A/78/PV.52 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba to introduce draft resolution A/78/L.34.

The current struggle to achieve sustainable development is one that will determine not only our survival but also that of the planet. Yet, for the majority of developing countries, sustainable development is an undertaking that is increasingly difficult to achieve, in a world marked by polarizing economic, social and environmental inequality, in which the indifference to the recurrent failure to meet multilaterally agreed development assistance commitments demonstrates the gap between reality and the usual political rhetoric in international forums. Nevertheless, the Group of 77 and China will continue to call for a world that works for everyone, as affirmed by the Secretary-General at the summit on the theme “Current development challenges: the role of science, technology and innovation”, which was held in Havana in September 2023. At the summit, the Heads of State of the member States of the Group of 77 and China agreed to propose 16 September as the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South, an initiative that we are submitting to the General Assembly today for its consideration. Nowadays, science, technology and innovation are taking on increasing importance and generating added benefits for all spheres of human life. Those benefits can only be accessed by the global South through the democratization of knowledge, the development of its investigative capabilities, access to financing and the transfer of technologies that speed up the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The draft resolution contained in document A/78/L.34 underscores the key role of scientific and technological advancements in economic growth and sustainable development through the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the political declaration on the SDGs. It also refers to the summit on the theme “Current development challenges: the role of science, technology and innovation”, held by the Group of 77 and China in Havana, and its political declaration as an effort to promote cooperation in that area. Furthermore, it addresses the existing disparities between developed countries and developing countries in relation to the conditions, possibilities and capacities for generating new knowledge in the areas of science, technology and innovation, which call for the support of the international community, North-South cooperation and other complementary forms of cooperation, including triangular or South-South cooperation, to improve the capacity of developing countries. In that regard, the text promotes the need to create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment that supports the efforts of the global South to develop and strengthen its national science, technology and innovation systems. Therefore, the draft resolution invites all Member States, the members of specialized agencies and observers in the General Assembly, as well as the entities of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations, academia, civil society, the private sector and other relevant stakeholders, with the support of the Secretary-General, to observe the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South by presenting cooperation initiatives and projects that strengthen science, technology and innovation systems in developing countries. We would like to express the Group’s thanks to Member States for supporting our efforts in the consultations carried out on this draft resolution. The Group of 77 and China hope to have the support of the Assembly for this important draft resolution. Proclaiming 16 September as the International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South is an important step towards recognizing, every year, that we must keep the promise of leaving no one behind, and that the development of science, technology and innovation is also a fundamental driver to achieve the SDGs and build a fairer and more participatory world, including on technological and scientific platforms. That world is both possible and necessary.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/78/L.34, entitled “International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South”. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to adopt draft resolution A/78/L.34?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 13.

The General Assembly will continue its debate on this item.

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this special meeting of the General Assembly. Rarely in the storied history of the Security Council has the use of the veto been as infamous as in the past two years. The most recent round of negative votes by a permanent member has rejected the global call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza war, as expressed, with overwhelming conviction, by the General Assembly. Seldom has the asymmetry of more than 150 countries in the General Assembly and the majority in the Security Council against the will of a single permanent member been so stark. Even without judging the merit of its vetoes, including those by another member following the invasion of Ukraine, we are left with the evidence that a single State can stand in the way of the will of the overwhelming majority of States and the convictions of most of humankind. The veto stands as one of the world’s greatest anti-democratic symbols. Its expression of unbridled power and its frequent assertion of impunity in the face of international law and international humanitarian law are living proof that the sovereign equality of States is too often a false promise. For that reason, Kenya continues to endorse the Common African Position that advocates for the abolition of the right of the veto, as it contradicts the fundamental principle of the sovereign equality of States enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. However, if the veto is retained in a reformed Security Council, fairness demands its extension to new permanent members, together with all its attributes, prerogatives and privileges. The veto in question that led to the convening of this meeting (see S/PV.9520) is part of a chain of events sparked by the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel’s population by Hamas. Kenya strongly condemns those terrorist attacks. The quest for Palestinian independence and sovereignty is a cause that Kenya has supported for decades and that it will continue to support. But its pursuit through the brutal murder of non-combatant Israelis cannot be justified. It is clear that Israel was obliged to respond robustly in line with the fundamental principle of self-defence. However, what has unfolded as its response in the Gaza Strip has led to such a high proportion of non-combatant fatalities and injuries and wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and residential homes, that it is overwhelmingly clear that serious breaches of international law and international humanitarian law are occurring. We deplore the large numbers of fatalities of civilians, including children, journalists, humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel, killed in Israeli attacks. Kenya reiterates its unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their pursuit of self-determination, in line with the Charter and numerous resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. In conclusion, we urge all permanent members of the Security Council to recognize that this is a watershed moment. Resisting the strong calls for a humanitarian ceasefire moves us closer by the day to the dangerous paralysis and impunity that characterized the League of Nations. We also urge all members of the General Assembly to rally around this occasion and use the Pact of the Future to advance meaningful reforms of the United Nations peace and security architecture. At the moment, the world is divided between a great mass of States and peoples, on one side, and the powers and privileges of the victors of a war that will soon be 100 years old, on the other. It is time to use this moment not to wring our hands, but to join them in a powerful drive for reform.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza on 7 October 2023, the use of the veto has led only to continued atrocities in Gaza. Despite the Security Council’s efforts to end the conflict, each proposed resolution or amendment calling for a ceasefire has been met with a veto. With the most recent veto on 22 December 2023 (see S/PV.9250), we have witnessed a total of four vetoes preventing a ceasefire since the beginning of the conflict, averaging one per month. The persistent use of the veto, tragically, has had a positive correlation with an alarming rise in the death toll in Gaza. Put in numbers, for every use of the veto that has blocked the call for a ceasefire, approximately 5,750 Palestinian lives have been lost in Gaza, including babies and children. That means that a simple raising of a hand to veto a call for a ceasefire can kill more than 5,700 people. That action is disconnected from the situation on the ground. We remind the permanent members of the Council that with great power comes great responsibility. Humanity should never be vetoed. A veto should never be cast in efforts to save human lives or provide humanitarian access and assistance. Resolution 2720 (2023) calls for urgent steps for safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access. The effectiveness of the resolution, however, is called into question without a clear call for a ceasefire, especially when all humanitarian agencies have stated their inability to effectively deliver humanitarian assistance when the fighting continues unabated. A ceasefire is therefore a key element for effective humanitarian assistance. Without a ceasefire, the effective implementation of any Security Council humanitarian resolution is futile. Indonesia remains firm in its support for the Palestinian people and peace in the region. We express grave concern about the spread of military operations beyond Gaza, including to neighbouring countries. We call on Israel to stop the atrocities against the Palestinian people. We also urge all countries to stop the supply of arms to the parties in conflict. We stress that a ceasefire, effective humanitarian assistance and immediate work on a two-State solution based on agreed international parameters is the only way forward to ensure peace between Israel and Palestine. How much longer should we wait helplessly for a ceasefire? The fate of the Palestinian people and peace in the region must not only be determined by Israel, but also by our actions here in this Hall. We call upon all members to use their hearts and their humanity and to act.

