S/PV.9572 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Israel to participate in this meeting. On behalf of the Council, I welcome His Excellency Mr. Israel Katz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel. I propose that the Council invite the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine to the United Nations to participate in this meeting, in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure and the previous practice in this regard. There being no objection, it is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. Patten. Ms. Patten: I wish to thank the Japanese presidency for convening this meeting and for inviting me to brief the Security Council. We meet today more than 150 days after Hamas and other armed groups launched a coordinated attack, the deadliest in the history of Israel, which left 1,200 individuals dead across multiple locations in the Gaza periphery, with several thousand wounded. More than 150 days have passed since the abduction of 253 hostages from Israel, with 134 remaining in captivity, their whereabouts and safety unknown. More than 150 days have passed since the start of the military operations in the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians, including innocent women and children, leaving more than 70,000 injured and reducing cities, homes, hospitals and schools to rubble. Following reports of brutal sexual violence allegedly committed during and in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas-led terror attacks of 7 October, and at the invitation of the Government of Israel, I led an official visit to Israel from 29 January to 14 February. The mission was not investigative in nature. As per its scope and parameters as agreed in advance with the Israeli authorities, the objective was to gather, analyse and verify reports of conflict-related sexual violence related to 7 October and in its aftermath, in order to inform reporting, including to the Security Council, given the absence of relevant United Nations entities in Israel. In view of United Nations-verified information I had received on incidents of conflict-related sexual violence allegedly committed by Israeli security forces and settlers against Palestinian women and men, one of the agreed parameters was a visit to the occupied West Bank, to engage with the Palestinian authorities on these issues and to raise such concerns with the Israeli authorities. Considering the ongoing hostilities, I did not request to visit Gaza, where other United Nations entities are operational, including some that monitor sexual violence. I must highlight that information received during my visit, along with other United Nations-verified information on Gaza and the occupied West Bank, will be included in the 2023 report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence. To ensure that the information-gathering and verification process would meet the highest standards, I was supported by a highly skilled technical team of nine experts from the United Nations system, including specialists in safe and ethical interviewing of survivors and witnesses of sexual violence crimes, a forensic pathologist and a digital and open-source information analyst. The mission was conducted in strict adherence to established United Nations standards and methodologies and in accordance with the principles of independence, impartiality, objectivity, transparency, integrity and “do no harm”, including in relation to guarantees of confidentiality and the protection of victims and witnesses. It also followed a survivor- and victim-centred and trauma-informed approach. Our conclusions were based on our own assessment of the credibility and reliability of the witnesses we met, including by verifying the sources, cross- referencing the relevant material and information and assessing whether in all circumstances there was sufficient credible and reliable information to make a finding in fact. While we were presented with some witnesses and materials by the national authorities, each of those was reviewed and assessed for credibility by the team’s experts. We accepted some and discarded others where necessary. We also gathered our own independent information. The applicable standard of proof that we adopted was one of “reasonable grounds to believe”, consistent with the practice of investigative bodies. Where more information supported a finding of fact, we made a finding of “clear and convincing” information. In a number of cases, we were also able to assess that certain heavily publicized reports or allegations of sexual violence were unfounded. The report of the visit was issued publicly on 4 March, excluding confidential and identifying details in order to safeguard the privacy of those whom we spoke to, in line with a victim-centred approach, including the principles of informed consent. In that regard, I must be clear and categorical — there has been no attempt by the Secretary-General to silence my report or suppress its findings. On the contrary, I received his full support politically, logistically and financially, and he also gave clear instructions for the public release of my report and its immediate transmission to the Security Council. The mission team conducted meetings with a range of Israeli national institutions, including relevant line ministries. We met with families and relatives of hostages held in captivity and members of communities displaced from several kibbutzim, as well as representatives from Israeli civil society organizations and academia. We conducted confidential interviews with 34 individuals, including survivors and witnesses of the 7 October attacks, hostages who had been released, first responders and health and service providers. We visited four sites of the attacks, as well as the morgue to which the bodies of victims were transferred. We reviewed more than 5,000 photographic images and some 50 hours of footage of the attacks, provided partly by State agencies but also by confidential independent and online open sources. Although we met with some witnesses, despite our proactive outreach and efforts we did not meet with any survivors of sexual violence from the 7 October attacks. Although most appear to have been killed, we have credible information that a handful are alive and currently receiving treatment for severe trauma. From experience, I know how long it can take for survivors to speak out. They must be given the chance to come forward on their own terms and in their own time. What I witnessed in Israel were scenes of unspeakable violence perpetrated with shocking brutality and resulting in intense human suffering. In southern Israel I met with traumatized communities still in shock and deep pain, mourning their loved ones and trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. The families and relatives of hostages are enduring a nightmare. I saw the pain in their eyes, and as a mother, I could feel their anguish and heartache. I want to pause here and invite you, Mr. President, and all the Council members, to try for just a few seconds to put yourselves in the shoes of those families of hostages, torn between hope and despair. Many of them are here in the Chamber today, seeking a glimpse of hope from the Council. One hundred and fifty-six days have passed since the abduction of their loved ones, with no less than 16 women among the hostages. What do we tell them? Hostage-taking is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law. Information gathered threw light on the indiscriminate and coordinated attacks by Hamas and other armed groups on multiple military and civilian targets, aimed at killing, inflicting suffering and abducting the maximum possible number of men, women and children, soldiers and civilians alike, in the minimum possible amount of time. It was a catalogue of the most extreme and inhumane forms of killing, torture and other horrors  — people shot, often in the head and at close range; families burned alive in their homes as they tried to hide in safe rooms; people gunned down or killed by grenades in bomb shelters where they sought refuge; partygoers hunted down at the Nova music festival site, as well as in the fields and roads adjacent to the festival ground. Other violations included sexual violence, the abduction of hostages and corpses, the public display of captives, both dead and alive, the mutilation of corpses, including the decapitation and desecration of bodies, as well as the looting and destruction of civilian property. In terms of sexual violence, we found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, were committed against hostages, and we have reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may still be ongoing against those in captivity. I want to pause here and add that this finding does not in any way legitimize subsequent hostilities. In fact, it creates a moral imperative for a humanitarian ceasefire to end the unspeakable suffering imposed on Palestinian civilians in Gaza and bring about the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages. There is no way that the continuation of hostilities can protect them. It can only expose them to further risk of violence, including sexual violence. The Israeli hostages and the millions of civilians in Gaza share a common fate. For their common sake, there must be a humanitarian ceasefire now. With regard to the 7 October attacks, we found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict- related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, occurred in at least three locations, specifically the Nova music festival site and its surroundings, Road 232 and Kibbutz Re’im. In most of those incidents, the victims were first subjected to rape and then killed. In other locations, such as Kibbutz Kfar Aza, while circumstantial information may indicate the occurrence of sexual violence, reported incidents of rape could not be verified. In addition to those specific locations, we also found, across multiple locations of the Gaza periphery, a pattern of victims, mostly women, found fully or partially naked from the waist down, with their hands tied behind their back or tied to structures such as trees and poles, and shot. Although circumstantial, that pattern may be indicative of some forms of sexual violence, including sexualized torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. At the same time, with regard to Kibbutz Be’eri, which was severely affected by the 7 October attacks, with no less than 10 per cent of its population killed and 50 people taken as hostages, we were also able to determine that at least two allegations of sexual violence that had been widely reported in the media were unfounded. None of the other reports of sexual violence in Be’eri could be verified at this point. Other reported incidents of sexual violence could not be established for various reasons, including destructive burn damage to multiple bodies. Similarly, the medico-legal assessment of photos and videos of bodies with multiple gunshot wounds, including to intimate body parts such as breasts and genitalia, could not establish a discernible pattern of targeted genital mutilation. Since sexual violence is a chronically underreported and historically hidden crime, my visit was not intended to determine its prevalence. Nor could I determine whether sexual violence was used as a tactic of war, or in a widespread or systematic manner. As it