\u00a0 The United States Government has been complicit and responsible for Israel\u2019s impunity for its historical crimes by obstructing the action of the Council regarding the Palestinian question, undermining peace and stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 It is shameful that the United States has in this Council vetoed 46 resolutions related to the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the most recent just a few days ago.\u00a0 He demanded that the United States Government not continue to paralyse the Council using the undemocratic and obsolete veto power \u201cin order to protect the excesses of the Israeli Government\u201d.\u00a0 He advocated for negotiation to stop the escalation of violence and a lasting two-State solution.\u00a0 He called for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ-coordinated emergency humanitarian aid for Gaza.<\/p>\n

WOJCIECH GERWEL,\u00a0Undersecretary for State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland<\/u>, reminding that his country condemned the brutal attacks on civilians by Hamas, said that Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens in compliance with international law.\u00a0 Calling for immediate release of all hostages by Hamas, he said that it is crucial to prevent regional escalation and achieve a diplomatic solution. \u00a0\u201cWe call for allowing access for relevant United Nations agencies and their implementing partners,\u201d he said, stressing that the security of all those providing humanitarian assistance is critical.\u00a0 \u201cEspecially now we should not leave Gaza Palestinians without support,\u201d he emphasized, recalling that Poland knows very well the consequences of war, invasion and terror, which are felt for generations.\u00a0 \u201cThis is why we reiterate that escalation and spreading of the conflict will have devastating and long-lasting consequences,\u201d he said, calling on all the parties not to succumb to the logic of violence and make every effort to reach the cessation of hostilities.<\/p>\n

ELIZABETH TAYLOR JAY,\u00a0Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs of Colombia<\/u>, said the conflict is of great concern and demands decisive and coordinated action by the United Nations, and in particular by the Security Council. \u00a0Considering the loss of thousands of lives in recent days and the degradation of living conditions, she recalled the importance of respecting the principles of distinction, proportionality and protection of infrastructure essential for the survival of the civilian population. \u00a0In this regard, she joined the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ agencies and countless demonstrators around the world, she said. \u00a0\u201cThe world is crying out for a guarantee of access for humanitarian aid aimed at alleviating the suffering of the civilian population,\u201d she said, adding that children, women, older people and the sick are worst affected by the violence.<\/p>\n

She urgently called on the Security Council to take measures in the face of the blockade, which prevents humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, including fuel, hospital supplies, medicine and other indispensable resources. \u00a0These supplies need to reach all areas, including the north of Gaza, she said, adding that humanitarian operations must be protected and facilitated as established in the Rome Statute. \u00a0If not, she warned, it would mean a return to the worst times of human barbarity. \u00a0\u201cToday we are witness to the total disregard of international humanitarian law,\u201d she said, adding that Colombia rejected such disregard. \u00a0Violence only causes greater suffering, she said, reiterating a call for an immediate cessation of hostility and a resumption of peace negotiations to stabilize the situation. \u00a0The international legal order must be preserved, she said, adding an international conference of peace must be convened immediately.<\/p>\n

AHMED ABOUL GHEIT,\u00a0Secretary-General of the League of Arab States<\/u>, said the credibility of the Council is at stake, as the \u201cwar of vengeance\u201d in Gaza \u201conly aims to collectively punish millions of people whose only crime is that they live in the Gaza Strip\u201d.\u00a0 It is a violation of international law and international humanitarian law \u2014 pillars of the international order.\u00a0 The League condemns the targeting and killing of civilians on both sides because it is convinced of the need to respect international humanitarian law, a principle of which is the distinction between armed combatants and civilians.\u00a0 He called for an immediate stoppage of the hostilities on civilians in Gaza, describing it as the only way to prevent a major humanitarian disaster.\u00a0 Expressing surprise at the claim by some parties to the right of self-defence as a justification to the most serious atrocities, he said the League is concerned that Israeli forces are forcibly displacing the people of Gaza from their homes in the north to the south \u201cas if the aim is to create a humanitarian disaster whether inside the Strip or along the borders with Egypt\u201d.<\/p>\n

This opens the door for a second wave of forced displacement for the people of Gaza, he stressed.\u00a0 The League therefore rejects this displacement \u2014 a systematic strategy Israel seeks to apply to liquidate the Palestinian cause.\u00a0 He affirmed that Palestinians and Arabs would not experience a second\u00a0nakba<\/em>, and hoped this is clear to the world and the Security Council.\u00a0 It is time for the world to address the root cause of the cycles of violence.\u00a0 He said the only formula to preserve the dignity and freedom of the Palestinian people and safety for the Israelis is the two-State solution, hoping that \u201cthe current developments will compel us to think about future generations without repeating the mistakes of the past\u201d.<\/p>\n

ALICIA GUADALUPE BUENROSTRO MASSIEU (Mexico<\/u>) called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages in Hamas\u2019 custody, among them two Mexican nationals.\u00a0 Her country recognizes the right of Israel to protect its citizens and its territory, and to guarantee their security, but that must be done in strict adherence with international law, she stressed.\u00a0 She called for the immediate and lasting cessation of hostilities in all parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as the lifting of the siege suffered by the people of Gaza.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cIt is unacceptable that the United States used its veto on 18\u00a0October to prevent Security Council action,\u201d she said, stressing that the draft resolution proposed by Brazil was a balanced text and humanitarian in nature.\u00a0 She once again called on Member States to join the France-Mexico initiative on the restriction on use of the veto, which already has 106 signatories.<\/p>\n

JONGIN BAE (Republic of Korea<\/u>), condemning the abhorrent and indiscriminate Hamas terrorist attacks, called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. \u00a0Until now, more than 6,000\u00a0people, mostly civilians, have died in Israel and Gaza, he said, noting that those alive are suffering from acute shortages of necessities. \u00a0Stressing that all civilian lives matter, he welcomed the Secretary-General\u2019s announcement of the initial provision of humanitarian supplies to civilians in Gaza via the Rafah crossing with additional deliveries over the next couple of days. \u00a0Noting the high levels of tension in the West Bank, he said that protecting civilians and preventing spillover violence must be the guiding priority at this fragile moment. \u00a0However, to break the cycle of violence, efforts have to be renewed to establish a durable peaceful solution.<\/p>\n

