S/PV.9881 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. 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 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 Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Maged Abdelaziz, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher: I welcome the opportunity to update the Council on this humanitarian crisis. Overnight, our worst fears materialized. Air strikes resumed across the entire Gaza Strip, with unconfirmed reports of hundreds of people killed and new evacuation orders issued by Israeli forces. Once again, the people of Gaza are living in abject fear. Modest gains made during the ceasefire have been destroyed. Humanitarian workers remain on the ground. I am in close contact with them. They are ready to provide life-saving support to survivors and to carry out our humanitarian mission. We must be allowed to do so. Last month, I visited the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel to meet survivors, front-line workers and authorities. In Israel, I met with survivors of the horrendous Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 at the Nir Oz kibbutz. I will never forget my visit there. One in four people there were killed or taken hostage. In the West Bank, I met with families whose homes were demolished and who face daily threats of eviction and forcible displacement. And yet, my trip coincided with some of Gaza’s better recent days. A ceasefire was in place. Humanitarians were delivering hundreds of trucks every day, saving lives and restoring hope. We demonstrated that when we are allowed to do so, we can deliver aid at scale — but not anymore. Today I am distressed to report that in addition to the intense air strikes that have resumed, since 2 March the Israeli authorities have cut off the entry of all life-saving supplies  — food, medicines, fuel and cooking gas  — for 2.1 million people. Our repeated requests to collect aid sitting at the Kerem Shalom crossing have been systematically rejected. Food is rotting, and medicines are expiring. No further hostages have been released. Only medical evacuations and humanitarian staff rotations have continued, and even those came to a halt today. During the ceasefire, we surged support after more than a year of aid being placed on a drip feed. The suspension of aid and commercial materials is reversing the progress that we achieved during that brief period. Essential survival resources needed are now being rationed. Israel has cut power to southern Gaza’s desalination As Gaza is cut off again, our ability to deliver assistance and basic services is becoming harder. Funding levels for the response are extremely low. We are seeing increasing restrictions being placed on non-governmental organization partners who are critical to the aid operation not only in Gaza but also across the occupied Palestinian territory. Since the Knesset legislation formally took effect on 30 January 2025, international staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East are no longer able to rotate in and out of Gaza. The amount of cash that humanitarian personnel can bring into Gaza has been further decreased to half that of previous levels — far below what is required to cover even basic expenses for a six-week rotation. On 9 March, the Israeli authorities introduced new registration rules for international non-governmental organizations delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory. If enforced, they would impose strict conditions and significantly disrupt aid operations. The Israeli Knesset is also considering a bill to impose considerable taxation on donations from third States to Israeli non-governmental organizations, including humanitarian and human rights groups. If implemented, that would further erode the number of partners with the capacity to implement protection interventions. Many Israeli non-governmental organizations are engaged in legal cases involving home demolitions and forced evictions. They also provide protective presence activities related to settler violence. We continue to give what remains inside Gaza to those most in need. We are trucking water where we can, providing reduced food rations and distributing shelter items. We continue to support hospitals with supplies, emergency medical teams and casualty evacuations to hospitals in Gaza. Our education partners report that approximately 631 temporary learning spaces are now operational throughout Gaza, supporting more than 172,000 students. But we cannot sustain that for much longer unless the crossings are opened again for aid to enter. The 42-day ceasefire proved what was possible. Aid delivery was enabled, and we scaled up quickly and effectively. Thirty hostages, eight deceased hostages and 583 Palestinian detainees were released during that period. Criminal activity in Gaza was brought under control, reducing the looting of humanitarian convoys by armed Palestinians. More than 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza. We reached more than 2 million people, 540 water delivery points were set up, 113,000 tents were distributed to families by United Nations humanitarian partners and others, and our polio vaccination targets were exceeded, reaching more than 600,000 children. The number of maternity kits was expanded to support 5,000 births, and thousands of postpartum kits were distributed for mothers and newborns. It proves what is possible when we are allowed to do our job. We cannot and must not accept a return to pre-ceasefire conditions or the complete denial of humanitarian relief. Civilians must be protected. Their essential needs must be met. International law must be respected. I also have grave concerns about the protection of civilians in the West Bank. The situation there is an urgent crisis that must be addressed with the necessary international attention. Since the start of this year, 95 Palestinians have been killed, including 17 children, and 869 have been injured, including 179 children. The Israeli Three things need to happen right now. First and foremost, humanitarian aid and commercial essentials must be allowed to enter Gaza. Blocking food, water and medicine for people who need them is unconscionable. It also goes against international humanitarian law and the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice. Secondly, we must renew the ceasefire. More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more are missing. More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed. More than 100,000 Palestinians are injured, many with life-changing wounds. The overnight return to hostilities must cease. The suffering of the people of the region must end. A renewed ceasefire is the best way of protecting civilians in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, of releasing hostages and detainees and of allowing aid and commercial supplies in. Thirdly, the humanitarian response must be funded. We have received only 4 per cent of what is needed. We do not even have enough to get through this quarter. In conclusion, I am reminded of a message that I saw scrawled on a hospital whiteboard in Gaza, written by a doctor who was later killed — a message that has stuck with me: “Whoever stays until the end will tell the story. We did what we could. Remember us.” Will we be able to say that we did what we could?