I thank the President for convening this important meeting, following the use of the veto by the United States in the Security Council’s meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, held on 22 December 2023 (see S/PV.9520). The United States used the veto to protect Israel and provide it with immunity as it continues to commit war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide without fear of accountability or sanctions. My delegation also aligns itself with the statement made by the Permanent Representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Group of Arab States (see A/78/PV.51). My country, Syria, and the vast majority of the States of the world have condemned the crimes committed and that continue to be committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, not only in Gaza but throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. In spite of that, the occupying Power continues to boast of its killing, systematic destruction and forced displacement and of its inhumane siege of the Gaza Strip, in addition to its use of internationally prohibited weapons, including incendiary phosphorus bombs, and its threat to use the atomic bomb, in disregard of the Charter of the United Nations and all international laws and humanitarian principles. The entire world has witnessed the brutality of that aggression and its massacres of our brethren in Gaza, which have led to more than 22,000 civilian martyrs, the majority of whom are women and children, but who also include an unprecedented large number of United Nations employees, humanitarian workers and journalists. The obstruction of the Security Council by the United States of America for more than three months, as the latter prevents the Council from carrying out its mandate of maintaining international peace and security and dealing with the brutal Israeli aggression, despite the urgency of this humanitarian issue and the large number of victims, and notwithstanding the call by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to invoke Article 99 of the Charter and the broad demand for action to stop the brutal Israeli aggression, clearly reflects irresponsible behaviour on the part of the United States Administration, constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and exposes the falsehood of its slogans proclaiming its concern for civilians. It also proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that the United States is an accomplice in the killing of the Palestinian people and in all the crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation in the region. The Syrian Arab Republic condemns the shameful use of the veto once again by the United States of America aimed at prolonging the bloody massacres committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people and voting down the amendment to Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) submitted by Russia, after blocking for decades the implementation of United Nations resolutions on the Palestinian question and the Arab-Israeli conflict aimed at putting an end to the occupation and restoring peace and security to the region. The time has come for the United States to realize the scope of its responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council, to elevate its behaviour to that level of responsibility, to desist from blindly siding with the rogue Israeli entity and to work seriously to stop that entity’s crimes against the Palestinian people. The Israeli occupation authorities insist on continuing their aggression against the Palestinian people and seek to ignite an uncontainable conflagration in the area, including through their violations against our people in the occupied Syrian Golan and their repeated attacks on the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Israeli occupation authorities do so by targeting civilian airports and infrastructure, in addition to their attacks on Lebanon, trying to export their domestic crisis and their failure to silence the voice of the truth and of legitimate national demands to end the Israeli occupation of the occupied Arab territories. All of that proves that Israel is a tool to threaten regional and international peace and security, spread chaos and support terrorism in the region, with the protection of the United States. In conclusion, the Syrian Arab Republic reaffirms its support for the inalienable rights of the brotherly Palestinian people in their struggle to liberate their occupied land, to establish their independent and sovereign State with Jerusalem as its capital and to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions. It stresses the need to put an immediate end to the Israeli aggression and crimes, provide urgent humanitarian support to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, prevent forced displacement and ensure that Israel and its supporters are held accountable without impunity.

It has been three months since Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack against Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the violence we are now witnessing in the region. Canada continues to mourn every Israeli and every Palestinian innocent life that has been lost in this conflict. Canada welcomes the Security Council’s adoption of resolution 2720 (2023) on 22 December 2023, including its call upon all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. We also thank the Secretary-General for his prompt action in appointing Ms. Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. Canada welcomes the resolution’s call for urgent steps to be taken to create the conditions for a sustainable ceasefire of hostilities. That cannot be one-sided. Hamas must release all hostages, stop using Palestinian civilians as human shields and lay down its arms. (spoke in French) Canada is deeply concerned by the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and by the ongoing risks to all Palestinian civilians. Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access must be increased and sustained. We recognize the Palestinian people’s right to self- determination, and we oppose the forcible displacement of civilians from Gaza. Canada is also very concerned about the impact of the conflict across the entire region, and we urge all Governments in the region to work to contain the conflict. We call on the Houthis to immediately cease their attacks on international vessels and crews operating in the Red Sea, and we welcome the Security Council’s ongoing discussions in that regard and its statement on the matter issued on 1 December 2023. There is no legal justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels. Canada is unreservedly committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Moreover, we remain committed to supporting a two-State solution, under which Israelis and Palestinians can live in security within internationally recognized borders.

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this plenary meeting of the Assembly today. We take note of the adoption of Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) on 22 December 2023, aimed at scaling up humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and, in that regard, commend the able leadership of the United Arab Emirates in piloting this resolution within the Security Council. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, and has resulted in an alarming humanitarian crisis. That is clearly unacceptable, and we have strongly condemned the death of civilians. At the same time, we are aware that the immediate trigger were the terror attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023, which were shocking and deserve our unequivocal condemnation. India has a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. There can be no justifications for terrorism and hostage-taking. Our thoughts are with those who have been taken as hostages, and we demand their immediate and unconditional release. I will also state that the leadership of India is in constant touch with the leaders of the region, including those of Israel and Palestine. We have also voiced our views in such multilateral forums as the Group of 20 and the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and at the Voice of Global South Summit in November 2023, and we have reiterated our long-standing and principled position on the issue. We have also called for continued humanitarian aid for the affected population and, in that regard, we hope that Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) would aid in enhancing humanitarian assistance. I will also remind the Assembly that India has, thus far, provided 70 tons of humanitarian aid, including 16.5 tons of medicine and medical supplies in two tranches, to the people of Palestine. We have also provided $5 million, including the $2.5 million we provided at the end of December 2023, to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which will go to support the Agency’s core programmes and services, including education, health care, relief and social services provided to Palestinian refugees. The message that India has conveyed since the start of this conflict is clear and consistent: it is important to prevent escalation, ensure the continued delivery of humanitarian aid and work towards an early restoration of peace and stability. A peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward. I will conclude by reaffirming India’s firm commitment to achieving a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine issue. We firmly believe that only the two-State solution, achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between both sides on final status issues, will deliver the enduring peace that the people of Israel and Palestine desire and deserve. For this, we urge the parties to de-escalate, eschew violence and work towards creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations.