CHRISTIAN WENAWESER (Liechtenstein<\/u>) said that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ political organs should not be silent in \u201cthis tragic crisis of our collective obligation to protect civilian populations.\u201d\u00a0 Condemning the terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians by Hamas and other groups as well as targeting of civilians, mass killings, abduction and hostage taking, he affirmed Israel\u2019s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.\u00a0 Stressing that a \u201csiege of Gaza\u201d \u2014 as declared by Israeli military leaders \u2014 amounts to an act of collective punishment, he added:\u00a0 \u201cThe large numbers of civilian casualties, many of them children, that have resulted in Gaza to date are unacceptable.\u201d\u00a0 States must see the protection of civilians as their highest priority, he said, and called for preventing further escalation of the war and ensuring humanitarian access to the population in Gaza.<\/p>\n

OMAR HILALE (Morocco<\/u>), aligning himself with the Arab Group, warned that the conflict could become more dangerous with implications across the Middle East.\u00a0 Citing the Arab League\u2019s reaffirming the need to stop the bloodshed and not target civilians, he called for the restoration of a genuine peace process aimed at a two-State solution.\u00a0 He also reported that Morocco will send humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, including food, medicine and water, and will coordinate its delivery with Egyptian and Palestinian authorities.\u00a0 Morocco remains on the side of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, he emphasized, and he called for an end to any measures that jeopardize the status of Jerusalem, in order to prevent the conflict turning from a political one to a religious one.\u00a0 The city must be a place of peaceful coexistence for all three religions, he said.<\/p>\n

CAROLYN SCHWALGER (New Zealand<\/u>) stressed that even as the Security Council convenes, \u201cthe deadly violence and bloodshed in Israel and Palestine persists.\u201d\u00a0 Condemning Hamas\u2019 terrorist attacks on Israel, she called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.\u00a0 Voicing support for Israel\u2019s right to defend itself, in full compliance with international law \u2014 including in respect of actions taken in Gaza \u2014 she further affirmed that, ultimately, there is no military solution that will bring a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.\u00a0 The protection of civilians is the most urgent priority, and she joined calls for a humanitarian pause to provide neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian organizations an opportunity to provide assistance and protection to those in Gaza who desperately need it.\u00a0 Expressing regret that the Council has been unable to adopt a resolution, she called on the international community to urgently advance the Middle East peace process.\u00a0 \u201cWe must act now,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n

REN\u00c9 ALFONSO RUID\u00cdAZ P\u00c9REZ (Chile<\/u>) said that his country promotes the two-State solution and the right of Israel and Palestine to live in harmony, within internationally secure and recognized borders, and with full respect for the human rights of all inhabitants.\u00a0 \u201cChile unreservedly condemns the actions of Hamas and all terrorist action, acts of violence and hostilities against the civilian population,\u201d he said, calling for the unconditional release of all hostages in the hands of the terrorist organization.\u00a0 \u201cThe exercise of force as part of the legitimate defence of a State that has been attacked must be guided by the principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution,\u201d he urged, adding that these things are not being respected and the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has prevented the entry of food, water, medical supplies and energy sources necessary for human existence.<\/p>\n

MÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵIR AKRAM (Pakistan<\/u>) conveyed Pakistan\u2019s full support and solidarity with Pakistan\u2019s Palestinian brothers and sisters in these tragic and challenging times. \u00a0Israel\u2019s relentless and indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza over the last 17\u00a0days has killed more than 5,000\u00a0people and injured another\u00a015,000, he said, strongly and unequivocally condemning Israel\u2019s airstrikes and military actions in Gaza, particularly attacks on schools, residential buildings and hospitals. \u00a0These Israeli attacks on civilians, the blockade of water, food and fuel, and the forced transfer of people from the occupied territory are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and amounts to war crimes, and those responsible of these atrocities must be held accountable, he said, calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, saying the continuation of the Israeli campaign will lead to further massive civilian causalities and could trigger a wider and more dangerous regional conflict. \u00a0He regretted the Security Council has been unable to issue a call for a ceasefire. \u00a0A heavy responsibility rests on those who contribute to the prolongation of this conflict, he said.<\/p>\n

SURIYA CHINDAWONGSE (Thailand<\/u>) voiced his opposition to the withholding of access to basic necessities like water, food, electricity and fuel as weapons of war, and the targeting of critical civilian infrastructure. \u00a0He also reported that his country, while it extends its deepest condolences to families that lost loved ones and its sympathy with everyone suffering, is also a victim, as Thai citizens have been killed, injured and taken hostage. \u00a0He strongly appealed for their immediate release and safe return, condemning all forms of violence and attacks on civilians in conflict situations. \u00a0He further urged all sides to respect and fulfil their obligations under international law and appealed to the international community to ensure access to humanitarian aid. \u00a0He joined other speakers in calling for \u201call sides to take immediate steps to prevent the escalation of violence and implement an immediate ceasefire\u201d, and he urged the Security Council do its utmost to restore peace and security in the region in line with the United Nations Charter.<\/p>\n

ALYA AHMED SAIF AL-THANI (Qatar<\/u>), associating herself with the Arab Group, recalled that on many occasions, her country over recent months has expressed caution against the intensification of Israeli policies, including attempts to change the historic status quo and geographical status quo of the holy sites.\u00a0 Over the last two weeks, it has made appeals and tireless diplomatic efforts for mediation and dialogue toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, she added, noting her country\u2019s efforts for the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 She said Qatar strongly rejects the words of Israel, who gave a false image of the mediation efforts of her country, which were welcomed by friendly countries, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and international partners.\u00a0Support provided by Qatar to civilians in Gaza covers humanitarian and development support for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ channels, and is part of its humanitarian and moral obligation to the Palestinian people.\u00a0Its support is also in response to appeals from international partners, who called on her country to play a leading role to achieve stability for Gaza and the region, she added.<\/p>\n

CHEIKH NIANG (Senegal),\u00a0Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People<\/u>, noted that on 7\u00a0October, he issued a statement condemning the killing and wounding of hundreds of civilians in Israel, as well as the taking of hostages. \u00a0Noting that Israel, the occupying Power, bears responsibility for protecting the civilian population and for the unfolding humanitarian disaster, he strongly condemned that State\u2019s reprisal air strikes and bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip \u2014 killing, as of 23\u00a0October, over 4,651 Palestinians, including over 1,873 children, and injuring more than 14,245 Palestinians. \u00a0Particularly abhorrent war crimes are attacks on medical facilities, like the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, where an air strike killed some 500 people, including medical personnel, or places of worship sheltering civilians, as the attack on the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyries Church.<\/p>\n