I thank Mr. Fletcher for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

At the outset, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Tom Fletcher for his sobering and alarming briefing. Algeria requested this meeting to address the blockade on Gaza, but recent developments have made it more urgent and necessary, as we witness another chapter of collective punishment being inflicted upon the people of Gaza. This is not a routine briefing on the ongoing suffering endured by Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This is not simply an account of deprivation; it is a plea for justice against an Israeli occupying authority that has weaponized starvation as a tool of war. That is, without a doubt, a war crime. The time has come for accountability. No one is above the law. Today the world can no longer ignore the grim reality of the Israeli occupation. Today the truth about the Israeli occupation, overlooked for so long, can no longer be hidden. As Algerians, we know and understand the cruelty and oppression of occupation because we endured it for more than 130 years. Occupation, the most horrible and the most shameful chapter in modern history, continues to wreak havoc, and it must be ended wherever it exists. For more than two weeks now, not one single aid truck has been allowed to enter Gaza — not one. That deliberate blockade, timed to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, is a calculated effort to break the resilience of the Palestinian people. With This is not just about withholding aid. The Israeli occupation has targeted Gaza’s entire food system, making it impossible for the people to feed themselves today and very difficult to sustain themselves in the future. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Michael Fakhri, Israel is not merely obstructing aid; it is methodically dismantling Gaza’s food infrastructure. Moreover, after attacking the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East — the backbone of Gaza’s humanitarian aid — Israel, as an occupying Power, has imposed new restrictions on all non-governmental organizations (NGOs), thereby creating new administrative obstacles to their ability to operate and to assist the Palestinian people. The Palestinian NGOs Network has rightfully condemned that move, calling it a deliberate attempt to silence international aid organizations and isolate Palestinian voices from the global community. Amid that humanitarian catastrophe, the Israeli occupying forces brazenly took the liberty of killing Palestinians, completely disregarding the ceasefire agreement. Just last night, the Israeli forces launched a series of indiscriminate air strikes across Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 400 people, the majority of them women and children. Once again, Palestinian blood is being used as a tool in the political calculations of Israeli politicians. We firmly condemn those attacks, which constitute a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached two months ago, and we remind all parties that resolution 2735 (2024) guarantees the continuation of the ceasefire as long as negotiations are ongoing. We also emphasize the responsibility of the mediators — the United States, Egypt and Qatar — in ensuring compliance with the ceasefire agreement. The International Court of Justice has already spoken on that matter. In its provisional measures, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel, as the occupying Power, to immediately take all necessary actions to ensure the unimpeded delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. That includes the provision of basic services such as food, water, electricity, fuel, medical care and sanitation. In its resolutions, the Council itself has called for safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Yet the Israeli occupying Power continues not only to ignore international law, including the resolutions adopted by the Council, but to kill, indiscriminately, innocent Palestinian civilians. We wonder what those who consistently invoke Israel’s so-called right to self- defence will say in response to this cruelty and to these atrocities in Gaza. We are witnessing the systematic degradation of human dignity, the deliberate stripping away of the right to life, to food, to water and to basic human dignity. In Gaza we are witnessing the demise of the values and principles that should be the foundation of international order — equality, humanity and justice. In Gaza, we are witnessing the cowardice and brutality of the Israeli occupation, on full display with no regard for innocent lives. Still silent, faced with these atrocities, the relevance of the Council is seriously questioned. Will it ever dare to take responsibility? Will it ever act to stop this genocide and preserve what remains, if anything, of its credibility?