Luxembourg thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening today’s meeting, in accordance with resolution 76/262. We thank the Security Council for its special report on the use of the veto at its meeting held on 22 December 2023, under the item, entitled “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (A/78/691). It is important for the General Assembly to hold a debate on the use of the veto, whether the veto has prevented the adoption of a draft resolution or, in this case, the adoption of an amendment to a draft resolution. It is a matter of consistency in the Security Council’s accountability to the membership of the General Assembly, as a whole. Any use of the veto is regrettable and merits debate. Regrettably, war continues to rage in the Middle East, in particular in the Gaza Strip. The death toll continues to rise, and the risk of escalation continues to grow. That is true for the West Bank, where settler violence and the forcible transfer of Palestinian communities have reached alarming levels. That also applies to the entire region. We deplore the fact that, as a result of the veto, the Security Council has not yet been able to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, as the Assembly did on 12 December 2023. It is also regrettable that, to date, neither the Security Council nor the General Assembly has condemned the heinous terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on 7 October 2023. Despite the use of the veto on 22 December 2023 (see S/PV.9520), the Security Council was able to adopt resolution 2720 (2023) at the same meeting. Pursuant to that resolution, the Secretary-General appointed Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza in order to expedite the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip. We welcome the appointment of Ms. Kaag and express our full support for her crucial mandate. It is clear that, despite the four resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly since October 2023, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating every day. Israel has the right to defend itself but must act in full compliance with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. The Geneva Conventions must be applied in all circumstances and by all. United Nations premises, hospitals, schools, humanitarian workers and journalists must never be targeted by parties to the conflict. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other humanitarian actors on the ground must urgently receive the support they need to fulfil their mandate. Luxembourg has contributed an additional €3.39 million to humanitarian efforts in Gaza and the region, in support of UNRWA, the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and we have delivered essential supplies to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Our Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Xavier Bettel, is currently on a working visit to Israel and Palestine to show our solidarity and stress the need to relaunch the Middle East peace process. Luxembourg remains committed to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that ensures Israel’s right to security, while respecting the Palestinians’ right to self-determination and a life of dignity. A comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on the two-State solution, is the only viable way to end the cycle of violence. We hope that today’s debate will encourage us to embark on this path together.

Mexico welcomes Security Council resolution 2720 (2023), adopted on 22 December 2023, and thanks the United Arab Emirates and Egypt for their efforts to that end. However, it is very serious that the veto has been used to block an amendment calling for a complete cessation of hostilities. Although this resolution is intended to facilitate humanitarian operations, the safety of workers, the provision of basic supplies, logistical operations and, in short, the unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance, that cannot be achieved without an immediate ceasefire. It is worrisome that the Security Council has not yet called for a cessation of hostilities. It is also unacceptable for the Council to maintain inertia in its inability to bring about the peace and security that thousands of Palestinian and Israeli children deserve. In the face of a crisis of this magnitude, in which almost 23,000 Palestinians have died  — 70 per cent of them women and children  — in which there are more than 58,000 wounded, almost 2 million internally displaced and half a million people in famine conditions and almost 150 United Nations staff members have died, in addition to the countless losses and damage to essential infrastructure, the least that should be expected is a ceasefire. Once again, echoing the Secretary-General, Mexico calls for an immediate, lasting and full ceasefire, reiterating that violence always begets more violence. We also call for the establishment of humanitarian air and sea corridors, as well as the permanent opening of the land border crossings at Rafah, Kerem Shalom and Erez. Indiscriminate attacks on civilian objects and critical infrastructure, including those on the entry points into the Strip, are contrary to international humanitarian law and inhibit much- needed humanitarian operations. Such attacks may amount to war crimes. In that regard, Mexico also calls on all parties involved in the conflict to comply with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, including resolutions ES-10/21 and ES-10/22, adopted during the resumed tenth emergency special session of the Assembly. We welcome the recent appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag as the Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator in Gaza. She has Mexico’s full support. We urge all Member States to facilitate Ms. Kaag’s work, including by promptly issuing the relevant visas. Mexico reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms. It also demands the immediate release of the hostages still being held by Hamas. Mexico recognizes Israel’s right to guarantee its security. However, that must be exercised in full compliance with international law and observing the principles of necessity, proportionality and distinction. As we mentioned previously, Israel’s security must not be at the expense of the Palestinian people. Moreover, the repercussions of the conflict in Gaza on the rest of the region are a very alarming sign. Mexico is deeply concerned about the increase in violent incidents, checkpoints and military raids and attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. We note the frequency and seriousness of violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and the constant bombings in the area of the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel. We also condemn the attacks by Houthi militias in the Red Sea. We must ensure freedom of navigation in one of the busiest maritime trade routes. It is also imperative to stop the attacks in Syria and Iraq. We therefore vigorously appeal to all regional actors to exercise maximum restraint and avert an escalation of the conflict in the region. As long as the structural causes of the conflict remain unaddressed, we will continue to witness recurring cycles of violence. The responsibility for relaunching the peace dialogue lies with the parties to the conflict. However, the international community has the responsibility to promote the confluence of efforts, including through the use of good offices, bilateral initiatives, back channels, multilateral dialogue and any other initiative that seeks to foster a political process for sustainable peace in the region. In that regard, Mexico reiterates its support for the two-State solution. That is the only comprehensive and definitive political alternative to the conflict that addresses Israel’s legitimate security concerns and allows for the formation of a politically and economically viable Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel within safe and internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Finally, we insist on redoubling efforts to restrict the use of the veto in situations in which mass atrocities may be being committed, a matter which, in this case, is now being considered by both the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. We therefore call on all States that have not yet done so to join the French-Mexican initiative on the voluntary restriction of the veto, which already has 106 signatory States.

Greece is deeply concerned about the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza where we are witnessing a rapid deterioration of the conditions on the ground. Addressing the humanitarian crisis through swift delivery of sufficient quantities of aid to civilians is a top priority. For that reason, my country voted in favour of the recent resolution ES–10/21 which provides for the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations and was adopted with an overwhelming majority. In that spirit, we urge additional humanitarian pauses to be established as quickly as possible in order to allow more aid to enter Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages still held captive by the terrorists of Hamas. Greece has contributed to the efforts for the alleviation of the humanitarian situation with several shipments of humanitarian provisions  — namely, medical equipment, medicine, personal hygiene items and first aid supplies — to the civilians in Gaza. We have also made financial pledges to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for the benefit of the Palestinian people. Before concluding, allow me to underline that it is equally important, along with our efforts to mitigate the consequences of the humanitarian crisis, to collectively look into ways of restarting the political process with the aim of reaching a just and comprehensive two- State solution, in accordance with the international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions, as the only viable means to restore peace and stability in the Middle East.