Noting estimates that over 1.4\u00a0million Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced, he further condemned Israel\u2019s military orders to \u201cevacuate\u201d to the south of the Strip. \u00a0\u201cThere is nowhere safe to go in Gaza,\u201d he stated. \u00a0\u201cWars have rules,\u201d he stressed, condemning collective punishment and calling for an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to immediately lift its total siege. \u00a0Also reporting that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA facilities are sheltering over 600,000 internally displaced persons, he urged Member States to provide urgent financial assistance.\u00a0 He further welcomed the decision by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel to collect evidence of war crimes committed by all sides. \u00a0The current crisis has proved once again the need to \u201cfocus on our longstanding objectives: \u00a0The end of the Israeli occupation and the fulfilment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination and independence.\u201d<\/p>\n

CARLA MAR\u00cdA RODR\u00cdGUEZ MANCIA (Guatemala<\/u>) said: \u00a0\u201cWe face a moment of deep sadness and pain for humanity,\u201d noting that the crisis was triggered by the terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7\u00a0October.\u00a0Adding that that group confuses the Palestinian cause with the justification of terrorism, she stressed that this is a \u201cgrave moral and strategic error\u201d.\u00a0 The lack of recognition by the Council of the right of the Israel to self-defence is not a way of finding dialogue and peace in the region or the world.\u00a0 The Council should act to reduce polarization and clearly and unequivocally condemn Hamas\u2019 actions.\u00a0 On humanitarian aid getting to Gaza, she urged that pauses are not unduly used by terrorist groups to commit fresh acts.\u00a0 She called for the Council to adopt balanced resolutions taking into account all the elements of a given situation, including, in this case, Israel\u2019s right to self-defence.<\/p>\n

ROBERT KEITH RAE (Canada<\/u>) stated that on 7\u00a0October, young women and men, nursing babies, mothers, fathers, grandparents, were all killed with a cruelty that knew no limits, for one reason:\u00a0 \u201cBecause they were Jews.\u201d\u00a0 In too many places, those deaths were not condemned, in some, celebrated, in others denied, and \u201cno false equivalence can excuse these atrocities.\u201d\u00a0 Canada is unequivocal in its support for Israel\u2019s right to defend itself; however, he echoed that counterterrorism measures must comply with international law.\u00a0 Stressing that the taking and holding of hostages is an ongoing war crime, he demanded that they be released.\u00a0 He warned that the conflict must not spread \u2014 noting that the rhetoric of Iran, declarations by terrorist group Hezbollah and rocket launches from actors in Lebanon and Yemen are incendiary.\u00a0 \u201cOn this Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Day, let us seek together to end the scourge of war between Israel and the State of Palestine,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

AMIR SAIED IRAVANI (Iran<\/u>) said that the terrorist attacks on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, killing over 500 innocent civilians, can only be described as a heinous war crime.\u00a0 \u201cAs it was underlined by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General in today’s briefing, Palestinian anti-occupation on 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 was not conducted in a vacuum,\u201d he said, stressing that Palestinians have suffered occupation, discrimination and apartheid policies by the Israeli regime.\u00a0 The Security Council has faced obstacles in taking decisive action mainly due to the United States, which vetoed over 40 resolutions.\u00a0 \u201cThe United States’ unwavering support for occupation and aggression has rendered it an active part of the problem,\u201d he said, adding that it and other western States attempted to shift the blame from the wrongdoer to the victim.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no provision for an occupying regime to invoke the right to self-defence under Article\u00a051 of the Charter but international law and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter indeed recognize the legitimate right to self-determination, as well as the right to self-defence for Palestinian people, including resistance groups like Hamas,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

SERGIY KYSLYTSYA (Ukraine<\/u>) voiced his firm support for Israel in its right to defend to itself in accordance with Article\u00a051 of the Charter. \u00a0There is no justification for any kind of terror in the modern world, he said, reconfirming a strong condemnation of the Hamas attack that killed and wounded several thousand people, including citizens of Ukraine. \u00a0He also condemned the taking of hostages and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all captives. \u00a0Hamas has plunged the region into hostilities and is using civilians as human shields. \u00a0It is critically important to avoid further civilian casualties both in Israel and Palestine, he added, urging the strict abidingness by the rules of warfare and respect for the norms of international law. \u00a0More so, humanitarian support and access to Gaza must be maintained, he stressed, adding that the further escalation of the conflict in the region must be avoided.<\/p>\n

NEVILLE MELVIN GERTZE (Namibia<\/u>), aligning with the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, condemned the violence and brutal loss of lives in the conflict.\u00a0 He said the failure of the Security Council to act in these circumstances \u201cis not only disappointing, but in its own way, affirms that there are significant inconsistencies in our application of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter\u201d.\u00a0 He highlighted the prolonged occupation, settlement expansion and annexation as the root cause behind the current crisis and stated that the line must be drawn where indiscriminate and disproportionate force is used against innocent civilians, including children.\u00a0 His country calls for an immediate cessation of the conflict and condemns the abhorrent attacks on civilians, while underscoring the need for immediate humanitarian assistance commensurate to the needs of the civilians in Gaza.\u00a0 It also reaffirms its support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation, and their inalienable right to self-determination, with East Jerusalem as capital.<\/p>\n

AKAN RAKHMETULLIN (Kazakhstan<\/u>) condemned the attacks by Hamas against Israel and the capture of hostages and called for their immediate and unconditional release.\u00a0 His country recognizes Israel\u2019s legitimate right to security and defence, he said.\u00a0Calling on Israel to refrain from the disproportionate use of force, he said it is crucial to comply with norms of international law and to implement Council resolutions, which secure the legal rights of Palestinians.\u00a0 He expressed solidarity with those who appealed to Israel to revoke the fixed time frame to evacuate the residents from the north of Gaza and to ensure the protection of civilians.\u00a0 He also called on all parties to immediately cease fire and engage in efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution according to the two-State solution. \u00a0He further called for the resumption of dialogue by all sides to the conflict, accompanied by new measure to improve the humanitarian situation of the people of Gaza.<\/p>\n