I wish to begin by thanking Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for his sobering briefing on the latest developments in Gaza. The role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is irreplaceable, and its services are indispensable for the survival of millions of Palestinians. We categorically reject Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon and any attempt to use humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations. That represents a continuation of a grave breach of international law and the instrumentalization of humanitarian aid. As the Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, rightly stated, humanitarian aid is not negotiable; it must flow without impediment, as required by international law and basic human dignity. Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation under international law to ensure civilian access to essential goods and services, including humanitarian assistance. We express our strongest condemnation of today’s Israeli air strikes in Gaza, which claimed more than 400 innocent people, marking one of the deadliest days since the conflict began. Such indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations are not only morally indefensible but constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law. This dangerous escalation threatens to drag the region back into full-scale war at a time when humanitarian needs are most acute. We must address the escalating violence in the West Bank, where Israel Defense Forces operations have intensified dramatically, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties, including women and children. In addition, the illegal expansion of settlements, the demolition of homes and the systematic violence against Palestinian civilians represent a dangerous pattern of aggression that threatens to further destabilize the region. A definitive ceasefire now is the first step to ensure that the population, including women and children, is protected from further physical and psychological harm. In that vein, we underscore the paramount priority of fully implementing the ceasefire agreement in its second and third phases, while ensuring that all parties, in particular Israel, honour their commitments in a matter consistent with obligations under international law. On the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, we call for de-escalation across the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as access for worshippers to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque to freely and safely perform their religious rituals in full preservation of the legal and historic status quo of the holy sites in occupied Jerusalem. The pursuit of a just and a comprehensive peace remains our strategic imperative. In that regard, the end of the occupation and full recognition of a free, sovereign, independent Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with the relevant resolutions, remains the only sustainable option for the resolution of this long-standing conflict. The international community must stand against any attempt to alter the demographic composition, to forcibly displace Palestinians from their camps and cities or to annex any part of the West Bank or Gaza, under any pretext. Such actions will constitute grave violations of international law and amount to ethnic cleansing. As we deliberate in this Chamber, people of Gaza, in particular children and women, are counting the hours until their next meal, if it comes at all. Mothers are rationing drops of water among their families, while bombs are being dropped on Let our decisions today reflect our humanity. It is our moral imperative to protect innocent lives and pursue justice and lasting peace in the region.

This meeting of the Security Council has been called to address the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip following the humanitarian blockade imposed by the Government of the State of Israel. With the devastating bombing across Gaza in the past 24 hours, it is evident that this meeting is being held at a time when there is a direct violation of the ceasefire. I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher, for his important and sobering briefing. Sierra Leone acknowledges the continued leadership of the United Nations and the dedication of all humanitarian entities and personnel in responding to the dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire agreement reached by the Government of Israel and Hamas in January was a significant development, demonstrating the potential of good-faith engagement and political will in achieving tangible progress. However, while the agreement reduced violence, its implementation has been marred by severe challenges that demand urgent redress and continued engagement. Most critically, for over two weeks, the Government of Israel has completely suspended the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies into the Gaza Strip. The consequences of that blockade have been devastating, deepening the suffering of civilians and exacerbating and an already dire humanitarian crisis. The deliberate withholding of food, water, medical supplies and electricity, particularly when imposed on a besieged population already facing extreme hardship, constitute, in our view, collective punishment — a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Since 2 March, humanitarian aid has been completely blocked from entering Gaza, leaving 1.9 million displaced persons without food, medical care or other life-sustaining assistance. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other humanitarian organizations have reported massive shortages of food, medicine and medical supplies, further exacerbating the dire conditions in overcrowded shelters and hospitals. Of particular concern, are reports from the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF regarding the prolonged denial of reproductive health services for women and girls, further violating their rights to health and dignity. The cutting off of electricity has worsened the crisis, rendering hospitals and health facilities, unable to operate critical life-saving equipment. The collapse of the main desalination and purification plant has deprived thousands of families, including children, of access to clean drinking water, exacerbating the risk of waterborne diseases and severe malnutrition. Under international law, the State of Israel, as the occupying Power, has clear obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, requiring it to ensure the provision of food and medical supplies to the civilian population, to maintain medical and hospital services, and to allow and facilitate humanitarian relief operations and their rapid distribution of aid. The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid in Gaza is a serious violation of those obligations. Additionally, Sierra Leone recalls the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice in 2024 in the case of South Africa vs. Israel, which specifically require the Government of Israel to take immediate steps to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access into Gaza. The continued blockade defies the Court’s binding ruling and further endangers the civilian population. It has been further reported that overnight the IDF carried out extensive strikes in the Gaza Strip, with more than 400 Palestinians reported to have been killed. Are those actions not a deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinian people? I am referring to collective punishment, indiscriminate killings and the withholding of food, water and medical supplies essential for survival. Like a canary in the coal mine, we must sound the alarm. The intentional deprivation of humanitarian aid, when combined with the scale of suffering, displacement and reported rhetoric from high-ranking officials advocating for such measures, raises serious concerns. The Council and the international community has a duty to act and to fulfil its obligations. Sierra Leone calls on the Security Council to take urgent action to ensure the immediate and full resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to uphold international humanitarian law. We stress the importance of, first, reaffirming that the State of Israel, as the occupying Power, must comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law. Secondly, it is important to ensure full compliance with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures which demand unimpeded humanitarian access. Thirdly, we must support the protection of human workers who continue to risk their lives to deliver essential services under severe restrictions. UNRWA, UNICEF and the World Health Organization remain critical actors in sustaining the fragile healthcare system and addressing the needs of premature newborns, young children and elderly patients vulnerable to diseases. As Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher said, we must return to the ceasefire. Sierra Leone condemned, at the first occasion, the brutal acts of terror committed by Hamas and other armed groups against Israeli civilians on 7 October 2023. We reaffirm the prohibition of hostage-taking under international law and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas since 7 October 2023. We are clear and unequivocal on that point, while noting and expecting the agreed arrangement for the release of Palestinian detainees endorsed by the Council. We therefore emphasize the necessity of sustained diplomatic engagement to consolidate the ceasefire agreement and address outstanding issues. A just and lasting solution to the crisis requires the full and immediate restoration of humanitarian aid access, respect for international law and accountability, the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and a political resolution based on the two-State solution, ensuring security and coexistence for both Israeli and Palestinians. The Security Council must remain steadfast in upholding its responsibility to maintain peace, security and justice. The cost of inaction is too high, and the suffering of the people in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel cannot and must not be ignored.

I thank you, Madam President, for organizing today’s briefing, and I thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for his sobering briefing. Palestinians are observing another Ramadan marked by deprivation and renewed destruction. More than 400 of them were reportedly killed in the past 24 hours. It is ironic that in this holy month when Muslims across the world seek to grow in The past three weeks have seen a rollback of the humanitarian progress made over the previous six weeks, following the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. With the pause of the Israeli offensive in Gaza and the easing of several restrictions on humanitarian assistance, Palestinians and indeed the international community were hopeful that the situation would progressively improve, culminating at some point in a full recovery for Gaza. Guyana is therefore very disappointed that a decision was taken to halt humanitarian aid into Gaza since 2 March on account of a deadlock in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas. That decision is illegal since Israel is obligated under international law not to deprive civilians of the goods and services essential for their survival. Guyana is further disappointed that Palestinian civilians are again being made to walk the path of war, which has ravaged their lives and their land for over 15 months. Guyana calls on the Council to take the necessary action to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe that Gaza has endured for more than a year. Coupled with that new offensive, the ongoing aid blockade has placed Palestinians in an extremely precarious situation, as we heard today from Under-Secretary-General Fletcher. Guyana calls on Israel to lift the ban on the entry of aid into Gaza, in keeping with its obligations under international humanitarian law. As asserted by the World Food Programme, “unimpeded humanitarian access is the only means of survival for many families”. We therefore call for full respect for their right to life. We further call on Israel and Hamas to prioritize the lives and well-being of civilians and to urgently reach an agreement on the next phase of the ceasefire deal and, ultimately, on a permanent ceasefire. We also call on Israel to halt air strikes on Gaza, as they only strain