Spain regrets the use of the veto in crisis situations. We welcome the Security Council’s adoption of resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023) and urge the parties to implement them. Both resolutions require that the parties to meet their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. United Nations agencies have reported about the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which they describe as uninhabitable, with more than 85 per cent of the population displaced, an unprecedented health crisis and catastrophic levels of malnutrition. The opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing is a good first step, but much remains to be done to alleviate the suffering of the people in need in Gaza. We must urgently increase ongoing, rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access and ensure that humanitarian assistance can be delivered regularly and in accordance with the fundamental principles of humanitarian action  — humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. That is the only way to ensure the provision of food, water, fuel, electricity, medical care and safe havens. Since the attacks on 7 October, we have reiterated our strong solidarity with Israel and condemned the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attack by Hamas unequivo­ cally on numerous occasions. Once again, we call for the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas. From the outset, Spain has urged all parties to fully respect international law, including international humanitarian law, and has stressed the need for accountability for violations of international law. In response to the United Nations humanitarian appeal, since the military operation in Gaza began, Spain has tripled its aid to Palestine. In 2023, Spain’s official humanitarian and development cooperation aid to Palestine reached €48.5 million. Spain’s commitment to Palestine is firm and is set to continue in 2024. The international community must join forces to put an end to the spiral of violence in the Middle East. We are very concerned that the conflict could spread to the West Bank or Lebanon, in which case we would be facing the risk of a real regional crisis. Responding to Israeli and Palestinian aspirations for peace and security can be achieved only through the two-State solution. To that end, we must work with the Palestinian National Authority, which is our partner for peace, and which must receive strong Arab, European and international support. A Palestinian Authority that assumes governmental responsibilities throughout Palestine is the best guarantee for Israel’s security. Once again, I conclude by reiterating Spain’s firm commitment to hold, as soon as possible, a peace conference with the parties and the international community to bring about the two-State solution. That is the only viable path towards achieving the fundamental objective of the State of Israel and a State of Palestine coexisting in peace and security.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President of the General Assembly for convening today’s meeting, which is being held owing to the use of the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council against the oral amendment that was proposed to resolution 2720 (2023). I also express the support of Jordan to the statement delivered on behalf of the Group of Arab States (see A/78/PV.51), and I would like to deliver this statement in my national capacity. The brutal Israeli war is starting its fourth month, against the backdrop of the Security Council’s failure to adopt a clear resolution that imposes an immediate cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, pursuant to its responsibility to maintain international peace and security under the Charter of the United Nations. In that regard, we reiterate our call for urgently reaching an immediate and lasting ceasefire that ends that brutal aggression and subsequent killing, destruction and humanitarian crisis, which affect millions of innocent people. We stress that without a permanent ceasefire, establishing a successful and effective mechanism for delivering humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in Gaza in a manner that mitigates the humanitarian crisis will not be possible. Otherwise, the disastrous human suffering in Gaza will continue in the light of the international community’s lack of ability to take any applicable action. In that context, we welcome the Secretary-General’s decision to appoint Ms. Sigrid Kaag as the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. We emphasize that continuing Israel’s aggression, murdering of innocent civilians and deprivation of approximately 2.3 million Palestinians of the right to life, food and medicine and attempts to displace them from their homeland will inevitably push the region towards a dangerous regional escalation. Jordan has repeatedly warned of the dangerous consequences at both the regional and international levels that would follow if that were to happen. We will continue to spare no effort to cease the Israeli aggression against Gaza and to end the unprecedented humanitarian crisis for the Palestinian people. We stress the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring the delivery of sufficient humanitarian assistance to all parts of the Gaza Strip immediately and sustainably. In that regard, we reiterate our call for action on the part of the international community, a call that has become more urgent, necessary and legitimate than ever before, and for the Israeli occupation to refrain from committing any further heinous and inhumane crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza. To date, those crimes have resulted in the martyrdom of more than 23,000 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children, in addition to the murder of more than 140 United Nations staff members and more than 100 journalists. We warn of the consequences of the continued aggression by Israel and its violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, and the four Geneva Conventions. We also warn against the Israeli escalation and settler terrorism in the West Bank. We stress the need for Israel to stop all its illegal actions that will lead to a conflagration of the situation in occupied Palestine and the entire region. In conclusion, Jordan reiterates its firm belief that peace is a necessity for the stability and development of the region, emphasizing that peace will not be established without an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the fulfilment of the right of the Palestinian people to freedom and a sovereign State on their national land based on the two-State solution and in accordance with international law, established terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative.

I thank you, Sir, for convening today’s important meeting on the special report of the Security Council regarding the use of the veto (A/78/691, annex). More than three months have passed since the brutalities against the civilians began in Gaza. More than 23,000 civilians have been killed, 70 per cent of whom were women and children, and that number continues to rise with each passing hour. A total of 136 United Nations aid workers have been killed, representing the highest number of casualties of humanitarian workers in the history of the United Nations. Israeli air strikes took the lives of 79 journalists while they were on duty. Homes have been destroyed, as have hospitals, schools, and religious and heritage sites. Confronted with hunger and despair, the civilians in Gaza now also face imminent forced displacement. All of that is happening under the watch of the international community, and the United Nations in particular. Israel has been blatantly violating all international laws, the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights and humanitarian law. Yet the United Nations has failed to stop the mass killing of civilians, widespread destruction and genocide in Gaza. Unfortunately, while the Charter is violated in such a manner by one of its own adherents, the Security Council, which is the custodian of the United Nations peace and security pillar, has been paralysed owing to the arbitrary and injudicious use of the veto power. Although the General Assembly, at its the emergency special session, adopted resolution ES-10/22 calling for an immediate ceasefire, with a two-thirds majority, we could not do anything, as a decision regarding a ceasefire has been jeopardized in the Security Council through the use of the veto power, in disregard for the will and wisdom of the international community again and again. Bangladesh has always been an ardent supporter of multilateralism and strongly believes in the leadership of the United Nations as the centre of multilateralism. However, we are deeply concerned about the repeated manifestations of the United Nations ineffectiveness due to the injudicious use of the veto. We believe that we seriously need to rethink the existing procedures of the veto system to ensure its judicious and justified application in order to ensure the effectiveness of multilateralism. The veto should not be used to make the United Nations useless in the face of genocide and mass atrocities. If the current trend continues, the credibility and acceptance of the United Nations will suffer further, and we will fail to achieve what the United Nations was established to do, namely, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Allow me to share three points. First, Security Council permanent members must stop misusing their veto power, especially when civilians are brutally and indiscriminately killed, such as in Gaza, as well as when the signs of genocide are clearly visible. They must not use the veto to create obstacles to the implementation of the Assembly’s resolutions, which reflect the common will of nations. Secondly, we need stop the use of starvation as a weapon of war. We need to immediately stop the collective punishment of an entire nation who has been waging its just struggle for decades. We strongly reject any plan or announcement by Israel to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their own land, and we demand the safe return of all displaced Palestinians to their homes. Finally, we stress the importance of ensuring the accountability of the perpetrators  — Israel in this case  — for their habitual disregard for international human rights and humanitarian laws. Bangladesh reiterates its call for expedited investigation by the International Criminal Court of the crimes committed in Gaza. We also welcome the application filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice against Israel under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, of 1948. We look forward to the upcoming hearing on the request for provisional measures scheduled for this week.