was not an investigation, and owing to various other challenges, including limited time on the ground and the multiple numbers of perpetrators, we did not attempt to determine the attribution of these violations. A determination of attribution will require the conduct of an independent and full-fledged human rights investigation by competent United Nations bodies. What I witnessed in the occupied West Bank was a climate of intense fear and insecurity, with women and men terrified and deeply disturbed about the ongoing tragedy in Gaza. Regarding my visit to Ramallah, I must stress that its purpose was completely different, as United Nations-verified reports of conflict-related sexual violence, already provided by United Nations entities on the ground, will be included in the annual report of the Secretary-General, which will be debated in the Council in April. In that regard, today I will only share with the Council reports that I received during my visit to Ramallah following my meetings with a range of stakeholders, including relevant ministries from the Palestinian Authority, human and women’s rights organizations and recently released detainees. While I did not receive any reports of rape, interlocutors raised with me instances of sexual violence in the context of the detention of male and female Palestinians, such as invasive body searches; unwanted touching of intimate areas; beatings, including in genital areas; threats of rape against women and threats of rape against female family members — wives, sisters or daughters, in the case of men; and inappropriate strip searches and prolonged forced nudity of detainees. Sexual harassment and threats of rape during house raids and at checkpoints were also reported, as well as threats of rape if conditions of detention were reported or publicly disclosed after liberation. I raised those reports with the Israeli authorities, who provided me with some information regarding their protocols in place to prevent and address such instances, and they indicated their willingness to investigate any alleged breaches. In that regard, I want to express my disappointment that the immediate reaction to my report by some political actors was not to open inquiries into those alleged incidents but rather to reject them outright via social media. We must translate political resolve into operational responses, which are critical in the current context of unremitting violence. My report makes a number of recommendations, and I would like to highlight a few for the Council’s consideration. First, I urge all the parties to the conflict to immediately agree on a humanitarian ceasefire. I further urge Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages. The parties implicated in these hostilities have turned a blind eye to international law. Instituting an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is more urgent than ever, so that desperate communities in Gaza can access humanitarian assistance and the hostages can be released. Secondly, I encourage the Government of Israel to grant without further delay access to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel to carry out full-fledged investigations into all the violations that are alleged to have occurred on 7 October. Finding out the truth and ensuring the recognition of all violations are critical steps in helping survivors and victims overcome trauma and regain a sense of agency. They are also essential to preventing any denial of the atrocities committed on 7 October. Truth is the only path towards peace. Thirdly, I call on all relevant and competent bodies, national and international, to bring all perpetrators, regardless of rank and affiliation, to justice based on their individual, superior and command responsibility. Fourthly, I encourage the Government of Israel to sign a framework of cooperation with my Office with a view to preventing and addressing sexual violence in conflict, including through security-sector engagement, training and oversight, as well as to strengthening capacity in the areas of justice and accountability for crimes of conflict-related sexual violence. I also call on it to take robust measures to mitigate the risk of sexual violence and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the context of detention and the current military operation. Lastly, I call on all the relevant actors to uphold the highest standards of information integrity. Respect for the safety and dignity of survivors is a paramount consideration in the reporting of cases of sexual violence. Moreover, the occurrence of sexual violence should never be used as a tool for inflammatory rhetoric, political pressure or the legitimization of further violence in the region. I strongly reject and condemn any instrumentalization of my mandate and report, or of the plight of victims and survivors, in order to serve wider political or military ends. In conclusion, I want to echo the Secretary- General’s messages. They are that on the one hand, nothing can justify the deliberate violence perpetrated by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October against Israel, and on the other hand, nothing can justify the collective punishment of the people in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians killed and injured, including an unprecedented number of United Nations staff, with entire communities facing inhumane conditions, including famine and disease. Before concluding my remarks, I must also state that I am horrified by the injustice of women and children being killed in Gaza by countless bombs and gunfire, and I am also outraged by the level of deaths and pain, with entire families  — often generations  — wiped out. With every bomb that drops, the world becomes more unjust and the road to peace more clouded. The end goal of my mandate is not a war without rape but a world without war. We must rise to the challenge of our times. The prospects for peace and stability should not be blocked by geopolitical polarization and division. Civilians and their families in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory cannot be abandoned by the international community. The survivors of sexual violence and persons at risk must be protected and supported. We cannot fail them. The people of this region need to finally see a peaceful future on the political horizon. We must replace horror and heartache with healing, humanity and hope. The credibility of the multilateral system depends on it, and the rules-based international order demands no less.

I thank Ms. Patten for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Lord Ahmad (United Kingdom): I would first like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Pramila Patten for briefing us on her recent visit and take this opportunity to applaud her tireless work on this issue, standing up in the defence and protection of victims and survivors of sexual violence. Her visit was profoundly important, as are her report and essential insights into the shocking crimes that she has just illustrated. It is therefore right that the Security Council should consider it. As we have seen in conflicts around the world, it is a tragic fact that sexual violence is used to terrorize civilians. It shatters lives and leaves brutal and lifelong scars on victims and their families and communities. We are collectively and rightly appalled by the reports of sexual violence committed by Hamas on 7 October and against hostages. I refer to the report and note with deep concern the findings of Special Representative Patten, including reasonable grounds for believing that sexual violence occurred in Israel on 7 October and the existence of “clear and convincing” information that sexual violence has been committed against hostages. It is deeply disturbing to know that “such violence may be ongoing against those still in captivity”, which is a direct quote from the report. We continue to call for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all hostages and to work through every channel to secure an immediate halt to the fighting and then to progress towards a sustainable ceasefire — because for us that is the best route to achieving that aim. I am also deeply shocked by the very alarming reports, referenced in the Special Representative’s report and cited by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, of sexual violence perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian detainees arrested and held by Israel. Those reports, as we have just heard, are being investigated. I therefore call on Israel to take immediate measures to prevent conflict-related sexual violence, to abide by international humanitarian law, to ensure thorough investigations into those reports — and ultimately, to see the perpetrators held to account. Let me be absolutely clear  — we, the United Kingdom, condemn conflict-related sexual violence unequivocally, wherever it occurs, and we stand in solidarity with all victims and survivors. To put it simply, it must stop. The perpetrators must be held accountable and the survivors must receive holistic support, and I call on all members of the Security Council to be unequivocal on those points. And may I say to both Israelis and Palestinians and to their representatives here today that the United Kingdom, as a friend to both, is ready to provide support. As the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, here is my offer on behalf of the United Kingdom. We have our team of experts as part of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, who have already been deployed more than 90 times. We have the Murad Code, launched in April of 2022 here in the Council (see S/PV.9016), which sets out minimum standards for ensuring that survivors are not re-traumatized when they are interviewed. We have our stigma toolkit, which provides practical measures for addressing the stigma faced by survivors in criminal justice systems. Indeed, earlier today I chaired a meeting with members of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. I was pleased that Ms. Patten was able to attend, along with a colleague of mine, Baroness Helić, who in 2012 was instrumental in establishing the very initiative I lead to consider new and innovative ways to ensure that crimes are investigated, that testimonies are heard to enable successful prosecution and that those who survive these shocking crimes — the incredible, courageous and brave survivors  — are supported fully in rebuilding their lives. We fully agree with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General that investigations should be conducted in a safe and ethical manner consistent with a survivor-centred approach, and that all reports of sexual violence must be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims. Justice delayed is justice denied, and for the United Kingdom, it remains that a two-State solution is the only way to achieve justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. The first step must be an immediate stop to the fighting, leading to a permanent, sustainable ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the delivery of vital, life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza. That is the solution that we seek. We owe it to the legacy of every innocent civilian killed in Israel and across the occupied Palestinian territory to utilize every lever and channel we have in pursuit of that noble objective.