the negotiating environment, in addition to bringing more death and destruction. As the largest gathering on women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Commission on the Status of Women is currently meeting in New York. Allow me to speak about the painful reports of the situation of women and girls in Palestine, both in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. We have taken note of the 13 March report (A/HRC/58/CRP.6) of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel on Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023. The report has elaborated the disproportionate impact of the war on Palestinian women and girls, who continue to bear the brunt of the decisions taken by those in power. Civilian women and girls have been reportedly targeted directly. Women have died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth because of restrictions imposed and conditions created by the war. Their access to adequate healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, have been severely curtailed. The combination of starvation, denial of humanitarian assistance, destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system and lack of access to water and sanitation has caused severe reproductive harm to women, impacting all aspects of reproduction, including pregnancy, childbirth, post-partum recovery and lactation. Furthermore, women and girls are enduring conditions that severely limit their ability to manage post-partum bleeding and menstruation hygienically and with dignity. The mantra of no one left behind rings hollow when Palestinian women and girls see their rights trampled upon daily and when the very basic of necessities for female hygiene that many of us take for granted, such as sanitary napkins and water, become a luxury. One of the most painful realizations is all of this is happening in the twenty- first century. With all the international legal advances made for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls, the situation in Palestine should never have reached these proportions. The situation of children is equally distressing. The people in Gaza continue to suffer because of political decisions that they had no part in making. Those decisions will be felt for years, even decades, by innocent people who will still be grappling with the socioeconomic, physical and psychological impacts of this war, long after the guns have gone silent. In fact, this is a double tragedy, since the people of Israel will also continue to grapple with the consequences of a decades-old war that keeps pitting them against people who, just like themselves, dream of peace. Guyana’s singular appeal to the parties is to prioritize peace for the people of Palestine and the people of Israel. In so doing, we reiterate the need for an immediate unconditional and permanent ceasefire to create the conditions for the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. Guyana again calls on Israel to lift its illegal blockade of aid into the Gaza Strip and to facilitate the easing of the dire humanitarian situation, and on the international community to scale up its humanitarian assistance. We also reiterate the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages from Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners detained without charge in Israeli jails. Finally, Guyana calls for earnest efforts towards a lasting, just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine, premised on the two-State solution. Guyana remains committed to doing its part to that end.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Coordinator Fletcher for his briefing. The blame for the resumption of hostilities lies solely with Hamas. This brutal terrorist organization has steadfastly refused every proposal and deadline it has been presented over the past few weeks, including a bridge proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover, in order to allow time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire. Hamas refused that offer, preferring to continue to hold hostages captive and hide among the people of Gaza, using them as human shields. It is the people of Gaza who will suffer further because of Hamas’ disregard for human life. In that context, I want to respond to the allegation of indiscriminate attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF is striking Hamas’ positions. It is well known that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure as launching pads. The United States condemns that practice, as should others. President Trump has made clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately or pay a high price, and we support Israel in its next steps. Hamas must release the hostages it abducted more than 17 months ago. Doing so would enable loved ones to be reunited and allow the return of remains for those killed while being held by Hamas. Unfortunately, Hamas has refused all attempts to find a way to extend the ceasefire. It has been weeks since Hamas has released any hostages. We must recognize Hamas’ savagery for what it is. This terrorist organization committed the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, raped and engaged in sexual violence towards Israeli hostages and other victims of the attack, released multiple hostages in a condition reminiscent of Holocaust survivors and murdered and then paraded the coffins of the Bibas children through the streets. President Trump has been clear. All of the remaining 59 hostages, including New Jersey resident Edan Alexander, and the bodies of four Americans murdered by Hamas — Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, Judy Weinstein Haggai and Omer Neutra — must be immediately released. Behind every terrorist group such as Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, behind every act of violence and behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people who call this region home, is Iran. The countries of the Middle East have an historic opportunity to reshape their region in a way that affords all its

I welcome our new colleague, His Excellency Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont, the new Permanent Representative of France, to the Security Council. We look forward to working together.