The Security Council adopted resolution 2720 (2023) after intense negotiations. As a responsible member of the Security Council, Japan worked constructively towards a text that could be agreed aimed at addressing the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Even after the adoption of resolution 2720 (2023), heavy fighting and air strikes continue, reportedly having killed more than 23,000 people in total and resulting in the displacement of nearly 90 per cent of Gaza’s population. We deeply mourn the loss of more than 140 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East staff and humanitarian workers killed during the conflict. The situation in Gaza is nothing short of a humanitarian catastrophe. We have strongly urged all parties to act in good faith on the basis of Security Council resolutions 2720 (2023) and 2712 (2023) and to comply with international law, especially international humanitarian law and human rights law. Japan strongly supports the diplomatic efforts of the relevant countries. We are here today owing to the veto of a permanent member against an amendment proposal. It should also be recalled, however, that the member has made and is making vigorous efforts to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We should not forget that Hamas and other groups brutally killed innocent citizens in their barbaric terror attacks on 7 October 2023. All remaining hostages must be released immediately. We are gravely concerned about the further spillover of the conflict into the wider region. We have already witnessed an unprecedented scale of violence in the West Bank. Cross-border attacks have increased between Israel and Hezbollah, posing a grave risk to regional stability. In addition, the Houthis’ continued attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea have shaken maritime security and the global economy. We strongly demand that the Houthis release the Japanese-operated vessel MV Galaxy Leader and its crew immediately and unconditionally. The risk of escalation is extremely high, and a single miscalculation could lead to a disastrous and uncontrollable conflict. We therefore urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to de-escalate tensions. Japan also demands that all parties abide by Security Council resolutions 2720 (2023) and 2712 (2023) to facilitate and expand the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to and throughout Gaza. In that vein, we express our high hopes for the work of Ms. Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. Japan, as a major donor, remains committed to supporting her efforts to find a realistic approach to alleviating the humanitarian crisis. While we recognize Israel’s security concerns, we cannot allow generations of Palestinians to come to live with the sole memory of trauma, devastating losses and barely any means of survival. The humanitarian catastrophe must be stopped now. That is what the world and the humanitarian community desire. Even in the harshest of times, the spirit of the two-State solution must be kept alive, whereby both Israel and a viable Palestinian State can live side by side in mutual peace and security.

My delegation thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this plenary meeting at a time when we are still seeking a long-overdue solution to the devastation and misery continuously being suffered by the people of Palestine. Maldives welcomes the initiative undertaken by the United Arab Emirates in securing the adoption of Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) on 22 December, recognizing its capacity to deliver much- needed humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza. That was a step in the right direction. Maldives further urges the international community to take the next step in calling for an immediate ceasefire and the complete cessation of hostilities. We also expect the resolution to be fully enforced. It is disheartening that we must meet time and time again in this Hall because the Security Council has repeatedly failed to uphold its mandate to maintain international peace and security. We are here today because, through a veto, the Security Council has once again failed to adequately engage with the ongoing conflict and address the blatant violations of international peace and security. Maldives firmly believes that all members of the Security Council should maintain its code of conduct on not voting against resolutions intending to prevent mass atrocities such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Security Council has, through its delayed inaction, enabled an unprecedented degree of loss, the exacerbation of destruction and the prolonging of the suffering inflicted on innocent civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory. Each day that the Security Council fails to take immediate and decisive action against the destruction and suffering will mar its record of credibility even further. The Maldives reiterates its opposition to the double standards in upholding international law and international humanitarian law. Israel’s atrocities against innocent Palestinian civilians should not be allowed to continue without any accountability or repercussions. For that reason, the Maldives reaffirms its support for the application filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice on 29 December 2023, requesting to declare that Israel is in breach of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. We also categorically reject any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their historical homeland. The current conflict we are witnessing today did not begin on 7 October 2023. The Palestinian people have been subjected to Israel’s brutal occupation and its apartheid-like policies for decades. The Israeli regime has been wholly dismissive of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Israeli military has been complicit in acts that are genocidal in character, plainly expressing its intent to destroy all Palestinians. The deliberate and indiscriminate bombings in the recent escalation of the conflict have resulted in the deaths of more than 22,000 Palestinian civilians, at least of whom 9,100 were children. More than 7,000 Palestinians remain unaccounted for under the rubble, feared dead, and over 4,700 Palestinians have been detained and subjected to various forms of ill-treatment and torture. Those figures must not remain mere statistics to mourn in remembrance. The Palestinian people need an immediate ceasefire, the provision of urgent humanitarian aid and assistance and a comprehensive and long-standing solution to the situation in the Middle East. The Maldives reiterates its commitment to the people of Palestine and their inalienable right to self-determination. Tangible progress in the Middle East peace process can be achieved only through the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders. The Maldives will remain steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people and their right to peace, dignity and justice.

Portugal aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union (see A/78/PV.3) and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity. We are once again making use of a mechanism meant to strengthen the United Nations system and ensure the necessary accountability between the Security Council and the Assembly. As co-sponsors of resolution 76/262, also known as the veto initiative, Portugal believes that this debate is very important. The uncertainty arising from the repeated threat and use of the veto in the Security Council bears consequences for international peace and security. The particular instance under discussion today is no exception. Article 24 of the Charter of the United Nations confers on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and Member States agree that in carrying out its duties under that responsibility, the Security Council acts on their behalf. As we know, the General Assembly, in its tenth emergency special session, adopted resolution ES-10/21, entitled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”, demanding an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire”. We therefore expect that call to be reflected, as well, by the Security Council in its deliberations. This meeting is yet another reflection of a deeper, more structured and much-needed evolution in the multilateral system. To face current global threats and safeguard future generations, we must foster the effective reform of the Security Council. In that regard, we are called to reflect on the importance of ensuring the appropriate implementation of the Assembly’s resolutions, in view of strengthening trust in the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. Particularly, on the use of the veto, we would like to encourage all Member States to join the political declaration on the suspension of veto powers in cases of mass atrocity and the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group’s code of conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. In conclusion, we seize this opportunity to recall Portugal’s intention to organize  — together with Ecuador and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research  — the second edition of the workshop on the relation between the General Assembly and the Security Council, later this year, in May. We hope that the workshop will be an occasion to further advance our discussions on those issues.

At the outset, the United Arab Emirates aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Group of Arab States (see A/78/PV.51). We are here today to discuss the veto of a Russian draft amendment that was originally part of resolution 2720 (2023), submitted by the United Arab Emirates, to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza. That was one of 10 vetoes over the course of our term on the Security Council — the largest number over a two-year period, since 1988-1989. Time and again, as many Member States have said today, the misuse of the veto has blocked the Security Council from following a vital course of action, against the will of the majority of Member States. No single context demonstrates more clearly the failings and limitations of the current Security Council voting system than the situation in Palestine, with 37 vetoes cast on this file since 1972. That dynamic was painfully evident in preventing the Council from calling for a humanitarian ceasefire that would have brought an end to Gaza’s devastation, in violation of the expressed will of the Secretary-General and 153 United Nations Member States. But this is not a novel development; we have seen it play out time and again, and we saw it play out during our first Council term over 40 years ago. Meaningful action to rectify one of history’s greatest injustices was repeatedly prevented when dozens of vetoes were cast by three permanent members during the course of South Africa’s apartheid regime. We cannot normalize the degradation of the Council to an arena where the protection of national interests trumps the maintenance of international peace and security. That is particularly concerning during the current period of global polarization and fragmentation. If the Council once again becomes a forum for intensified great Power competition, its inability to fulfil its mandate will only grow. To mitigate against that, we have tools at our disposal, and we, as Member States, have choices that we can make here today, in this Hall. One hundred twenty-two Member States, including the United Arab Emirates, have joined the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency group’s code of conduct, pledging to not vote against any credible Security Council action that would prevent mass atrocities. And that practice, established by resolution 76/262, which is the reason we are here today, will increase scrutiny and encourage restraint. It is a novel approach, but we clearly still need to establish further guardrails against the misuse of the veto. From my country’s perspective, the veto should not be cast if one of three conditions are met. First, when the majority of the international community speaks in one voice, the Security Council’s action should be guided by the demonstrable will of an overwhelming majority of its members or the General Assembly’s members. Secondly, the view of the Secretary-General should be given the weight it deserves. There is no better example of that than the rare invocation of Article 99. Thirdly, the veto should not be used to undermine international law, which is the foundation of our international order, enabling peace, stability and prosperity, and it cannot be selectively applied. Should we continue on the current trajectory, the consequences for the international community are clear, and they are alarming — a diminished Security Council, a fragile international order, increased threats to international peace and security and a resurgence of the principle that might is right. And while it may be true that the first victims of that will be smaller States, the great Powers will also suffer the consequences of volatility and disorder on their watch. Change is urgent, it is necessary, and it must start now. Because beyond the privileges that the Charter of the United Nations gives the permanent members also come responsibilities. I would like to end on the following note. The situation in Palestine is a case study — not just of the consequences of unimplemented resolutions, but also of the misuse of the veto. Let it also be the case study for why reform is so urgently needed.