AHMAD FAISAL MUHAMAD (Malaysia<\/u>), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and OIC, said that Gaza has been described as \u201cthe world\u2019s largest prison\u201d. \u00a0Its continuous pummelling has turned that place into a \u201chumanitarian catastrophe, indescribable in its magnitude\u201d, he observed, adding: \u00a0\u201cIt will get worse if this Council continues to be an arena for one-upmanship, blame-game and finger-pointing.\u201d\u00a0 Joining others in demanding a ceasefire, he also called for unhindered humanitarian access.\u00a0 He said it is important to include fuel to keep hospitals and ambulances running, while also ensuring the supply of food and clean water.\u00a0 Calling against the forced displacement of the Gazan people, he emphasized: \u00a0\u201cThe options before this Council are stark: \u00a0act now and save lives or continue to dither and let more innocent people be killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

AMARA SHEIKH MOHAMMED SOWA (Sierra Leone<\/u>) condemned Hamas\u2019 indefensible attack against Israeli civilians on 7\u00a0October and called for the immediate, unconditional release of hostages.\u00a0However, since those attacks, Freetown has noted escalating violence with concern \u2014 particularly Israel\u2019s response \u2014 and he also condemned attacks on civilians and civilian objects.\u00a0Welcoming diplomatic engagements that have led to a limited flow of aid into Gaza, he nevertheless underscored that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u2019s inability to provide adequate assistance to civilians in Gaza due to indiscriminate bombardment necessitates the establishment of a humanitarian ceasefire and corridors.\u00a0 Further, noting the danger a spillover of the current crisis would pose, he stressed that \u2014 if action is not taken \u2014 this would exacerbate the situation in a fragile region marked by mass displacement, \u201cunimaginable\u201d humanitarian crisis and insecurity.\u00a0 Only genuine dialogue and negotiation based on the two-State solution can guarantee lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, he said.<\/p>\n

ARIEL RODELAS PE\u00d1ARANDA (Philippines<\/u>) urged the Security Council to endorse and support coordinated efforts with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ entities for the safe evacuation and protection of migrants in conflict zones.\u00a0He appealed to all parties involved to cooperate in safeguarding their security, stressing that the safety and well-being of approximately 30,000 Filipino nationals in Israel and a further 130 in Gaza remain paramount to his country.\u00a0 He voiced firm supports for a two-State solution, consistently aligned with past international agreements and relevant Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions.\u00a0 \u201cA lasting resolution can only be achieved through comprehensive dialogues and negotiations, anchored firmly in international law,\u201d he stressed, urging all parties to elevate dialogue as the primary tool for a peaceful and lasting resolution.\u00a0 The Security Council, through prompt action, has the crucial task to bridge divides and champion the path to peace.\u00a0 \u201cNow is the time for decisive and unified action,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

TAREQ M. A. M. ALBANAI (Kuwait<\/u>) said the collective punishment the Palestinians in Gaza are suffering is a matter not accepted by religion, law or human nature.\u00a0 \u201cThe current events do not require regular statements that we\u2019ve listened to time and time again.\u201d\u00a0 He said that the Council has failed to take an honest and clear position on the continued violation suffered by Palestinian civilians.\u00a0 He asked if we have reached such an ugly stage in the history of the Organization that we no longer care that some States are above the law and there are different degrees of civilians based on their nationality.\u00a0 He said that Kuwait\u2019s solidarity with the Palestinians in defending their rights is a firm and principled position.\u00a0 He called for a comprehensive peace based on Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002.\u00a0 There will be no peace except after the end of the occupation.\u00a0 He called for an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n

HADI HACHEM (Lebanon<\/u>) said that there is no law or doctrine that justifies the systemic killing of a population that lives in an open-air prison for more than half a century.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaking of resolutions, we regret to tell you that they have been disregarded completely and ignored by the Israeli occupying forces,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cThe arrogant Israelis have even not responded to the repeated calls of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General because they do not believe in this Organization and do not believe in peace,\u201d he continued, adding that the Arab States had accepted peace in 2002 through a Saudi initiative.\u00a0 He stated that all officials in his country are carrying out communications to dissociate Beirut from this bloody conflict.\u00a0 His country never desired a war.\u00a0 \u201cLebanon was never an aggressor, it has always been a victim of aggression by Israel since the 1960s,\u201d he stated, reminding that Israel has maintained parts of Lebanon under its occupation.\u00a0 Stressing that Syrian refugees are a national priority in his country, he said:\u00a0 \u201cThere is one cry in Lebanon \u2014 we want a road map leading to a sustained settlement through cooperation with the international community.\u201d<\/p>\n

HOANG GIANG DANG (Viet Nam<\/u>), expressing regret that Security Council has not been able to address the situation, stressed: \u00a0\u201cAll violence must stop \u2014 now. \u00a0An immediate ceasefire must be enforced.\u201d\u00a0 Welcoming the mediation and reconciliation efforts of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ and other regional and international organizations, he called for the revival of the Middle East Quartet peace process.\u00a0 He also urged both sides to cease provocative actions that fuel violence and animosity, stressing that the status quo of holy sites must be upheld.\u00a0There can be no sustainable peace until the two-State solution is realized, he underscored, expressing hope that the Council can work together to de-escalate tensions, protect civilians and put an end to hostilities.\u00a0 \u201cWe, Member States, have entrusted the Council to act on our behalf.\u00a0 It is now the Council\u2019s duty to carry out these urgent tasks,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

ABBAS KADHOM OBAID AL-FATLAWI (Iraq<\/u>), aligning himself with the Arab Group, said the carnage and destruction of Al Ahli Arab Hospital is \u201ca continuation of the pattern of crimes perpetrated over seven decades against the people of Palestine\u201d, overlooked by the international community, with no binding mechanisms for implementation of associated resolutions.\u00a0 Accordingly, this has emboldened the occupying Power to continue its crime without any deterrence. \u00a0Iraq not only denounces Israel\u2019s violations and crimes against defenceless Palestinians but demands the international community, particularly the Security Council, \u201cput an end to these brutal acts and continued violations of international law and international humanitarian law\u201d. \u00a0He called on the Council to avoid selectivity; follow up on its decisions; open the border to allow for the entry of humanitarian and relief deliveries; and end the blockade of Gaza and the desecration of houses of worship. \u00a0He further called that a fund be established for the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure in Gaza.<\/p>\n