I thank you, Madam President, for your words of welcome. I will endeavour to live up to the bar set by my predecessor, Mr. Nicolas De Rivière, who told me how greatly he valued the cooperative working relations with all members of the Council. France wishes to thank the Emergency Relief Coordinator for his briefing and all humanitarian personnel deployed in aid of the communities affected by the humanitarian crisis. As Tom Fletcher put it, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has taken yet another catastrophic turn. There is nothing to add to that description. It was something that we hoped that we would need not repeat, but the circumstances compel us to do so. France condemns the Israeli strikes being carried out since yesterday on the Gaza Strip, which have already killed and injured several hundreds of civilians. France calls for an immediate end to the hostilities, which are jeopardizing efforts to free the hostages and threatening the lives of Gaza’s civilian population. All parties must resume compliance with the ceasefire in its entirety, engage in negotiations in good faith to make it permanent and must pursue the path opened up by the January agreement. France calls on the Israeli authorities to ensure definitive protection for all civilians, restore access to water and electricity, and immediately remove the obstacles to the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. It reiterates its call for the unconditional release of all the hostages still being held in Gaza. France also expresses its profound concern at the situation of the civilian population in the West Bank, in particular as regards forcible displacement. It urges the Israeli authorities to exercise the utmost restraint in the use of force, to ensure, in accordance with international humanitarian law, the protection of the civilian population and to allow the swift return of displaced civilians. International humanitarian law must be applied in its entirety. France commends the work of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, in helping the communities. It is absolutely essential for all hostages to be released unconditionally, in accordance with international law and as the Council has demanded time and again. Hamas must also end the degrading and humiliating treatment inflicted on the hostages. France continues to stand in solidarity with the families of the hostages and the Israeli people in the face of the trauma that they have endured. France will not cease in its condemnation of the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October 2023, which was the worst anti-Semitic massacre since the Shoah. France will continue to condemn the sexual violence committed by those terrorist groups. The Council must follow suit. France commends the tireless efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt in facilitating negotiations for the continuation of the ceasefire and the release of the hostages. As I said earlier, hostilities in Gaza must end and pave the way for a lasting peace. France welcomes the proposed plan for the reconstruction of Gaza drawn up by the members of the League of Arab States at the summit held in Cairo on 4 March. We urged all parties to build on the plan’s strong points in order to forge ahead, The future of Gaza is inextricably tied to a comprehensive political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With that objective in mind, France will be co-chairing, with Saudi Arabia, an international conference for the implementation of the solution of two States — Israel and Palestine — here in New York, in June 2025. That is only way that Israelis and Palestinians will be able to live side by side in peace and security. In the meantime, as a matter of urgency, the bombings must end, humanitarian aid must resume, and all the hostages must be released in dignity.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting, and I thank Mr. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for his detailed report. This meeting is taking place against a backdrop of grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip following the recent restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid. We find the deterioration of the ever- fragile ceasefire, which had given temporary respite to the civilian population, deeply regrettable. It is urgent that the necessary efforts be resumed to restore calm and allow safe access for much-needed aid. Since 1 March, the closure of border crossings has impeded the entry of humanitarian aid, causing acute shortages of food, medicine and fuel. That has imperilled thousands of people, who have long depended on aid to survive, in particular during the holy month of Ramadan, which should instead be a time of peace and reflection. As the World Food Programme pointed out, in the 42 days of ceasefire, more than 40,000 metric tons of food were delivered to Gaza, bringing vital aid to 1.3 million people. However, since the recent closure of the border crossings, the entry of fresh supplies has been prevented, as has the distribution of supplies that have already entered. According to OCHA, the cutting off of the electricity supply has further aggravated the situation. The disconnection of the desalination plant in southern Gaza has drastically reduced access to drinking water, affecting some 600,000 people in various communities in the Strip, gravely jeopardizing public health and humanitarian security. Amid the crisis, it is essential to acknowledge the tireless endeavours of humanitarian workers, who are operating in extreme conditions to alleviate the suffering of the population. Panama values the arduous humanitarian toil that enabled more than 603,000 children to be vaccinated against polio during the truce, thanks to the combined efforts of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and UNICEF. That effort shows that when secure access is ensured, the lives of the most vulnerable can be protected. That is why it is essential that measures be renewed to facilitate the safe and sustained delivery of supplies. It is important to recall that this crisis is the result not only of control and security measures that are hampering humanitarian access: the suffering and destruction that we are witnessing in Gaza is, in part, a direct consequence of Hamas’ extremist actions and its inhumane attacks of 7 October 2023, which triggered this tragic spiral of violence. On top of that comes Hamas’ recent refusal to honour the commitments under the ceasefire and to release further hostages, putting the lives of thousands of innocent civilians at risk. Not only has Hamas sown terror, but it has also exploited the suffering of the population of Gaza as a political bargaining chip. Panama continues to categorically condemn that behaviour, and we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages who remain in their custody. Panama appreciates the diplomatic efforts under way to restore the ceasefire, whose regrettable interruption has further aggravated the suffering of the civilian population. Those efforts must be resumed and intensified in order to promote the continuity of the agreements that led to the ceasefire, now regrettably interrupted, until all phases of the ceasefire have been successfully implemented. Dialogue and mediation must be resumed in order to guarantee the full, immediate and unconditional release of the hostages and safe and uninterrupted access to humanitarian assistance.