We are here today to discuss the results of the votes cast during the adoption of Security Council resolution 2720 (2023). In that regard, Hungary welcomes the fact that an overall agreement was reached in the Security Council on an issue of such crucial importance. We are deeply concerned about the crisis in Gaza that was ignited by the horrendous acts of terrorism committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023. We recall that Hungary condemns those brutal and barbaric terrorist attacks and recall Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. The international community should work closely together in order to avoid terror attacks like the one Israel had to suffer. All parties must uphold and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, take constant care in conducting military operations to spare civilians and respect and protect hospitals and civilian infrastructure. All civilian lives matter and should therefore be protected. The safety and security of United Nations personnel must also be ensured. We repeat our call on Hamas and other groups to release all remaining hostages immediately without preconditions. Such acts have no justification. Taking civilian hostages is a grave violation of international humanitarian law. An Israeli-Hungarian dual citizen continues to be held among the hostages. Recently, we have also received the devastating news that the body of an Israeli-Hungarian dual citizen has been identified. We urge the International Committee of the Red Cross to do everything in its power to gain access to the hostages and call on Hamas to allow access. Immediate, safe, sustainable and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid is required through all necessary measures, including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs, as set out in Security Council resolutions on the matter. Therefore, we welcome Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing point. We also appreciate the crucial role that Egypt and other regional partners play in providing and facilitating humanitarian aid to those in need. Food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter must reach the most vulnerable while ensuring that Hamas is not blocking or diverting humanitarian aid and that such aid is not abused by terrorist organizations. We recall that the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields and positioning underground bunkers, weapons depots and rocket launchers under schools and hospitals is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and must be condemned. In an effort to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian suffering, Hungary recently pledged €100,000 during the international humanitarian conference for the civilian population of Gaza, held in Paris on 9 November. The region is witnessing one of the most difficult crises in recent decades. We must prevent regional escalation, including the deterioration of the situation in the West Bank. Broader diplomatic engagement is needed to prevent further escalation and regional spillover of the conflict. We remain committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on a two-State solution and a durable political solution to the conflict.

I thank the President for convening this very important meeting mandated by resolution 76/262 with the hope that its outcome will remind the Security Council of its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, especially as it relates to the current situation in the Gaza Strip in the State of Palestine. Sierra Leone regrets that we start another year with Israel and Palestine still caught in the tragic web of conflict that has destabilized the lives of their people, including the recent escalation following the horrendous attack by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Sierra Leone reiterates its strong condemnation of the horrific Hamas attack. We also continue to strongly condemn the attacks on civilians and civilian objects protected under international law, in particular international humanitarian law. The report of the killing of approximately 22,000 Palestinian civilians, with women and children being the most affected, is unacceptable and cannot justify any military or security objective. We acknowledge the efforts of the Security Council and the General Assembly through their relevant resolutions adopted since the 7 October 2023 escalation and urge for their immediate implementation. We welcome the progress made in addressing the severe humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, including the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing and the volume of aid being delivered into Gaza. However, continuing hostilities and ground operations in the Gaza Strip will exacerbate an already acute situation of food insecurity that severely increases the risk of famine, malnutrition and further deaths, as projected by the United Nations experts on food security. To that end, Sierra Leone would like to restate the following. First, to minimize the risk of further deterioration of the already pathetic humanitarian situation, Sierra Leone reiterates its call for ceasefire and, at the bare minimum, expresses the need for parties to the conflict, as stated in resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023) of the Security Council, to adhere to their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and take steps that will necessitate a ceasefire. We reiterate the need for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. We note with concern the escalation of tensions in the West Bank and emerging regional dynamics that could further compound the existing fragile situation in the region if appropriate de-escalation measures are not taken immediately. Therefore, we call on Member States with influence in the region to engage the relevant actors to prevent regional spillover. We reiterate our support for the full implementation of resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023) of the Security Council and invite parties to the conflict to refrain from any unilateral action that could intensify the suffering of civilians. In conclusion, we affirm that any decision to be taken going forward by either the General Assembly or the Security Council should be based on the two-State solution, with Palestine and Israel living and working together side by side. That is the only option that is a beacon of hope for lasting peace in the region for both Palestinians and Israelis.

At the outset, I would like to thank the President for convening this meeting pursuant to resolution 76/262. The Middle East in general, and the occupied Palestinian territories in particular, have been in unprecedented and increasingly grave circumstances on a daily basis for more than three months now. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, most of them women and children, and more than 140 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East have been killed, in addition to dozens of journalists killed and widespread destruction of houses, schools, hospitals, places of worship and infrastructure. There is also a total blockade on Gaza in a blatant violation of international law and humanitarian values. The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms that the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip run counter to international law and international humanitarian law. King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, reaffirmed in his statement before the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit held on 11 November 2023 in Riyadh, in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that “[w]e stand at a turning point which requires that everyone be resolute and responsible in order to stop the Israeli acts of aggression and make the logic of reason and wisdom prevail so as to achieve a just and lasting peace and ensure security and stability for all the peoples in the region”. The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms the need to end the military aggression. We call for a permanent and monitored ceasefire, the protection of civilians and refraining from targeting them in line with international law and international humanitarian law. We also call for the unhindered delivery of sufficient humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza and for the release of all prisoners and detainees while establishing a political horizon for the Palestinian question. The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its rejection of all violations, collective punishment, forcible displacement, attempts to impose a new reality and threats to the neighbouring countries. We reiterate that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the Palestinian territories and of the unified Palestinian State. In its tenth emergency special session, the General Assembly adopted resolution ES-10/22, which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The Security Council adopted resolutions 2720 (2023) and 2712 (2023) in response to the tragic humanitarian situation of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In that regard, I would like to warmly commend the considerable efforts made by the sisterly United Arab Emirates during its membership in the Security Council to adopt those two resolutions. The Kingdom of Morocco also expresses its ap­ preciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General, António Guterres, who has launched measures to estab­ lish a mechanism pursuant to resolution 2720 (2023) to facilitate the delivery and monitoring of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip through the appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Recon­ struction Coordinator for Gaza. We reiterate our call to the international community to provide sufficient and continuous humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. In the context of a firm commitment by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to the Palestinian question and upon his instructions, the Kingdom of Morocco has sent urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of the Gaza Strip, which was delivered to those affected through the Rafah crossing. The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, the executive arm of the Al-Quds Committee, has also implemented royal instructions by sending humanitarian contributions to the main hospitals and social institutions to address the urgent social and medical situation in Gaza. In conclusion, I would like to recall the content of the letter sent by His Majesty the King Mohammed VI to the Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, on 28 November 2023: “Notwithstanding the sense of gloom and the lack of prospects for a settlement in the Middle East, I am still hopeful that the international community will make concerted efforts to revive the peace process. Our perception today, as it has always been, is that peace is a strategic option for all peoples in the region. It is the only way to guarantee security and stability for all the peoples concerned and to protect them from wars and violence. The key to the peace we desire is the two-State solution, which is a realistic solution agreed by the international community, and can be achieved only through the negotiation process. We would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm Morocco’s unwavering position regarding the just cause of the brotherly Palestinian people and our country’s support for their legitimate right to establish their independent State, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.