BJ\u00d6RN OLOF SKOOG,\u00a0Head of Delegation of the European Union<\/u>, in its capacity as observer, recalled the bloc\u2019s condemnation of Hamas\u2019 brutal, indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel and called on the group to immediately release all hostages without preconditions.\u00a0 He further recalled that the European Union has emphasized Israel\u2019s right to defend itself in line with international law \u2014 including international humanitarian law, which makes clear that the protection of all civilians must be ensured by all parties to the conflict.\u00a0 Condemning all acts directed at civilians, he called for the protection of medical facilities, schools, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ premises and other infrastructure either meant to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance or civilian in nature.\u00a0 Additionally, access to necessities such as food, water, fuel, electricity, medical care and safe shelter must be urgently restored.\u00a0 To this end, humanitarian corridors and pauses must be established, and he welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing.<\/p>\n

For its part, the European Union and its partners are ready to continue supporting those most in need in Gaza, he said, reporting that the bloc has tripled its emergency assistance to the Palestinian people to a total of over \u20ac75\u00a0million.\u00a0 European Union member States have also individually increased their financial support, and the bloc has launched a humanitarian air bridge with flights to Egypt to bring life-saving supplies to humanitarian organizations on the ground in Gaza.\u00a0 Also underlining the need to allow citizens of third countries to leave Gaza, he called on all sides to allow safe passage for those who wish to do so.\u00a0 Further, it is crucial to prevent regional escalation \u2014 including a deterioration of the situation in the West Bank.\u00a0 He therefore called on regional actors to refrain from any action that can further aggravate the situation and urged broad engagement with the Palestinian Authority, Israeli authorities and regional and international partners that could help prevent further escalation.<\/p>\n

MAR\u00cdA DEL CARMEN SQUEFF (Argentina<\/u>) condemned once again the terrorist acts perpetrated by Hamas against Israel and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of hostages of all nationalities, among them Argentinian citizens.\u00a0Her Government recognizes the right of Israel to legitimate defence to protect its population, she said.\u00a0 She also condemned the attack against the Al Ahli Arab Hospital. \u00a0Pointing to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, she said humanitarian corridors must be opened so international aid can reach those who need it as swiftly as possible.\u00a0 She voiced hope that the reopening of the Rafah border crossing will be the first step towards sustained and safe provision of essential supplies.\u00a0 Her country is willing to cooperate with international efforts via the White Helmets and has notified both Israel and Palestine of the same, she said. \u00a0Voicing concern about the increasing tensions along Israel\u2019s border with Syria and Lebanon, she called on all parties to avoid an escalation of confrontation.<\/p>\n

RAVINDRA RAGUTTAHALLI (India<\/u>), noting that his country\u2019s Prime Minister was one of the first global leaders to have conveyed his condolences for the loss of lives in the terror attack in Israel on 7\u00a0October, added:\u00a0 \u201cWe stood in solidarity with Israel at their moment of crisis, when they were facing these terror attacks.\u201d\u00a0 Expressing deep shock at the loss of lives at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, he highlighted that India\u2019s Prime Minister \u201cclearly spelt out\u201d that those involved must be held responsible.\u00a0 Reporting that his Government has sent 38 tons of humanitarian aid \u2014 medicine and equipment \u2014 to Gaza, he reiterated the need for the resumption of direct peace negotiations.\u00a0 India continues to support the Palestinian people through the bilateral development partnership that includes health, education, women\u2019s empowerment, entrepreneurship and information technology, he stressed, adding that it also empowers grassroots Palestinian institutions in their development initiatives.\u00a0 Referring to a remark of \u201chabitual nature\u201d by one delegation, he said he will not \u201cdignify those remarks with a response in the interest of time\u201d.<\/p>\n

MERETE FJELD BRATTESTED (Norway<\/u>) said Israel has the right to self-defence, but such measures must be necessary and proportionate, including taking all feasible measures to prevent civilian casualties and reduce damage.\u00a0 \u201cThe news we are receiving about the humanitarian conditions inside Gaza is horrifying.\u00a0 This cannot go on.\u201d\u00a0 She said her country is calling for a pause in the fighting to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza.\u00a0 Most urgently, water and electricity supplies must be turned back on, and fuel allowed in, she said, adding that international humanitarian law applies to all parties of the conflict.\u00a0 She said that this is not the time to cease the support to the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people.\u00a0 After this crisis, the parties must return to dialogue, to establish a political horizon for solving the conflict with a sovereign, Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel.\u00a0 \u201cWe must look beyond this war and beyond the logic of weapons,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

JOAQU\u00cdN P\u00c9REZ\u00a0(Venezuela<\/u>) said that the impunity provided by the Government of the United States through its recurring veto in the Security Council in favour of its genocidal partner has \u201cturned this body into a midwife of violence, death and destruction\u201d. \u00a0He noted the clear intention of the occupying Power and its main accomplice, the United States, to escalate the conflict and geopolitical tensions to maintain dominance in the region, including by launching operations on other fronts, with the purpose of completely redrawing the Middle East.\u00a0 \u201cIt is clear that the occupying Power thinks it is above the law and is not committed to the two-State solution,\u201d he said, describing the situation on the ground as tragic. \u00a0\u201cVenezuela reaffirms its historic position of principles in support of the just Palestinian cause,\u201d he stated, demanding from Israel to return to the path of international legality and to end the siege of the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of the Palestinian civilian population.<\/p>\n

JAMES MARTIN LARSEN (Australia<\/u>) said the 7\u00a0October attack and its aftermath demand comment:\u00a0 Hamas conducted a heinous terrorist attack and Israel has an inherent right to defend itself.\u00a0 Australia supports efforts to contain the conflict, he said, adding that Hamas\u2019 actions precipitated a devastating scenario in Israel and in Gaza.\u00a0Australia\u2019s position is that the protection of civilian lives must be the utmost priority and that the rules of war, and international humanitarian law, must be observed.\u00a0 The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, he said, and called for immediate, safe, ongoing and unimpeded humanitarian access to provide civilians with essential aid.\u00a0 \u201cHamas does not represent the Palestinian people nor their legitimate needs and aspirations,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt stands in the way of a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians who have the right to live within secure and internationally recognized borders.\u201d\u00a0Enduring peace cannot be achieved through military means, he added.<\/p>\n