First of all, I would like to thank Ms. Patten for her briefing and to reiterate France’s full support. France condemns all forms of sexual violence, particularly conflict-related sexual violence. Those crimes are too often ignored, as is the stigmatization that survivors are subsequently subjected to. France condemns the use of rape as a weapon of war, wherever it is committed. The sexual violence committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October was barbaric. No one can turn a blind eye to those acts, which have been documented, including by the United Nations, as the Special Representative’s report underscores. Those acts of violence must be recognized and condemned, and their perpetrators must be punished. It is unacceptable that the Security Council and the General Assembly have not yet been able to clearly condemn those acts of terrorism and violence. France will do everything in its power to ensure that the reality of the crimes committed on 7 October is recognized and cannot be called into question. We remind the Council that acts of sexual violence committed during conflicts may constitute crimes punishable under international law, and we once again demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Ms. Patten’s report also states that her mission has received information on certain forms of sexual violence perpetrated against Palestinian men and women in detention facilities, during police raids and at checkpoints. Those allegations must be investigated. International law applies to everyone. France is determined to eliminate all forms of conflict-related sexual violence, including the use of rape as a weapon of war, and to combat impunity for those who commit such crimes. As Ramadan is beginning and as no agreement has been reached on a cessation of hostilities, France renews its call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians. The lack of sufficient access to a population in an unmitigated humanitarian emergency is unjustifiable. We once again call on Israel to immediately authorize the opening of all possible access routes, including the port of Ashdod, a direct route from Jordan, and all the crossing points needed to deliver aid on a massive scale. We also reiterate that only a two-State solution, which includes the creation of a Palestinian State, can meet the security needs of Israel and the Israeli people and satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians for their own State, living in peace and security alongside Israel. France will remain fully committed to that aim.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. I also thank Ms. Pramila Patten, the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, for her briefing highlighting the critical findings of the report of her official visit to Israel and Palestine, in particular the occupied West Bank, from 29 January to 14 February. In our first statement in the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (see S/PV.9531), following the 7 October 2023 attack on Israeli civilians, we noted the important context of Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine. As we have stated repeatedly in our condemnations, the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas and other armed groups on Israeli civilians was utterly harrowing and contravened the protections afforded to civilians under international law, even in the context of the ongoing occupation. Equally condemnable is the military response by Israel, with serious allegations of collective punishment and other breaches of international law. As we continue to urge accountability, including through individual, criminal and State responsibility, for all violations of international law, in particular international humanitarian law, we note the important step taken by Special Representative Patten to undertake the visit and commence an independent process of “gathering, analysing and verifying information on conflict-related sexual violence in the context of the attacks on 7 October 2023 and their aftermath”. We have read with serious concern the mission report , which “describes findings on incidents and patterns of conflict-related sexual violence (i) during the 7 October attacks; and (ii) in the context of abduction and hostage-taking”. We also note the limitations of the mission report, as further contextualized and explained during a press briefing at the United Nations by Special Representative Patten and her team last week. We further note that “[t] he mission was neither intended to, and nor could the mission team, in such a short period of time, establish the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence during and after the 7 October attacks”. Notwithstanding that “[t]he overall magnitude, scope, and specific attribution of these violations would require a comprehensive investigation by competent bodies”, any act of sexual violence and conflict-related sexual violence must be condemned, as a violation of international law and the dignity of  — not only the victims and survivors, but also their families and the whole of society. We further note with deep concern the report of a dramatic deterioration of the human rights situation in the West Bank following the 7 October 2023 attack. We note the report of mass arrests and a huge spike in settler violence, following the commencement of law-enforcement operations by Israel. Additionally, we note with deep concern reports about cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinians in detention, including various forms of sexual violence. In the light of the serious findings of the mission report, Sierra Leone welcomes the call for a comprehensive investigation by competent bodies with adequate time and capacity. We further lend support to the recommendations contained in the mission report. First, we support the call on the Government of Israel to grant “access to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, to carry-out fully fledged investigations into all alleged violations”. Secondly, we support the call for immediate access and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups. We are seriously alarmed by the mission report’s indication that, “[b]ased on first-hand accounts of released hostages there are reasonable grounds to believe that female hostages were also subjected to other forms of sexual violence.” We therefore reiterate the responsibility of the parties to the conflict to protect all civilians, including the hostages. Thirdly, we emphasize the need for a humanitarian ceasefire that creates a conducive atmosphere to address the ongoing humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and allows for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into violations of international law, including conflict-related sexual violence. Let me conclude with three concluding points. First, we urge the parties to the conflict to refrain from the practices of misinformation and disinformation. We deplore the spread of such “information”, including the deliberate spread of “facts” inconsistent with realities on the ground, with the intention to influence public opinion and create harmful propaganda. Secondly, in the holy month of Ramadan, the Council must continue to take steps to ensure that we discharge our mandate by demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Third and finally, for lasting peace in the region and to guarantee the security and safety of Israeli and Palestinian civilians, we stress the need for a political horizon anchored on the two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.

At the outset, I would like to thank Special Representative Patten for her briefing. Women are one of the most vulnerable groups. Their rights and interests are the most easily violated. As such, they are most in need of protection. China condemns all forms of sexual violence against women in armed conflicts and advocates a timely and comprehensive investigation of such acts committed in contravention of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The perpetrators must be held accountable and punished in accordance with the law, and justice and dignity must be restored to the victims. Survivors should receive individual support to facilitate their early recovery from psychological trauma. Recently Ms. Patten led a mission to Israel upon invitation, which also included a visit to the occupied West Bank. The mission report released after the visit stated that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred at several locations across the Gaza periphery during the 7 October attacks. With respect to the hostages, the mission found clear and convincing information that some have been subjected to various forms of conflict- related sexual violence. The report also found that the detention of Palestinian men and women in the occupied West Bank has been compounded by alleged instances of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The report paints a shocking picture, and we sympathize with the plight of the victims. The report also includes specific recommendations on follow-up actions. We hope that the relevant parties attach importance to them and respond to them positively. We agree with the view of the Special Representative — that our end goal is not a war without rape, it is a world without war. The current conflict in Gaza has been going on for five months. It has caused unspeakable harm to women. More than 9,000 mothers and daughters have been killed, and hundreds of thousands of women have been displaced, lacking basic support for survival or security guarantees. They are facing death, hunger and disease, which plunge them into the abyss of fear, despair and anger. Today is already the first day of Ramadan , which is a holy month for the Muslim community. We call on the international community to act promptly and redouble efforts to promote an immediate ceasefire, so as to give the people in Gaza hope for survival. We also call for increased diplomatic efforts for all detainees to be released and reunited with their families at an early date.

I thank Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for her briefing, which paints a disturbing picture of the horrors that innocent civilians continue to suffer as this war wages on. Taking note of the challenges that the mission team faced and the limited mandate of the visit, the assessment provided by Special Representative Patten is nevertheless cause for grave concern. The incidents of sexual violence in Israel and the West Bank contained in the report add another horrific dimension to the tragedy unfolding in the Middle East. Guyana strongly condemns all acts of sexual violence committed during the conflict, including those committed on 7 October. We call for the cessation of all sexual violence and for leaders to take proactive steps to prevent and enforce accountability for such acts. The perpetrators must be held accountable. We are deeply concerned by the report’s indication that the hostages were subjected to sexual violence and that there are reasonable grounds to believe that such violence is ongoing. Guyana’s reiterates its call for the immediate release of all hostages and all individuals held unlawfully and demands that those holding them in captivity and in detention ensure their safety, including from sexual violence. We are also gravely concerned about the reports of cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment meted out to Palestinians in detention. That includes sexual violence allegedly committed in the occupied West Bank against Palestinian men and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints. Guyana supports the calls for full and independent investigations into all alleged incidents of sexual violence. We also support the report’s recommendation to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations to monitor and report on incidents of conflict-related sexual violence in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. We have taken note of the mission team’s determination that at least two allegations of sexual violence, which had been widely reported in the media, were unfounded. We call on all parties to be responsible and avoid sensational headlines as that risks bringing into question and diminishing the horrific experiences of genuine victims. As we examine the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s report, it is essential that we consider the impacts of the war on women and children in a holistic manner. Of the persons killed in Gaza, 70 per cent were women and children. In excess of 60 women are killed daily. More than half of the 1.9 million persons displaced are women. They are the hardest hit by starvation and famine in Gaza with unprecedented malnutrition. Many have been widowed and left to fend for their children and other family members, including those who were injured. There is lack of adequate access to water and no facilities for menstrual hygiene management, including sanitary supplies. All of that affects women’s dignity, as well as their mental and physical health. In short, women and children are the ones suffering the most in this war; a pattern we have seen across armed conflicts time and again, even though they are not the ones waging war. Extreme pain is palpable in both Israel and Palestine. Both have experienced unprecedented levels of anguish since 7 October. Once again, we condemn the attacks by Hamas on Israel that occurred on 7 October. However, there is no justification for the continued killing, maiming and starving of innocent civilians in Gaza, the majority of whom are women and children. All must abide by international law, including international humanitarian law. The war must stop. Guyana continues to call for an immediate ceasefire. That is the only option for scaling up humanitarian assistance, saving lives and preventing further suffering of innocent civilians. That is the only way we can begin to recover from the horrors faced by the people in Gaza and ensure the safe release of the hostages. A ceasefire is also an essential step for us to move forward with a two-State solution, with the people of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. There have been too many casualties in this war. The quest for peace and security must not be one of them.