Germany welcomes that, on 22 December 2023, the Security Council was able to adopt resolution 2720 (2023), on aid scale-up and monitoring in Gaza. We thank all those members of the Security Council who contributed to reaching an agreement on that resolution by bridging differences within the Council. The resolution must now be implemented by all parties. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Hamas’s brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, including horrendous acts of sexual and gender-based violence. We reiterate our conviction that Israel has the right to defend itself in line with international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. Military operations must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law. The use of civilians as human shields by Hamas is particularly deplorable. We call on Hamas to immediately cease the continued missile attacks on Israel and to release all hostages without any preconditions. Human suffering cannot be a bargaining chip. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be granted access to the hostages. After three months of conflict, we are gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as reflected by the most recent reports by United Nations agencies. The protection of all civilians and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured by the parties, throughout the Gaza Strip. Far too many people have died, including United Nations staff and humanitarian aid workers. We welcome Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing point, which is a good first step. Germany is fully committed to alleviating human suffering by providing humanitarian aid to those in need in Gaza, through our national contributions and through the European Union. However, more must be done to provide humanitarian assistance to all those in need in Gaza. We therefore welcome the appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, and we stand ready to support her work. We must do our utmost to prevent both regional escalation and a deterioration of the situation in the West Bank. Germany remains committed to a lasting and sustainable peace, based on the implementation of the two-State solution and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. To that end, the Middle East peace process must be reinvigorated. Let us focus on ways to achieve that, so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, side by side.

Italy welcomes the fact that the Security Council was able, on 22 December 2023, to adopt resolution 2720 (2023), on aid scale-up and monitoring in Gaza. We take this opportunity to call on the international community to support those efforts. We welcome Israel’s decision to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing point, which is a good first step, and hope that more will be done to provide humanitarian assistance to all those in need in Gaza, ensuring that such assistance is not abused by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. In that regard, we welcome the appointment of Ms. Sigrid Kaag as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, and we stand ready to support her work. Italy is gravely concerned about the increasingly deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the most recent reports by United Nations agencies. The protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured by all parties. We commend the considerable efforts of the United Nations and all humanitarian actors to deliver life-saving aid in dire conditions, and we deplore the deaths of a record number of United Nations staff members, other humanitarian workers and journalists. Rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access is an obligation under international law for the parties and is needed to deliver life-saving aid to avoid the further exacerbation of an already-catastrophic situation. We welcome the cooperation of regional actors, aimed at opening humanitarian access to Gaza. In addition to the efforts being coordinated by the European Union (EU), on a bilateral level Italy has provided 16 tons of humanitarian supplies and deployed the Vulcano, a military ship with surgical emergency capabilities, to El Arish, Egypt to help treat wounded Palestinian minors and women in the care of Egyptian hospitals. Furthermore, Italy has allocated additional funds in the amount of €10 million to United Nations agencies, and Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. Italy’s position on today’s conflict is well-known. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Hamas’s brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel on 7 October 2023. The use of civilians as human shields by Hamas is a particularly deplorable atrocity. We call on Hamas to immediately cease the continued missile attacks on Israel and release all hostages without any precondition. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be granted access to the hostages. We emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself, in line with international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law. Military operations must be proportionate and in line with humanitarian law. It is also crucial to prevent regional escalation, including the deterioration of the situation in the West Bank. In that regard, Italy recalls the EU position on settlements and calls on Israel to prevent settler violence and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. Italy is actively participating in discussions with partners and key stakeholders, and we call on regional actors to refrain from any action that could further aggravate the situation. We underline the need to engage broadly with the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli authorities and regional and international partners who could have a positive role to play in preventing further escalation. In conclusion, we remain committed to a lasting and sustainable peace that can be based only on the implementation of the two-State solution and the relevant Security Council resolutions, through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East peace process.

Through the convening of this General Assembly meeting, we are reminded of the consequential nature of the use of the veto. Irrespective of whether it is used for an amendment or a resolution as a whole, there are implications. To say that we are aggrieved by the continued callous loss of lives is a gross understatement. In times like these, it is difficult to ignore emotions that speak to our conscience and remind us that humanity and compassion are the threads that bind us. Our collective consciences should be burdened by the gravity of the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and our only preoccupation should be ending the callous loss of lives and ensuring compliance with international obligations, including unhindered humanitarian access for all those adversely affected by the unfathomable calamity. Namibia welcomes the appointment by the Secretary- General of Ms. Sigrid Kaag, as Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. We reiterate our previous calls for the United Nations system’s processes and institutions to be allowed to carry out their mandates unhindered and prioritize the interests of those in harm’s way. It is deplorable that there is no accountability for an occupying Power that has consistently shown its disregard for the parameters of international law through its continued occupation of a territory. Even more shameful is the shield used to consistently protect and justify the collective punishment and most inconceivable injustices ever meted out against a population anywhere in the world. The Security Council has shouldered the burden of our repeated outrage for its inability to carry out its mandate to maintain international peace and security. However, despite repeated assertions by some members of the Council that the veto is used sparingly, the use of the veto is what has repeatedly stood in the way of protecting civilian lives, perpetuating hardships and violating even the most fundamental rights. The use of the veto has also prevailed in shielding those who refuse to honour their international legal obligations, and that should neither be regarded as normal or acceptable. As was demonstrated on 27 October 2023, and again on 12 December 2023, Members of the Assembly have not shied away from the imperative to demand collective, principled action supporting a humanitarian pathway to ending the conflict. Regrettably, our efforts to address the suffering of the Palestinian people have been hampered by the repeated use of the veto in the Council. The Security Council was designed to be a bastion of international peace and security. However, when the powerful impede the desires of the majority and impinge on the rights of those deemed less powerful, what is our reprieve? The continued paralysis in the Council undermines our ability to act decisively and impartially in the face of the profound challenges faced by the Palestinian people. It also translates into tacit support for the blatant disregard for the principles of distinction and proportionality. In recognizing the deep complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we must acknowledge that the denial of justice and accountability only perpetuates a cycle of suffering. In this particular instance, by intent and by number, the actions carried out by Israel are tantamount to genocide, and the international community is bound by principles that do not afford us the luxury of complacency while lives are lost and critical infrastructure is destroyed. The ramifications of this crisis will reverberate for generations to come. For that reason, we welcome the support and action of the Government of South Africa at the International Court of Justice. Namibia both identifies and aligns itself with the arguments put forward by the Republic of South Africa and reiterates its long-standing support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self- determination, independence and freedom. The unfolding humanitarian crisis demands us to champion the dignity and rights of all individuals and ensure that our actions align with the fundamental values espoused in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As we deliberate on the challenges before us, let us recognize that the Security Council’s decisions affect the lives of millions and, therefore, should reflect the diverse voices within our international community. Let us work towards a Security Council that is not beholden to the interests of any single State, but rather embodies the principles of justice, human rights and unity. The Palestinian people, like all people, deserve a future free from the spectre of atrocities, and our collective responsibility is that we demand that we transcend political considerations. The path to a just and lasting peace in the region requires a commitment to fairness, impartiality and shared responsibility. The unabated destruction and loss of lives are not what the United Nations was formed to advance. For the sake of humanity and the conscience of history, an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is a priority of the highest order. Let us help to give diplomacy and dialogue between the parties concerned a real chance to bring an end the further loss and destruction of lives, livelihoods and properties.