DIEGO PARY RODR\u00cdGUEZ (Bolivia<\/u>) said Israel applied a collective punishment on all Palestinians in Gaza, burning their houses and leaving them without food, fuel, medicine and water, further noting that it is inconceivable that the Council once again is paralysed in deciding on the situation.\u00a0 He urged the 15-member organ to act urgently as Palestinian lives have the same value as those of other people in the world.\u00a0 It is urgent that the killing and suffering of Palestinian civilians be stopped, he stressed, underscoring the priority of a ceasefire in order to provide urgent humanitarian assistance for the civilian population, particularly women, children, and older people.\u00a0 He called on the international community, through humanitarian agencies and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA to provide support for those in need.\u00a0 Bolivia stands with the rights of the Palestinian people and highlights the recognition of Palestine as a full Member State in line with internationally recognized pre-1967 borders as the only formula to preserve its dignity and freedom, he said.<\/p>\n

TOUFIQ ISLAM SHATIL (Bangladesh<\/u>) stressed that Israel\u2019s collective punishment of civilians \u201cis unacceptable under all legal and moral doctrines\u201d, calling for an immediate ceasefire to save the helpless population in Gaza.\u00a0 Expressing regret the Council failed to adopt a resolution to this end, he urged the organ to take the necessary steps for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.\u00a0 He also underscored that \u201cit is our first duty\u201d to ensure adequate humanitarian assistance for those who have survived Israel\u2019s brutal attacks.\u00a0 While Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA has been a lifeline for Palestinians, he noted that 35 Agency personnel have been killed by Israel since 7\u00a0October \u2014 six in the last 24 hours \u2014 and that 40\u00a0Agency installations have been damaged.\u00a0 Such personnel and installations must be off limits to attacks, he stressed, further recalling that Israel has continuously disrespected resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that is why we are here today,\u201d he said, reiterating the need for a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

JAMAL FARES ALROWAIEI (Bahrain<\/u>) said that in light of the challenges facing the region, his country\u2019s priorities include an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of military operations, the provision of protection to innocent civilians on both sides, and the release of all hostages. \u00a0He called once again for de-escalation, self-restraint and respect for international humanitarian law. \u00a0He rejected any attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their homeland. \u00a0His country is firmly committed to advancing the peace process to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, he said. \u00a0The two-State solution is the only viable solution to achieve peace and stability, he said, underscoring the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to freedom and self-determination and the establishment of its sovereign independent State along the lines of June\u00a01967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-State solution.<\/p>\n

KEITH MC BEAN\u00a0<\/strong>(Ireland<\/u>) called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.\u00a0He condemned the terror attack by Hamas.\u00a0He said that Israel has a right to defend itself in line with international law. \u00a0Expressing concern over the killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip, he said that protection of civilians must be the immediate priority of the international community.\u00a0 He welcomed the initial supply of aid, highlighting that it is a small fraction of what is needed for Gaza.\u00a0 Essential goods including food, water, medical and energy supplies must urgently be restored and Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.\u00a0 He said that his country has announced an additional package of \u20ac13\u00a0million for the crisis and that Member States should ensure that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA has sufficient funding. \u00a0The situation in the West Bank is deeply concerning, he noted, including an increase in settler violence and evictions of communities.\u00a0 \u201cThe seriousness of the situation there must not be forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n

LAURI VOIONMAA\u00a0<\/strong>(Finland<\/u>), aligning himself with the European Union, condemned the terrorist attack by Hamas against civilians in Israel and recognized the right of that country to protect its civilian population. \u00a0\u201cWe underline that military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law,\u201d he said, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held in Gaza and commending the role of Egypt, Qatar and other countries in the region.\u00a0 Describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic, he said that his country examines options to increase its humanitarian aid to Gaza. \u00a0\u201cAvoiding escalation is crucial,\u201d he stressed, commending Egypt for its initiative hosting the Cairo Summit for Peace and highlighting the constructive role of the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 Stressing that the only sustainable way to end the conflict is a negotiated two-State solution, he said that Gaza and the West Bank must be considered together to create a viable Palestinian State.<\/p>\n

PHILIPPE KRIDELKA (Belgium<\/u>) aligned himself with the statement made by the European Union, in its capacity as an observer, and unequivocally condemned the Hamas attack, calling for the unconditional and immediate release of hostages. \u00a0He recognized Israel\u2019s inalienable right to defend itself but said that right must be exercised in compliance with international humanitarian law. \u00a0Echoing remarks by the Secretary-General, he said that even wars have rules. \u00a0The protection of all civilians must be the primary concern, he said, adding that Belgium doesn\u2019t endorse total blockades, forced displacement or the use of civilians as human shields in any context. International law in this area must be respected by all parties, he said, expressing support for a ceasefire. \u00a0Diplomatic efforts must focus on rapid de-escalation to prevent further suffering, he said, commending the efforts by Egypt. \u00a0\u201cThe security of Israel and the legitimate claims of the Palestinian people are not mutually exclusive \u2014 quite the contrary,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

SIDI MOHAMED LAGHDAF (Mauritania<\/u>), speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Organisation of Islamic Cooperation<\/u>\u00a0(OIC), said the meeting is convened amid the deadliest Israeli onslaught against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, which has surpassed all levels of brutality, terrorizing the entire civilian population and resulting in thousands of victims.\u00a0 In response to this heinous Israeli aggression, the OIC held an Extraordinary Open-ended Executive Committee meeting at the level of foreign ministers on 18\u00a0October and adopted a joint communiqu\u00e9.\u00a0 It called for the immediate cessation of the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and rejected the targeting of civilians under any pretext, their forced displacement from their homes, and their starvation and denial of safe access to humanitarian aid. \u00a0\u201cThese actions are reprehensible and must be firmly rejected and condemned,\u201d he said.\u00a0 OIC calls for an immediate halt to the unlawful aggression against the Palestinian people. \u00a0There must be a ceasefire and there must be protection for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n