I would first like to extend my appreciation to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ms. Patten for her briefing and the work on the extensive report addressing the critical issue of conflict-related sexual violence. We are profoundly shocked by the incidents of sexual violence, detailed in the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s report, on the occasion of the 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas and within the context of abduction and hostage-taking. With regard to hostages, the report reaches an even more disturbing conclusion that there is reasonable ground to believe that such violence may still be ongoing until now. We condemn, in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas and all sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls during the attack. We also strongly urge Hamas and other armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages. That is unacceptable regardless of any excuses. Sexual violence should never be used as a tactic of conflict. It is no longer an inherent by-product of conflicts. As the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court provides for, rape and other forms of serious sexual violence committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack could constitute crimes against humanity. All perpetrators of crimes against humanity must be held accountable and zero-tolerance policies should be extended to those who bear responsibility. To that end, we strongly support the report’s recommendation of a full-fledged, investigative process with the cooperation of national authorities and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. That will shed light on the full extent of alleged violations. Furthermore, all necessary measures should be undertaken to ensure accountability. We are also seriously concerned about the allegations of sexual violence by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as mentioned in the report. In that regard, we hope that all allegations can be thoroughly investigated and that the perpetrators will be held accountable. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has disproportionate effects on women. Statistics show that 70 per cent of the civilians killed were women or children, and nearly 1 million women and girls have been displaced. We are deeply concerned that prolonged humanitarian catastrophe over the past five months has led to limited access to food, clean water and medical supplies in Gaza. Malnutrition and starvation have inflicted unspeakable pain and hardship on innocent people, in particular women, including pregnant and breast- feeding women. The protection of civilians must be ensured under all circumstances, in accordance with both international humanitarian law and international human rights law. As the conflict persists, the suffering of civilians becomes even more widespread, exacerbating already prevailing tensions in the region. As Ramadan, the holy month for all Muslims, has commenced, concerns over the catastrophic situation in Gaza are heightened more than ever. This tragedy must end. We once again reiterate the urgent need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. In conclusion, the Republic of Korea would like to stress that our dedicated efforts to find a solution to end the agony and the fear in Israel and Palestine in the longer term must continue. And we hope that, a sincere dialogue and negotiations to realize a two-State solution can resume at the earliest possible juncture.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten for her briefing today. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our support to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten and the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the important work they carry out. Malta remains deeply concerned with the continued state of hostilities in Gaza and beyond. We reiterate our condemnation of the Hamas terror attacks of 7 October. The consequences of those barbaric actions, including rape and sexual torture, are still being felt by the families who lost their loved ones and by those who are still being held hostage by Hamas. They are in our thoughts, and we once again extend our deepest condolences to all those who have been directly affected and to the people of Israel. The lasting trauma and anguish that the attacks carried out on that dark day are still having on Israeli society cannot be dismissed or understated. On the other hand, the scale of the human suffering and humanitarian catastrophe that continues to unfold in Gaza is deeply troubling and concerning. Equally worrisome is the prospect of an expansion of the conflict into Rafah, the deteriorating situation in the West Bank and other violence throughout the wider region. The prospect of further hostilities and conflict will only result in further suffering. In that vein, an immediate and permanent ceasefire remains the only avenue through which we can prevent a further deterioration and begin addressing the impact of the Israel-Hamas war. That includes the disproportionate impact of the conflict on women and girls. More than 30,000 Palestinians, including an estimated 9,000 women, have been killed in Gaza so far. In that context, we recall that the Arms Trade Treaty requires States, inter alia, to halt transfers when there is a substantial risk that they will be used to commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children. Furthermore, the bombardment of hospitals and the restrictions on fuel, electricity, food, water and aid place pregnant women and newborns at significant risk of physical and mental harm, restrict access to necessary and protected medical care and endanger the health of post-partum women. For Malta, giving priority to women and peace and security means upholding information integrity and ethical, trauma-informed representations of conflict-related sexual violence. Malta is appalled by the reports that Israeli women were subjected to sexual violence across three reported locations on 7 October 2023 and that some hostages taken to Gaza have been subjected to various forms of conflict- related sexual violence, which may be ongoing. In that regard, we also look forward to assessing the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. We urge Israel to fully cooperate with the Commission and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and to give them access. We reiterate that the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, as outlined in two Security Council resolutions  — resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023) — must be a top priority. We are equally appalled by United Nations experts’ reports of sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in detention, during house raids and at check points. We emphasize that accountability for all criminal actions must be ensured. In that context, we highlight that advancing the women and peace and security agenda means ensuring that the conflict-related sexual violence agenda is not instrumentalized. That includes respecting and safeguarding the identity and dignity of survivors. To that end, we recommend that the parties to the conflict implement the recommendations that were just outlined by Special Representative Patten. In conclusion, the rights and opportunities of Israeli and Palestinian women, peace activists, journalists and human rights defenders to contribute to de-escalation, a ceasefire and other efforts to negotiate peace must be upheld. Malta will also remain firmly committed to achieving a lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East, which is based on the two-State solution along the pre-1967 borders and which addresses the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians to mutual peace and security.

I wish to thank the President of the Security Council for convening this important briefing on the Middle East, with a particular focus on conflict-related sexual violence. We are also grateful to Ms. Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, for her insights on this deeply concerning matter. As the holy month of Ramadan commences, we deeply regret that a ceasefire in Gaza has not been achieved despite relentless negotiations. The persistent bombardments in the occupied Palestinian territories present severe risks to civilians, violating fundamental rights, including access to food, health care and protection. Compounding those injustices is the traumatic threat of sexual violence to civilians, as reported in the mission report presented to us. As the Special Representative’s mission report highlights, documenting sexual violence crimes in conflict situations is an arduous task requiring meticulous effort, courage and commitment to truth, particularly amid the current chaos and turmoil on the ground. The situation demands scrupulous documentation, courage and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth. While this process continues, we must address the safety and uphold the well-being of civilians caught up in the crossfire. Even if we are not in physical proximity to the conflict, we can be certain that its impacts disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society. The situation demands our undivided attention owing to the enormous challenges, harm and trauma experienced by civilians and the dire humanitarian situation. That is precisely why the United Nations, the Security Council and the international community share a collective responsibility to urgently pursue de-escalation in this conflict to prioritize the needs and well-being of these vulnerable populations. The relentless violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, coupled with the ongoing bombardment in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, demands our immediate intervention. All parties must fully respect international humanitarian law, as rape and other forms of sexual violence constitute grave violations in armed conflict. We strongly urge all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution and a cessation of hostilities during the sacred month of Ramadan. We should all pause and reflect on whether our world needs further bloodshed and violence. Mozambique strongly encourages the ongoing diplomatic efforts by different actors, including some members of the Council, to reach an agreement between the parties and relaunch the two-State solution and peaceful coexistence between the two peoples, in full respect of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. Let us seize this opportunity to protect civilians, uphold human rights and pave the way for a just and sustainable resolution to this long-standing conflict. As we have consistently maintained, the path to lasting peace requires unwavering commitment, courage, empathy and compassion.

