{"id":305087,"date":"2025-01-24T16:20:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T21:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&#038;p=305087"},"modified":"2025-02-17T13:54:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T18:54:17","slug":"statement-to-the-security-council-open-debate-on-mideast-palestinian-question-gaza-ceasefire-h-e-mr-ahmad-faisal-muhamad-vice-chair-ceirpp","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/statement-to-the-security-council-open-debate-on-mideast-palestinian-question-gaza-ceasefire-h-e-mr-ahmad-faisal-muhamad-vice-chair-ceirpp\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Denying Palestinian rights is a death sentence for the people of Gaza&#8221; Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Palestinian Rights Committee Statement to the Security Council"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-290803 aligncenter\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27234%27%20height%3D%27234%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20234%20234%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27234%27%20height%3D%27234%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/1_Original-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"234\" height=\"234\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>STATEMENT TO THE SECURITY COÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵCIL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>by H.E. Mr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamad,\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Vice-Chair of the Committee\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>****************<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>OPEN DEBATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>24 January 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Mr. President,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Distinguished Council members,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ladies and gentlemen,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I extend congratulations to Algeria on its presidency of the Security Council and thank His Excellency, Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, for presiding over this meeting.<\/p>\n<p>I also welcome Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia to the Council and express appreciation to the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts for peace, justice, and a just resolution to the question of Palestine.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Distinguished Members,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Committee welcomes the hope that 2025 has brought, including the ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on 15 January. We commend Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for their critical role in achieving this agreement, which outlines a phased implementation. This includes what we have all been demanding &#8211; the release of hostages, the planned release of Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza.<\/p>\n<p>While we applaud the ceasefire, it is disheartening that Israeli airstrikes continued even after its announcement, causing additional casualties and undermining the agreement. In just 24 hours after the ceasefire deal was reached, 80 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed. Gaza\u2019s death toll now exceeds 47,000, with over 110,000 injured\u2014many permanently\u2014and over 2.1 million people displaced, often repeatedly. Humanitarian aid remains blocked, worsening starvation, disease, and suffering.<\/p>\n<p>We call on Israel to end its attacks, displacement, and violations of international law. The Security Council\u2019s division and failure to implement Resolution 2735 are costly and must end. Our inaction undermines our credibility and moral standing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-shortcode\"><iframe title=\"\u201cDenying Palestinian rights is a death sentence for the people of Gaza\u201d Palestinian Rights Committee\" width=\"1320\" height=\"743\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nsG4KN9gRIY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Distinguished Members,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The world\u2014and this Council\u2014has grown desensitized to the horrors in Gaza. In the absence of action from the Council, we commend that the General Assembly and Member States have stepped up, demanding a ceasefire, protecting civilians, and pursuing justice. The Committee has amplified these efforts, featuring testimonies from Palestinians, civil society, and experts on the dire realities in Gaza. Committee events such as the 2024 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and exhibits like \u201cGaza, Palestine: A Crisis of Humanity and Cry for Justice\u201d at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Headquarters remind us of the human cost of this conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The ceasefire must be a stepping-stone to lasting peace. Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza pose a threat to international peace and security, and are persistent violations of humanitarian and human rights law. We urge the Security Council to ensure that the ceasefire holds, prevent further atrocities, and set a path toward recovery and peace. We call on the Council to play its part in advancing a political horizon for the question of Palestine based on the two States solution and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions.<\/p>\n<p>We commend the General Assembly\u2019s adoption of Resolution ES-10\/24, demanding Israel\u2019s withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) within a year and urging Member States to cease importing settlement products and supplying arms used in the OPT. Accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity is critical, and we stress the need for enforcement at national and international levels.<\/p>\n<p>Following Resolution ES-10\/25, reaffirming support for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u2019s mandate, the General Assembly has requested an ICJ advisory opinion on Israel\u2019s obligations regarding the presence of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ entities in the OPT. We are confident the ICJ will reaffirm the vital role of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA and other Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ bodies. The Security Council must also support these mandates and reject efforts to undermine Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u2019s critical work. Denying Palestinian rights is a death sentence for the people of Gaza.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Distinguished Members,<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Immediate and unhindered humanitarian access is essential. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA\u2019s role is indispensable in delivering aid and crucial lifesaving services at the scale required. The ceasefire offers an opportunity to rebuild and heal, but only if the international community provides unwavering support.<\/p>\n<p>The Committee will continue to engage Member States, regional organizations, parliamentarians, civil society, and Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ bodies to advocate for Palestinian rights and ensure adherence to the ceasefire agreement and the achievement of just and lasting peace.<\/p>\n<p>We urge all Member States to support the Palestinian Government in leading the recovery process in Gaza. The people urgently need food, shelter, water, healthcare, and a pathway to healing and hope. This is a collective responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>Our efforts continue to be driven by the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination and freedom in an independent State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace with its neighbors. A just resolution for Palestinians remains vital, in line with international law and long standing Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions that demand implementation.<\/p>\n<p>Let us unite in this noble cause for justice, peace, and human dignity.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">* * *<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; STATEMENT TO THE SECURITY COÄ¢¹½ÊÓƵCIL by H.E. Mr. Ahmad Faisal Muhamad,\u00a0Vice-Chair of the Committee\u00a0 **************** OPEN DEBATE ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION 24 January 2025 &nbsp; Mr. President, Distinguished Council members, Ladies and gentlemen, I extend congratulations to Algeria on its presidency of the Security Council and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/statement-to-the-security-council-open-debate-on-mideast-palestinian-question-gaza-ceasefire-h-e-mr-ahmad-faisal-muhamad-vice-chair-ceirpp\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1338],"document-source":[1753],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,6985,1769,1945,1829,2265,6883,2005,6848,1741,1749,2285,1821],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-305087","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-statement","document-source-ceirpp","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-accountability","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-casualties","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-detainees","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-hostages","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-palestine-question","document-subject-prisoners-and-detainees","document-subject-self-determination","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/305087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/305087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":305857,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/305087\/revisions\/305857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=305087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=305087"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=305087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}