He underlined the need to urgently provide humanitarian, medical and relief aid, including food, water, fuel, electricity and non-food emergency items to Gaza Strip. \u00a0He reiterated OICs\u2019 categorical rejection of any attempts to violently and forcibly displace the Palestinian population, most of whom are already refugees, and \u201cany attempts at the perpetration of another Nakba on the Palestinian people. \u00a0This cannot be allowed to happen under our watch\u201d.\u00a0He expressed deep regret at the Council\u2019s continued failure to take a decisive decision to halt the war crimes being committed by Israel, the occupying Power, throughout Palestinian territory. \u201cThe Security Council is failing its historic obligations towards the Question of Palestine,\u201d he said, and called for immediate action by the Council and the international community as a whole to halt the brutal Israeli aggression; end impunity and ensure the accountability of Israel for its war crimes and crimes against humanity, including this aggression and its more than 16-year illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n

ALHAKAM DANDY (Syria<\/u>) said Israel\u2019s attacks in Gaza would not have happened had some Western countries not given it carte blanche \u201cwhich they call the right to self-defence, providing it with an umbrella of impunity and protection\u201d. \u00a0Syria reiterates that the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people through decades of occupation is the main reason for the current escalation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and condemns the conduct of the United States and its allies in the Security Council, which has not only impeded the Council from fulfilling its responsibilities but supported Israel militarily and financially. \u00a0His country therefore reiterates that the Council must uphold its responsibility to end Israel\u2019s crimes and hold perpetrators accountable. \u00a0He rejected attempts to equate the victim and the killer, reaffirming support for the Palestinian question and its associated inalienable rights to self-defence and establishment of an independent State with East Jerusalem as capital. \u00a0He warned against continued attacks against Syrian territory, \u201cwhich will lead the region into a larger violence that cannot be contained\u201d.<\/p>\n

HALA HAMEED (Maldives<\/u>), calling on Member States to recognize the pain and suffering in Gaza, said: \u00a0\u201cWe have reached the point where we cannot simply present dry facts and statistics.\u201d\u00a0She pointed out that Israeli military aggression against civilians and children has unleashed devastation that \u201cwords cannot describe\u201d, expressing \u201cnot just dismay but disappointment\u201d at the Council\u2019s failure to act.\u00a0 Emphasizing that the attack on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital is \u201ccruel, devoid of any semblance of human decency\u201d, she said that this tragedy could have been avoided.\u00a0As a demonstration of the Maldives solidarity with the Palestinian people, her country\u2019s President has decided to send 2\u00a0million cans of tuna to Palestine, she reported, adding: \u00a0\u201cWe hope that our small donation will remind our brothers and sisters in Palestine that we, in the Maldives, stand with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

JAKUB KULH\u00c1NEK (Czech Republic<\/u>), aligning himself with the European Union, condemned attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups against Israel, calling on Hamas to immediately release all hostages without preconditions.\u00a0 Emphasizing Israel\u2019s right to defend itself under international law, he said:\u00a0 \u201cThis war is not a choice of Israel, it is a choice of Hamas and other terrorist organizations with no regard for the consequences for the Palestinian population.\u201d\u00a0 He also noted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, welcoming the entry of aid convoys over past days and supporting calls to step up delivery \u2014 \u201cwhile ensuring it is not abused by terrorists\u201d.\u00a0 Further, regional and international efforts to prevent the Hamas-Israel conflict from spiralling into regional war are welcome.\u00a0 To that end, actions that incite violence \u2014 as well as support to terrorist groups \u2014 must be rejected.\u00a0 He added support for the United States draft resolution and expressed hope that the Council can take unified action.<\/p>\n

ANA JIM\u00c9NEZ DE LA HOZ (Spain<\/u>), aligning herself with the European Union, said Israel\u2019s right to defend itself must be carried out with full respect for international law.\u00a0 She called for a humanitarian pause.\u00a0 She said her Government will double its aid to Palestine in 2023 to meet the needs due to this conflict.\u00a0 Regional conflagration must be bypassed at all costs, she said, and as such political instrumentalization of the conflict must be avoided.\u00a0 It is essential to support the work of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵIFIL), which has been contributing to reducing regional tensions.\u00a0 \u201cWe must now establish a credible perspective of peace for the day once the current hostilities end,\u201d with the two-State solution being the way to find peace, she said.\u00a0She called for an international peace conference as soon as possible after the cessation of current hostilities.\u00a0We must recover the spirit that guided the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference and the Oslo Accords, she added.<\/p>\n

TAREK LADEB (Tunisia<\/u>) said that despite the Security Council meetings over the last two weeks, the massacres by the occupying Power against the Palestinian residents continue, claiming the lives of more than 5,800 people, including more than 2,000 children. \u00a0The Council failed to find consensus to reach a ceasefire and provide a humanitarian response in line with Article\u00a024 of the Charter of the United Nations, he said, adding that the killing, destruction, displacement and blockade of the Palestinian people is an expected outcome of longstanding international silence on the disregard for international humanitarian instruments by the occupying Power. \u00a0It is unacceptable for the Council to remain hostage to polarization and political calculation, he said. \u00a0\u201cThe current international response to the serious situation in the region and the genocide against the Palestinian people is totally against universal values and the goals and principles of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u201cIt also undermines the confidence of people in the international order.\u201d<\/p>\n

PETER MOHAN MAITHRI PIERIS (Sri Lanka<\/u>) expressed grave concern over the escalation of violence in Gaza and called for the free movement of essential items and humanitarian aid, including fuel, food, medicine, water and electricity to Gaza. \u00a0He called on all sides to immediately halt violence and take steps to prevent further civilian casualties. \u00a0He also called on the international community to redouble their support for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA, which is playing a commendable and courageous role in helping vulnerable populations under extremely challenging circumstances. \u00a0He reiterated a call to keep open a humanitarian corridor to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the civilians in Gaza. \u00a0Sri Lanka is no stranger to the scourge of terrorism, he said, condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and calling for the immediate release of all hostages taken into Gaza.<\/p>\n

VICTOR \u00d3SCAR SHIYIN GARC\u00cdA TOMA (Peru<\/u>), while rejecting terrorism in all its manifestations, reiterated that the right to self-defence must align with international law and international humanitarian law, particularly considering the principles of distinction and proportionality, without consequences on the civilian population. \u00a0He urgently called on the parties to immediately end hostilities and condemned the firing of missiles into Israel from the Gaza Strip and the indiscriminate aerial and land bombardments by Israel in response. \u00a0Peru condemns the attack on the Al Ahli Arab Hospital and adds its voice to the calls for an immediate and unconditional release of hostages and for Israel to facilitate swift access for humanitarian aid by establishing a humanitarian corridor. \u00a0He further regretted the veto by a permanent member on the proposed resolution to achieve a ceasefire. \u00a0His country backs the fulfilment of resolution 2334 (2016), which calls for all settlement activities to cease and a solution on the basis of the 1967 borderlines.<\/p>\n