Russia strongly condemns sexual violence in all its forms, as well as any other crimes in armed conflict and post-conflict situations. Such acts must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. In the context of the crisis in Gaza, from the outset, we have unequivocally condemned the acts of violence committed against Israelis on 7 October 2023. At the same time, we firmly believe that those crimes, no matter how heinous, cannot be seen as justification for the collective punishment of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and for Israel’s flagrant violations of international humanitarian law against Palestinian civilians. That is our position and, as far as we can tell, it is shared by the vast majority of the world’s States. In that regard, we welcome any efforts aimed at shedding light on the crimes committed during the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We are convinced that the United Nations is not taking sufficient measures in that area. Thousands of people are dying, and the International Court of Justice has noted a high likelihood of genocide currently taking place in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations essentially lacks the access required to obtain reliable information. Israel is deliberately creating obstacles to such access. Against that backdrop, West Jerusalem invited Ms. Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, accompanied by nine experts, for a brief visit to Israel and the West Bank. Based on the results of that visit, the Special Representative issued a separate report. It is important to note that the visit did not include a visit to the Gaza Strip, nor did it involve the possibility of investigating crimes or attributing acts. In that regard, it is not at all clear what kind of cooperation by Israel with the mission is referred to in the report. On the whole, it is clear that West Jerusalem is demonstrating a selective approach to United Nations visits to the country and the occupied Palestinian territories. We are, of course, forced to take that fact into account when making our respective assessments. We must also take into account the general reputation of Ms. Patten, who has become famous for using false information in her work, which undermines the credibility of her conclusions and recommendations. All of the circumstances that I have mentioned create a very specific context for our meeting today. In other words, today we are being presented with only partial information within the framework of a specific mandate and being asked to respond to it. Essentially, we are dealing with a kind of half-truth that in no way provides a sufficient picture of what is taking place. It does not cancel out the demands for the Israeli Government to provide access to the region for United Nations mechanisms and agencies, in particular for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, to collect full information about gross and systematic violations of international humanitarian law against civilians during the operation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Only following a comprehensive and objective study of the situation in its entire geographical scope will it be possible to draw any conclusions. The time for that has clearly not yet come, especially given that the report received as a result of the mission cannot be called exhaustive, even on its stated subject. According to the report, Ms. Patten’s team was unable to meet with victims of the sexual violence that took place during the tragic events of 7 October. Overall, as the Special Representative admits, the data was received in large part from the Government of Israel and requires further study and investigation. On a separate note, we would like to point out that the definitions and methods of work used by Ms. Patten are not agreed upon, and our participation in the discussion on that report and the topic in general does not imply our approval or acceptance of them. Meanwhile, the information contained in the report about rape, as well as the mission’s conclusions as to the likelihood of sexual violence against hostages, is shocking. There is no justification for sexual violence against Israelis, and those responsible must be held accountable. There is also no justification for cases of sexualized violence against Palestinian men and women by Israeli security forces, in particular in the form of threats of rape, forced stripping and blows to the genitals. Those phenomena, according to the United Nations and human rights non-governmental organizations, are systematic in nature and have been ongoing for decades. As the campaign of arbitrary arrests of Palestinians in the West Bank has intensified, with some 7,500 detained since 7 October, the situation has only worsened. However, as the report shows, those crimes are not being investigated, and the perpetrators enjoy impunity. We call on Israel to put an end to that shameful practice and ensure that victims of violence have access to justice. We also note that the mission of the Special Representative did not find any confirmation of the highest-profile cases circulated in the Israeli press, in particular those in Kibbutz Be’eri and at the Nahal Oz military base. That once again proves that any conclusions, especially in relation to situations of conflict, can be drawn only after the thorough verification of incoming data. One should not blindly believe press statements. It is important to remember that, during hostilities, there may be statements made with the intention of provoking enmity and hatred in society. In the context of the current escalation in the Middle East, that is extremely dangerous. Overcoming impunity and putting an end to violence, including sexual violence, will be possible only when we have objective and verified information. Russia categorically rejects attempts to manipulate the important issue of combating sexual violence in conflict. We consider it unacceptable when the suffering of those who have survived sexual violence, or accusations of that serious crime, become a bargaining chip in political games. Following the violence of 7 October, which we categorically condemn, the spiral of crimes has assumed truly catastrophic proportions. We firmly condemn the gross and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by Israel against civilians in the Gaza Strip, as a result of which approximately 30,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children, have died. The complexity of the issue of combating sexual violence should not overshadow the critical humanitarian challenges and threats to peace and security posed by the Israeli operation in Gaza, namely, the mass annihilation of civilians, including children; catastrophic hunger; and the provocation of mass displacement. In order to overcome impunity and stop the violence, including sexual violence, no effort must be spared to put an end to the conflict. What is required to that end is, first and foremost, an urgent and unconditional ceasefire. We hope that the Security Council will still be able to demand that of the parties in the very near future.

At the outset, I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Pramila Patten for her briefing and presentation of the mission report on her official visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank, which took place earlier this year. We welcome the visit of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict and acknowledge significant challenges to the mission team’s efforts. We are extremely concerned about the report’s findings, which underscore the urgent need for action. I would like to once again strongly condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023. We urgently call for the release of all hostages, and we continue to call for an immediate ceasefire. Let me now make the following remarks on the report. First, Slovenia condemns any form of conflict- related sexual violence as a gross violation of human rights. We are concerned that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across southern Israel. We believe that there is a need to further investigate those allegations in order to find the perpetrators and hold them accountable. In that respect, we expect Israel to grant access to the relevant United Nations mechanisms, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, to be able to carry out a full-fledged investigation. Secondly, we remain extremely concerned about the situation of hostages and insist on their immediate and unconditional release. We also urge for crucial access by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the hostages. The mission found clear and convincing information about some hostages being subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence. The mission further reported that there are reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may still be ongoing. We have repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza in order to achieve the release of hostages and prevent their continued torment, and to prevent further civilian suffering and destruction in Gaza. Thirdly, sexual violence has no justification and cannot serve as justification. We are equally concerned about reports of the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of Palestinians in detention, during house raids and at checkpoints. Those reports too need to be investigated. Let me express our concern about the dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians arrested and detained in recent months. The ICRC must be notified of and allowed to visit Palestinians in Israeli detention. Moreover, I want to touch upon the immense suffering of women in Gaza. While we are still awaiting a solution by the Security Council and/or through negotiations between the parties, the totality of the harm done to women in this conflict must not be forgotten. Women in Gaza have been facing a collapse of the health system, hunger and starvation and unprecedented destruction. They have also been facing severe limitations in access to food, water, medicine, hygiene products and safety in every sense of the word. We call for respect for international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. Sexual violence in conflict is on the rise globally, and only a strong international response to it can change that. It continues to be used as a tactic of war and an intimidation tool in many situations on the agenda of the Security Council. Once again, Slovenia strongly condemns the use of sexual violence in all settings. It must stop immediately, as it represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law and may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. We advocate for international collaboration to ensure that evidence is meticulously gathered and that perpetrators are brought to justice. Ensuring accountability is of paramount importance. Let me conclude by expressing our strong support for the United Nations and the mandate of the Special Representative. We look forward to the upcoming discussion on the Secretary-General’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence, during which we will be able to touch upon this and other tragic situations.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting of the Security Council. It is important for the Council to address this issue. I would also like to thank Special Representative Pramila Patten for her briefing and report. Sexual violence in conflict situations is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law and can constitute a war crime or even a crime against humanity. It is therefore imperative that the Security Council unanimously condemn all conflict-related sexual violence, in the context of the Middle East conflict as in all armed conflicts, and take action to prevent its recurrence. Switzerland is deeply shocked by the facts presented in Ms. Patten’s report. I would like to express my country’s sympathy with, and support for, the survivors and victims of this violence, first and foremost the women and girls who were subjected to it and their families. We call for the dignity of survivors and victims to be respected in all circumstances. Since 7 October, we have repeatedly expressed our firm condemnation of the acts of terrorism perpetrated by Hamas, which claimed more than 1,200 victims in Israel. The report stresses that there are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual violence, including rape, gang rape and sexual torture, were committed in several places. The report also mentions similar violence against hostages. It is to be feared that such violence will continue to be suffered by the hostages still in captivity, whose immediate and unconditional release Switzerland has repeatedly called for. Switzerland reiterates its firm condemnation of all sexual violence. We call for the facts to be established by the competent bodies, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to help identify the violations and their perpetrators so that they do not go unpunished. We also call for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner and the Commission of Inquiry to be given the necessary access for that purpose. All violations of international law committed in Israel and throughout the occupied Palestinian territory must be investigated, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice before the relevant bodies. To that end, the International Criminal Court is currently conducting an investigation into the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory pertaining to the events of 7 October and those under way in Gaza and the West Bank. Switzerland also supports the report’s recommendation for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. Such a ceasefire is necessary to protect civilians, provide them with urgently needed humanitarian aid and free the hostages. Expertise in conflict-related sexual violence must be taken into account in the design and implementation of any agreement. The continuation of hostilities in Gaza is indeed accompanied by an increase in gender- based violence. Switzerland condemns the fact that hostilities continue to claim numerous civilian victims in Gaza, including almost 9,000 women. According to the United Nations, 3,000 have been widowed and 95 per cent of mothers do not have enough to eat. The specific needs of women and girls in terms of privacy, safety and hygiene are not being met. They have no access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health and protection against gender-based violence, and face the most serious forms of obstetric violence. We are very concerned about the information contained in the report concerning sexual and gender- based violence against Palestinians in detention facilities and during raids on homes and at checkpoints in Gaza and the West Bank. We note that that information will complement the information already verified by other United Nations entities and may be included in the Secretary-General’s next report on sexual violence in armed conflict. As Special Representative Patten said, the ultimate goal is not a war without rape; it is a world without war. The Council must put an end, at all costs, to the current spiral of violence in the Middle East and relaunch a process of dialogue with a view to a political solution to the conflict. In that process, the full, equal and meaningful participation of Palestinian and Israeli women is essential for contributing to a solution of two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace, within secure and recognized borders, of which Gaza is an integral part.