Egypt associates itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain (see A/78/PV.51) on behalf of the Group of Arab States and is thankful for the convening of today’s meeting. We stress that what we have seen recently, in terms of the repeated use of the veto in the Security Council to block the adoption of draft resolutions that aim to establish a ceasefire in Gaza, compels us now more than ever to insist on the reform of the Security Council as the only way to ensure that its role is restored in maintaining international peace and security and the protection of civilians everywhere. Certain permanent members have used the Security Council as a mechanism for granting legitimacy and political cover to Israel’s killing and forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. That reform will not happen without the representation of Arab and African States as permanent members, with the same powers granted to the current permanent members, including the veto power, without which all efforts by the new permanent members to reform the Council will be in vain. The veto remains a sword that is wielded selectively to serve the purposes of a small group of countries that do not reflect the will of the general membership. It is therefore imperative to grant the veto to the new permanent Arab and African members so that they can protect their interests and defend their security and stability, especially since it is those countries that have been affected the most by the use of the veto throughout the Organization’s history. Our discussion today takes place in the fourth month of Israel’s bloody war against the defenceless Palestinian people. To date, that war has resulted in more than 23,000 martyrs and 58,000 wounded, 70 per cent of whom are women and children — the highest rates of killing and targeting of children in armed conflict in decades. Regrettably, Israel has destroyed the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip, completely destroyed the health and education systems and caused the displacement of 1.5 million Palestinians. Israel, the occupying Power, which is responsible for that terrible suffering, is seeking to prevent the Palestinians from returning to their land, according to statements issued by current ministers in the Israeli Government, for which they must be held accountable under international law and international humanitarian law. The international community remains unable to stop the Israeli aggression despite the humanitarian tragedy it has caused, despite all efforts and despite the appeals of senior United Nations officials, led by the Secretary-General, who addressed the Security Council in a historic speech pursuant to Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations (see S/PV.9498). Since the beginning of the crisis, Egypt has sought to stop the war and mitigate its humanitarian repercussions, believing that relying on denunciation, condemnation and giving in to the existing international polarization will not help the brotherly and heroic Palestinian people in their current plight. Egypt hosted the Cairo peace summit on 21 October 2023 to establish a unified international position that would stop the devastating war. Egypt has also taken the initiative to bring humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, to receive our wounded Palestinian brethren and to mediate the establishment of a humanitarian truce that would alleviate the impact of the indiscriminate, destructive and deadly bombardment of civilians, which must be subject to accountability and investigation without a statute of limitations. At the United Nations level, Egypt has been at the heart of efforts to adopt General Assembly and Security Council resolutions on establishing a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid and ceasing forced displacement, the most recent of which was General Assembly resolution ES-10/22, submitted by Egypt on behalf of the Group of Arab States and adopted by the General Assembly during its emergency special session on 12 December 2023 (see A/ES-10/PV.45). The resolution demands that a humanitarian ceasefire be established and that the entry of humanitarian aid be facilitated. Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) was submitted by the sisterly United Arab Emirates, in implementation of the decisions of the Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh, with the aim of providing a practical solution to the issue of enforcing the delivery of aid by establishing the position of United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza and a United Nations mechanism to accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Gaza, according to the statements of many United Nations officials, is on the verge of famine. Yes, Gaza is on the brink of famine in the twenty-first century. In that regard, we reiterate before the General Assembly what we previously called for in the Security Council meeting, that the United Nations immediately implement resolution 2720 (2023). We also call upon all countries to provide a helping hand to the Senior Coordinator, Sigrid Kaag, and help her to establish the requisite United Nations mechanism by providing the financial and human resources she needs in order to perform her duties promptly. The implementation of that resolution is one step on a long road. We demand that all States move forward on that road, united behind the immediate, unified and specific goal of adopting a binding resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. That effort must also go hand in hand with serious international action to bring in unhindered aid and to resolutely confront within the Security Council any Israeli claims demanding the forced displacement of the population of Gaza, in addition to the immediate launching of an independent investigation into all the crimes committed against the Palestinian people and the flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law since the start of the brutal war in October 2023. We call upon the Security Council to take immediate action to achieve the desired goals, as the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories is deteriorating, and the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which have been occupied since 5 June 1967, are also witnessing an unprecedented escalation due to continued brutal aggression by settler gangs and repeated military incursions by the Israeli army into Palestinian cities and East Jerusalem neighbourhoods. In addition to the foregoing, the Middle East is witnessing tensions in many of its regions as a result of the Israeli aggression, with an expansion of fighting on several regional fronts threatening international peace and security. That requires immediate intervention by the Security Council and the General Assembly to contain the current situation. We call upon the entire General Assembly to work to stop the barbaric war against the defenceless Palestinian people. We call upon the permanent members of the Security Council not to veto any resolution calling for a ceasefire. We call upon the entire General Assembly to support the United Nations and its relevant organs, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, in order to help it to play its heroic and valued role in alleviating the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Egypt will continue its efforts to end the war, bring about peace and stop the killing and destruction being carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people. Egypt affirms that it will never allow the elimination of the Palestinian question — the central cause that unites all Arabs — and that we will work using all means at our disposal to overcome the current ordeal and resume the peace process in order to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish the State they long for, based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

We have heard the last speaker in this debate. The General Assembly has thus concluded this state of its consideration of agenda item 63.