GABRIELE CACCIA,\u00a0Permanent Observer for the Holy See<\/u>, citing Pope Francis, said: \u00a0\u201cTerrorism and extremism fuel hatred, violence and revenge and only cause mutual suffering.\u201d\u00a0He also reiterated the call of Pope Francis for the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza, stressing that the right to self-defense in every conflict must comply with international law and the principle of proportionality.\u00a0 Expressing concern about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, he emphasized that the total siege imposed on that territory has caused indiscriminate suffering.\u00a0 In this regard, he called for enabling humanitarian corridors to ensure that aid can reach the Palestinian people.\u00a0 \u201cWhile the path of dialogue appears narrow at present, it is the only viable option for a lasting end to the cycle of violence that has engulfed that land, so dear to Christians, Jews and Muslims,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n

THORDUR AEGIR OSKARSSON (Iceland<\/u>) said his delegation is appalled by the recent hostilities in Israel and Palestine and deeply concerned over the risk of further escalation. \u00a0Iceland deplores the immense suffering of innocent civilians and the thousands of civilians, including children, that have been killed. \u00a0It has condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric acts committed by Hamas, noting that terrorism can never be justified, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. \u00a0He also reiterated that while Israel has a clear right to defend itself, it must do so within the bounds of international law. \u00a0A credible process towards a two-State solution, based on international law, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, and mutual recognition is needed.\u00a0 This will not be achieved while Israel continues its settlement policies in the West Bank and its blockade of Gaza or while Hamas continues to wage terror on innocent civilians, he said.<\/p>\n

PAUL BERESFORD-HILL,\u00a0Permanent Observer of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the United Nations<\/u>, noted that perhaps this moment of global introspection, with the fear of a potential to escalate into another Balkan crisis reminiscent of the First World War, will result in something more than safe corridors, or 20 trucks a day bringing critical aid to 2\u00a0million people, or the staggered release of innocent hostages.\u00a0 \u201cAll these things are necessary and needed but are they enough,\u201d he asked.\u00a0 He appealed to everyone in the room, on behalf of the world\u2019s forgotten, of the sick and the poor, to find a path to peace in the Holy Land, a path that is rooted in justice and humanitarian law, and one that will finally turn swords into ploughshares and end the suffering and privation of the innocent. \u00a0He voiced hope for a solution that will hold fast to \u201cthe revealed truth of Allah, of Yahweh and our Heavenly Father \u2014 the one God of the three Abrahamic faiths\u201d, who at one and the same time is a God of mercy, love, compassion, and, above all, a God of forgiveness.<\/p>\n

NEISHANTA ANNASTACIA BENN (Guyana<\/u>) urged the parties to lay down their arms to ensure the protection of civilians, stressing that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at risk of becoming further deepened and protracted, involving mass displacements, severe medical emergencies and food insecurity.\u00a0 \u201cThe overwhelming human costs of the current hostilities compel the most urgent efforts to de-escalate the situation,\u201d she stressed, expressing concern over rhetoric that suggests that de-escalation may yet be a long way off.\u00a0 Conscious about the long-standing suffering of the Palestinian people under the illegal occupation and blockade on their territory, she emphasized that this \u201cdecades-long indignity\u201d must be brought to an end.\u00a0 Further calling on the Council to unite and to send a clear message to the people of Israel and Palestine that it stands with them, she added: \u00a0\u201cThe lives of men, women, and children \u2014 children! \u2014 depend on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

SOPHEA EAT (Cambodia<\/u>) joined others in mourning the loss of many innocent lives, including one student from her country.\u00a0 Calling on both sides to prioritize peace in order to exercise their rights to development rather than suffering an enduring war, she underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of the Palestine-Israel conflict.\u00a0 She said it is heartbreaking to see an increasing number of civilian casualties, urging all parties to exercise utmost restraint.\u00a0 Emphasizing that civilian lives and safety must be protected from harm in conflicts, she urged the parties not to target civilian infrastructure and for them to allow humanitarian access for the delivery of essential aid.\u00a0 Furthermore, she called on the Security Council and the international community to unite in a spirit of solidarity and sincerity to foster a meaningful dialogue and negotiations leading to peace.<\/p>\n

MAURIZIO MASSARI (Italy<\/u>), aligning himself with the European Union, condemned Hamas\u2019 terrorist attacks \u2014 along with the continuous, indiscriminate firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip \u2014 and demanded the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages.\u00a0 While underscoring that Italy stands in solidarity with Israel, he added:\u00a0 \u201cAt the same time, we cannot ignore that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people and that Palestinian people in Gaza have been suffering immensely in recent days.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore, the grave humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip must be urgently addressed by allowing the safe, unimpeded passage of aid.\u00a0 Also noting that the Middle East is \u201cbecoming a powder keg\u201d and that the risk of the conflict spilling over to the region \u201cis just around the corner\u201d, he said that his country continues constructive engagement with partners in the region.\u00a0 Adding that all parties must take immediate steps to de-escalate, he underlined the need for a two-State solution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

9451ST MEETING (AM & PM) SC\/15462 24 OCTOBER 2023 Speakers Stress Urgency of Protecting Civilians, Unrestricted Aid Delivery, Avoiding Regional Conflagration, in Day-Long Debate The situation in the Middle East grows more dire by the hour, with the war in Gaza raging and risking\u00a0spiralling throughout the region,\u00a0United Nations Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres warned the Security Council […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[5352,1362,6169],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,5449,2265,2005,1741,5200,1961,1813,2385,6251],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[],"class_list":["post-290041","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-press-release","document-source-secretary-general","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-department-of-global-communications","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance-to-the-palestinian-people","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-humanitarian-relief","document-subject-jerusalem","document-subject-middle-east-situation","document-subject-security-issues","document-subject-west-bank","entity-united-nations-system"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290041","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\/301"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":290074,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290041\/revisions\/290074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=290041"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=290041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}