First, I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Ms. Pramila Patten, for her briefing today. I also thank the Secretary-General for making available to the Security Council the report on the mission conducted by Ms. Patten to Israel and the occupied West Bank. Regrettably, sexual violence in conflict continues to be a recurrent practice. A broad range of perpetrators, such as State and non-State armed groups, terrorist groups, mercenaries and criminal groups and gangs, all use it to intimidate, humiliate, punish or terrorize the civilian population. Humankind should repudiate such practices. We have been convened today precisely because of such atrocious violence. The report we received indicates that there are reasonable grounds to believe that, during the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October, acts of sexual violence occurred in at least three locations, including cases of rape and gang rape. Moreover, the mission found clear and convincing evidence that some of the hostages have been victims of sexual violence while being held captive, including of rape and sexual torture. There are also reasonable grounds to believe that such acts continue to take place. Since 7 October 2023, Ecuador has unequivocally condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, and we do so again today. We also reiterate our solidarity with the victims and their families. The execrable acts that were perpetrated that Saturday in southern Israel have no excuse and must not be forgotten. All of humankind must repudiate them, clearly and directly, as justifying one atrocity only opens the way for others to be justified later. Neither should we forget the hostages still in the hands of their captors, and who are most likely still victims of acts of sexual violence, according to the report. Ecuador once again demands the immediate and unconditional release of all of them, and recalls that the Council has spoken on the matter through two binding resolutions. It is also worth pointing out that all the provisions of those two resolutions, resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023), must be implemented without delay. Ecuador is of the view that an immediate ceasefire is essential for that to occur. The humanitarian needs of Gaza’s civilian population are extremely urgent, and there is no justification for ignoring them or putting them off. The Statute of the International Criminal Court states that rape and other forms of sexual violence constitute war crimes and are also crimes against humanity when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population. The report indicates that the mission that was carried out was not investigative in nature, and that exhaustive investigations must be carried out to determine the scope and magnitude of the sexual violence. It is essential that this occur. To that end, we urge the Government of Israel to allow access for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. It is essential that there be accountability processes for these crimes that guarantee that those responsible are investigated, prosecuted and convicted. The implementation of a ceasefire and any subsequent agreement must take into account the voices of women and communities that are victims of sexual violence, as well as the need for justice to be served for true reconciliation and the building of lasting peace. Likewise, all reports of sexual violence in conflict committed by settlers or military forces that have taken place in the West Bank and East Jerusalem must be investigated. Since 7 October 2023, pain and death have been more present than ever in Gaza and its surrounding areas. The value of life and human dignity has been forgotten. The briefing we have just heard showed this clearly. That is why Ecuador has expressed its solidarity with Israel and Palestine. Every life lost is a tragedy. It is imperative to stop the violence. It is also for that reason that Ecuador values and supports the intense efforts being made to negotiate an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the release of the hostages. It is also crucial to prevent violence from spreading to other areas. To make that possible, all parties must demonstrate particular prudence and restraint during the sensitive period of the holy days, which have already begun. The status quo of the holy sites of Jerusalem and the role of the Kingdom of Jordan as their custodian must be carefully respected. The Israeli people and the Palestinian people have the right to live in peace, security and dignity. Progress must be made towards a definitive, peaceful and just solution that makes this possible, with the coexistence of two States, Palestine and Israel, on the basis of the 1967 borders and the relevant resolutions. This must be done now.

Let me start by welcoming the presence here today of Minister Katz, Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. I want to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten and her team for producing this factual, methodical and sobering report, which confirms what we have known for months. On 7 October, Hamas, a terrorist organization, carried out horrific acts of conflict-related sexual violence, including rape and gang rape. We knew that because victims, survivors and first responders bravely came forward to share their stories and their evidence. We knew that because we saw the gruesome footage of Hamas’s attack — footage that Hamas proudly filmed and shared online. And yet so many people around the world, including some members of the Security Council, have been silent in the face of those atrocities. Worse, some openly viewed those atrocities with suspicion and scepticism. That is unforgivable and a gross affront to all survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. I want to read a line from the United Nations report: “the mission team found that several fully naked or partially naked bodies from the waist down were recovered — mostly women — with hands tied and shot multiple times, often in the head.” There can be no doubt about what happened on 7 October. The evidence before us is damning and devastating. Now the only question is: how will we respond? Will the Council finally, finally, finally condemn Hamas’s sexual violence? Or will we continue to stay silent? And I urge all Council members to continually, unequivocally condemn Hamas’s terrorist acts, as most here have done today. As I have said many times before, this should not be difficult. This is the bare minimum. I also want to speak about the report’s findings in the West Bank. The report notes: “Stakeholders indicated that the detention of Palestinian men and women has been compounded by alleged instances of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including increased instances of various forms of sexual violence”. Let me be clear: all parties to this conflict must uphold their obligations under international law with regard to the treatment of detained individuals. But as a democracy, we expect Israel to hold all of those who have committed those acts accountable for such acts. We also urge and expect members of the Council to avoid drawing a false equivalence between those actions and hostage-taking by a foreign terrorist organization. Let me be clear: those two things are not the same. I also want to note the report’s recommendation for Israel to sign a framework of cooperation with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. That framework and independent investigations will help secure justice for victims and survivors of the 7 October attack and for families whose loved ones are still being held by Hamas. Tragically, we know that Hamas’s deranged acts of sexual violence are ongoing. The United Nations report found: “clear and convincing information that some [hostages] have been subjected to various forms of conflict-related sexual violence including rape and sexualized torture and sexualized cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and it also has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing.” Each day hostages are detained by Hamas is another day they could be subjected to sexual violence and other horrors. Every single Member State must call on Hamas to release every single hostage. But we also have to remember, and remind Hamas, that they continue to hold not just the remains of some of those who were taken on 7 October, but the remains such as those of Hadar Goldin, whose mother is here with us today. His remains have to be returned to his grieving mother. The Council must call on Hamas to agree to the ceasefire deal on the table. Israel has already agreed to the terms of that deal. The fighting could  — and should — stop today, if Hamas would just release the first hostage and stop using people as pawns. If Hamas actually cared about the Palestinian people, it would agree to that deal, which would enable much more humanitarian relief to get into the hands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who are starving and who do not have clean water, adequate shelter or essential medicines. Many live in abject fear that they or their family members will not survive the night. As Council members all know, the United States has put forward a draft resolution that supports the negotiations happening on the ground and that would help pave the way towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities and a lasting peace that will make it possible for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security. The draft resolution also does what the Council has failed to do  — it condemns Hamas. We will continue to work with all Council members to forge consensus around this draft resolution. Next month, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General will release her annual report, and we expect that it will show a substantial increase in conflict- related sexual violence around the world, in the Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Nigeria, Ukraine and Haiti — the list goes on and on. Our charge has never been clearer: we must work together to bring the perpetrators of conflict-related sexual violence to justice; we must work together to support survivors — all survivors  — and we must work together to stamp out conflict-related sexual violence once and for all.

Before delivering my statement, on this auspicious first day of Ramadan, I extend my heartfelt wish of Ramadan Mubarak to all those celebrating  — especially to our sisters and brothers in the occupied Palestinian territories, who are enduring the brutality of occupation. We listened carefully to the briefing by Ms. Patten, and we took note of it. I wish to emphasize the principled position of my country, Algeria: no one, man or woman, regardless of their religion, nationality or origin, should endure the horrors of sexual violence. Such acts are clearly condemned by our religion, Islam, and those responsible must face severe consequences within the bounds of the law. It is imperative that full- fledged investigations into incidents of that nature be conducted with the utmost seriousness and diligence. We call for international independent investigations of all sexual violence in this region, as suggested by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Patten. We had hoped for Ms. Patten to be granted authorization to visit numerous detention centres where the human rights of Palestinians are being violated, with more than 3,884 detainees being held administratively  — meaning without trial. Also, her presence in the Gaza Strip would have allowed her to witness at first-hand the extent of sexual abuse inflicted upon Palestinians by the occupying forces and to convey it to the international community. For decades now, Palestinian women have borne the impact of a relentless assault, enduring discrimination and unspeakable violence on multiple fronts. The Palestinian population, and specifically women, have been subjected to countless brutalities, in violation of the very essence of their humanity and dignity. However, that plight is not a recent phenomenon; it has persisted throughout the enduring occupation and has been exacerbated by a deliberate policy of collective punishment. Those responsible often remain shielded by a veil of impunity. Since 2001, despite the filing of 1,400 complaints by Palestinians regarding acts of torture, only three criminal investigations have been initiated. Surprisingly, none of those investigations led to any indictments. In a terrifying incident in 2022, Israeli authorities labelled the non-governmental organization Defence for Children International a terrorist entity. Why? They did so because the organization revealed the rape of a 15-year- old Palestinian child by Israeli military forces. That grim reality underscores the fact that, under occupation, Palestinians find no refuge from injustice. The systematic violation of the human rights of Palestinian women is a grave injustice, violating their rights to life, health, education and sustenance. And yet accountability is a forbidden concept when the victims are Palestinians. It is painful for me to mention them as mere numbers. They are not numbers  — they are human beings who have had their dreams and their dignity stolen from them. Consider the staggering statistics: 30,000 Palestinians killed by the Israeli forces since 7 October, of which 9,000 were women. Of the 70,000 wounded, 75 per cent are women. Of the 7,000 missing persons, 70 per cent are women and children. Of the nearly 2 million forcibly displaced, 50 per cent are females. Palestinian human rights organizations report intensified arrest operations by the Israeli occupation force, particularly affecting women. More than 8,000 Palestinian have been arrested since 7 October. This is an alarming situation, in which visits to prisons are denied and arrests go unreported to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This alarming situation has raised the concerns of United Nations experts, who express serious concerns about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls — many of whom have been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. There have been instances reported of Palestinian women in Gaza kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food. United Nations experts also express deep distress about reports detailing physical and psychological abuses against Palestinian women and girls in detention, indicating that they have suffered many forms of sexual assaults. At least two female Palestinian detainees have been raped, and others have been threatened and intimidated with sexual violence. What the Palestinians, particularly the women, are enduring is a litmus test for the credibility of international law and the global framework outlined in Security Council resolutions. The consequences of our inaction may deal a disabling blow from which recovery may not be possible. I conclude with the poignant words of Paula Gaviria Betancur, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, who stated: “The international community must relinquish the illusion that Israel will respect the principles of international humanitarian and human rights law in its military operations.” It is imperative to halt these atrocities immediately. The Security Council must urgently impose a ceasefire in Gaza in order to that.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Japan. I thank Special Representative Patten for her valuable briefing. We are profoundly concerned about the harrowing finding of the mission team — that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations during the terror attacks of 7 October 2023. We are also greatly disturbed by the finding of the mission team that there is clear and convincing information that sexual violence has been committed against hostages. Such intolerable acts must be stopped immediately. More than five months have passed since the acts of terror of Hamas and others against Israel took place. We unequivocally condemn those heinous acts and strongly call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and other groups — all the more so due to possible ongoing sexual violence against those hostages. The report also found allegations of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment against Palestinians in detention, including the increased use of various forms of sexual violence, by which we are also deeply troubled. Sexual violence in conflict is a serious crime that violates not only the physical body, but also human dignity. Japan strongly calls for an end to such atrocious crimes. Sexual violence must not be used as a tactic of war. Ensuring perpetrators are held accountable is vital. We must also uphold the highest integrity in reporting sexual violence in order to reduce further harm and stigma for survivors. At the same time, deeply concerned about the catastrophic situation in Gaza, Japan reiterates that all parties to the conflict must act in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law. In that vein, a humanitarian ceasefire needs to be realized promptly in such a way as to ensure a conducive environment for sufficient humanitarian assistance activities and to lead to the release of the remaining hostages, resulting in the realization of a sustainable ceasefire. In conclusion, Japan reiterates its deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of sexual violence, including those affected by the brutal violence since the 7 October attacks. Japan remains committed to combating all forms of sexual violence in conflict and to alleviating the suffering of all victims of such violence. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine.

We are meeting as Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. In Gaza, death and suffering can be found everywhere; food and hope can be found nowhere. The massacres of Palestinian civilians continue as we speak. And many of the people fasting had nothing to eat for suhur — the meal before dawn — and may have nothing to eat for iftar — the meal after the daily fast. We are meeting as the United Nations is hosting the Commission on the Status of Women. Meanwhile, Palestinian women and girls are being killed and maimed. They are being made homeless and disabled. They are being starved and humiliated. They are being detained and traumatized. Nine thousand Palestinian women have been killed by Israel in Gaza over the past five months alone. Every hour, two Palestinian mothers are killed. More than 13,000 Palestinian children have been killed, and tens of thousands have been orphaned. One million women and girls have been displaced and all continue to live in inhumane conditions. We said months ago that the only way to end this occupation-made humanitarian crisis, the only way to spare civilian lives, the only way to allow Palestinian and Israeli families to reunite with their loved ones, the only way to avoid regional escalation is an immediate ceasefire. And I repeat, as many members have also said: an immediate ceasefire. But Netanyahu’s political survival requires the onslaught to continue, and so here we are, five months later, with a genocide under way before the eyes of the world and with no end in sight. Israel has violated the International Court of Justice order of provisional measures, including by escalating its siege against the civilian population, depriving them of the essentials for life and creating conditions of famine. This doctrine of the use of humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip has been best formulated by the Israeli representative present in this Chamber. Minister Katz stated at the beginning of the Israeli assault that “no electrical switch will be turned on, no water pump will be opened, and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home”, effectively calling for the commission of atrocities. Israel’s objective has not changed despite the denials of its Minister for Foreign Affairs. Its objective remains the forcible displacement of our people by making Gaza unliveable. That includes cutting the lifeline that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) represents for the Palestinian refugees and displaced families in Gaza. UNRWA has documented the torture and abuse to which UNRWA staff were subjected by Israel, including severe physical beatings, waterboarding and threats of harm to family members to force them to “make false statements against the Agency, including that the Agency has affiliations with Hamas”. The Israeli representative present in this Chamber has provided cover for the killing and maiming of UNRWA staff by declaring that “there is no place for UNRWA in Gaza. The organization serves as an arm of Hamas”. Such attacks against the United Nations, its Secretary- General and its agencies are unacceptable, dangerous and should be decisively rejected. Allow me to make some preliminary remarks on this meeting’s agenda. First, the Security Council has shown unprecedented reactivity by convening a briefing on a report released only one week ago. It should be noted that for years and decades now, reports and investigations regarding sexual assault against Palestinian women and men, girls and boys have not led to the convening of a single Council meeting on the matter, with the issue being dealt with as a human rights issue rather than a peace and security question. We hope that this meeting marks a change in that attitude and that more attention will be given by the Council to this matter in an unbiased manner. Secondly, we also note that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General has said in her report that she did not seek to gather information and/ or to verify allegations in the context of the occupied Palestinian territory in order to avoid duplicating the ongoing work of other United Nations entities in that regard, and yet none of those entities were invited today to present their findings on sexual violence against Palestinians. And I repeat, none of those entities were invited today to give briefings on their findings on sexual violations against Palestinians. In that connection, I had a meeting about an hour before the convening of the Security Council with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Minister of Women’s Affairs of the State of Palestine, and the Palestinian Minister extended an invitation to the Special Representative to come and visit Gaza, to see the violence, including sexual violence, committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. I would like to state, here in this Chamber, that we extend an invitation to her to come and investigate — or rather, to report, not to investigate, she says she does not have investigative powers — to come and to report to the Council about sexual violence against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Thirdly and finally, we note that, while the Special Representative of the Secretary-General noted that she found convincing information about cases of sexual violence being perpetrated against Israelis, she also stressed that the visit was neither intended nor mandated to be investigative in nature, a mandate vested in other United Nations bodies, which have promptly signalled their willingness and availability to investigate all such alleged violations, and she noted that “the mission team was not able to interview any of these survivors/victims”. The Special Representative of the Secretary- General therefore made a recommendation that the Government of Israel should grant, without further delay, access to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, to carry out full-fledged investigations into all alleged violations. I hereby declare our full readiness to cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, to allow them to come and investigate all allegations. We will see who will facilitate and who will obstruct that process. I make that declaration here, and I challenge the relevant party — members know to whom I am referring — to make a similar declaration welcoming such bodies and committees to come and investigate, as many members have said should be allowed to happen. And I expect the Council to demand that Israel to do the same, since Israel keeps saying that it has nothing to hide and that it complies with international law, even though no single country on Earth believes that to be the case, against the backdrop of the reality that we have all witnessed in the open in the Gaza Strip. If Israel has nothing to hide, then why is it afraid of a United Nations investigation? One principle should guide us  — let the facts speak; let the law decide. But Israel fears the facts and despises the law. It has therefore refused to cooperate with any fact-finding mission or commission of inquiry over the years. The same is true of independent experts, whom Israel, in its failed attempt to hide the truth, has denied entry into Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Israel even denied visas to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as part of its assault against United Nations agencies. The Israeli Foreign Minister is here. Instead of bashing the United Nations for upholding its mandate, instead of coming here and attacking the Secretary- General, who has appointed Ms. Patten, and instead of quoting the parts of the report that suit him and ignoring those that do not, I ask him to say that he will finally allow the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to be revealed. In that connection, I wish to reiterate that nothing can justify violence targeting civilians  — regardless of their religion, ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation. That includes sexual violence, one of the most abhorrent forms of violence. Israel has resorted to lies and distortions many times before to justify the killing of Palestinians and their dispossession. We have always said that all serious allegations should be investigated seriously. But we have seen how Israel has helped spread false stories, knowing that irreparable harm would be done during the time it would take to refute them. That is the case with the story of the beheaded babies, with the story of the Hamas headquarters under Al-Shifa Hospital and with another story debunked in the report of the Special Representative, characterized as “unfounded” and as “a highly publicized allegation of a pregnant woman whose womb had reportedly been ripped open before being killed, with her fetus stabbed while still inside her”. Quoting selectively from the report does not serve justice. The whole story, the truth — the whole truth — should be told. Shamefully, this was never about the Israeli victims. This was about justifying the atrocities that Israel intended to commit against Palestinian victims. And for Israel, the truth is irrelevant in this pursuit. Looking at the past decade alone, there was a landmark UNICEF report, published in 2013, on Palestinian children in detention. It stated: “The interrogation mixes intimidation, threats and physical violence, with the clear purpose of forcing the child to confess... Children have been threatened with death, physical violence, solitary confinement and sexual assault, against themselves or a family member. Most children confess at the end of the interrogation.” The report concludes “that the ill-treatment of children … appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized”. A decade later, in 2024, United Nations experts expressed alarm over credible allegations of egregious human rights violations to which Palestinian women and girls continue to be subjected in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The experts stated: “We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence”. That is the same report that my brother Ambassador Amar Bendjama of Algeria referred to. The experts also noted that photos of female detainees in degrading circumstances were reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online. The High Commissioner for Human Rights found that Israeli security forces arrests after 7 October were often accompanied by beating, ill-treatment and humiliation of Palestinian women and men, including acts of sexual assault, such as kicking genitals and threats of rape. Testimonies from victims and eyewitnesses were corroborated by videos posted by Israeli soldiers on social media showing ill-treatment of Palestinians, including male detainees photographed or recorded on video being stripped naked or half- naked, blindfolded, handcuffed, physically abused and humiliated by Israeli soldiers. Those are not the actions of a group, but of the Government represented at this table. From day one we have denounced selective outrage; we have denounced the double standards, the dehumanization of Palestinians — that our lives, our freedom, our dignity and our security are somehow less sacred or less important. We denounce all violations of international law. We will cooperate with any international investigation and continue to plead for accountability. But no one has ever been held accountable for the crimes committed against the Palestinian people, not even the crimes against our women and children. Every day, Israel is killing, maiming and detaining people. It is destroying the homes of everyone, collectively punishing a nation  — before and after 7 October — for 75 years now, since the Nakba. It is always the victim, even when it kills and destroys and steals. That is how they deal with it. They say that we are responsible for our victimization by the Israeli occupying authority. And not a single Israeli leader, not a single member of the Israeli occupation forces, has ever been held accountable for any crime committed against the Palestinian people. Given the record of their officials, do Council members believe them when they come and talk to them? That impunity is what made this genocide possible. The fact that the Israeli Minister can come to the Security Council to lecture the rest of the world while being part of a Government that is committing atrocities as we speak is a demonstration of the blindness, the arrogance and the criminality that impunity has fostered. Israel wants Council members’ weapons and, I must add, ammunition, their money and their political support. And then it attacks and dismisses them, attacks the Security Council, the United Nations, all those calling for a ceasefire and all those calling for the law to be upheld. And yet its representatives come and lecture Council members. It is time for a change. And that change starts by ending Israeli impunity. Palestinians are being killed as we speak. Palestinian women and girls, who have endured so much suffering over decades, are confronting even worse levels of suffering today. There is no one protecting them from the killing, the fear, the famine, the disease, the humiliation or the torture. We count our victims by the millions. I call on the Security Council again to stop this genocide and stop this war. There must be a ceasefire now. We call for a ceasefire now, which has been echoed by billions of people in all corners of the globe. The mighty Security Council must listen to the people and listen to that call. It must stop this genocide now. It must call for a ceasefire now.

I now give the floor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel.

I would like to thank the United States, France and the United Kingdom for heeding our call to summon the Council today and Japan for enabling this emergency meeting of the Council. Today we are able to shine a light in the darkness of the families that have been harmed by the Hamas murderers who committed crimes against Israeli innocent people and against humanity. I am standing here today in front of the Security Council, as the Foreign Minister of the State of Israel, together with families whose members are kidnapped in Gaza and are in great danger. The families are here. I grieve with sorrow in the name of the women and girls who were raped, murdered and mutilated by Hamas terrorist murderers. I have come here to protest as loud as I can against the crimes against humanity that the Hamas murderers have committed with clear permission of their religious leaders in order to deter and scare the society of Israel. Those murderers were so proud to abuse and rape our poor victims that they took pictures and live video clips of their horrible acts. For too long, the United Nations has been silent about Hamas’s actions. During the past five months and during the 41 sessions in which the United Nations convened since 7 October, the United Nations never condemned nor disapproved of Hamas’s brutal crimes. The only one responsible for those crimes against humanity is Hamas. The Hamas murderers crossed the borders and attacked peaceful, innocent Israeli people in their homes and beds in kibbutzim, villages and cities. Young people — boys and girls — from all over the world arrived at the Nova festival, a festival of peace and happiness. Hundreds of them were attacked from all sides and brutally abused and massacred. According to the report of the United Nations, that was not an act of war. Those acts were crimes against humanity of the highest level possible. I would like Council members to close their eyes and imagine what they would feel if those were their children. No human being should face such terrible acts as rape, murder and the abuse of dead bodies. I am expressing this message from the bottom of my heart and from the hearts of all the families of the victims. Hamas crimes are even worse than the terrorist actions carried out by Al-Qaida, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham and other terrorist organizations that were sanctioned by the United Nations. Many countries have declared Hamas a terrorist organization, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Paraguay, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the European Union and others. I implore Council members to not look away from the facts. Hamas must be declared a terrorist organization and face the heaviest sanctions possible. The Muslim world is today celebrating the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims. Let me take this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers a Ramadan Kareem. Hamas is not speaking on behalf of the Muslim world. We are asking the Council to condemn the sexual violence crimes those barbarians committed in the name of the Muslim religion. I am calling on the Security Council to put as much pressure as possible on the Hamas organization to release immediately and unconditionally all kidnapped hostages. Today, at this moment, as we speak, they are being abused and attacked and are in grave danger. I call on the United Nations to try its utmost to stop that living hell on Earth. From the bottom of my heart, I am expressing my gratitude to those countries that have supported and accepted and even initiated our point of view. Today each and every Council member has the opportunity to save 134 innocent lives. By doing so, they will show the world that the Security Council can be a shining light of justice and hope for all people. It is in Council members’ hands.