We would like to thank the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Tom Fletcher, for his detailed briefing on the current situation in Gaza, which is a human-made catastrophe. When the delegations of Algeria and Somalia requested our briefing today to discuss the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, they could hardly have anticipated that, on the eve of the meeting, the situation would dramatically escalate and that all ceasefire agreements would be effectively nullified. On the night of 18 March, Israeli aircraft resumed air strikes on Gaza, causing further casualties. According to reports, more than 400 people are dead, and the Israel Defense Forces are preparing for a targeted operation in the Strip. The ceasefire has thus been broken, and the tragedy of Palestinian civilians takes on a new dimension. That tragedy has been unfolding before our eyes for a year and a half. In the course of Israel’s military operation, virtually nothing has been left of the Strip, apart from smouldering ruins, and the death toll of Gazan civilians exceeds 48,000. The humanitarian crisis in the Strip has taken on truly biblical proportions, as evidenced by the assessments presented today by United Nations humanitarians. Hospitals and virtually all basic infrastructure have been destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been surviving for months in the open, on the streets amid rubble, faced with acute food shortages, unsanitary conditions and a lack of basic necessities. At the same time, people in despair have no idea what the future holds. Will the hostilities stop? Will someone rebuild their homes? How will their children survive? Unfortunately, those questions are resonating with even greater urgency today, as Israel’s actions have once again thrown us back into the unknown. It is not only the Palestinians who are affected; so too are those in Israel who are waiting for the hostages held in the Strip to return home. As the association of families of the hostages stated today, the Israeli Government has chosen to sacrifice the hostages and to deliberately undermine the process that should have led to their return. Instead, as we can all see, the logic of forcing the Gazans off their land has once again prevailed. In spite of all the deprivation and of suffering that is beyond the limits of human comprehension, the inhabitants of Gaza, according to numerous sources, do not want to go anywhere and see their future only in their homeland. That is a right that they have suffered for, and it is the international community’s duty to ensure that that right is realized. The Gazans must be given a chance at a secure, dignified future in Under the current circumstances, the Security Council must do everything possible to restore the ceasefire without delay and to resume the implementation of the agreements between Israel and Hamas. We must not repeat previous mistakes. After all, the number of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza over the past year and a half is so high, in part because the Security Council was unable to make an earlier decision to establish a ceasefire. That is a bitter lesson that the members of the Security Council must learn and must not repeat, because no political considerations can justify such a delay, which has cost the lives of so many civilians. Between 19 January and 2 March, when the Israel-Hamas deal took effect, there was a glimmer of hope for the population of the Strip — access to the enclave was unblocked, aid activities were stepped up and United Nations system entities were reporting enthusiastically on the increase in deliveries and the results of that window of opportunity, despite the low chances of the deal going forward. Unfortunately, that glimmer of hope faded as quickly as it appeared. West Jerusalem has once again tightened the screws, and for two weeks now, the residents of Gaza have been facing a blockade that there is no prospect of lifting. Today the blockade has become even more inhumane. The Israeli authorities are obstructing the work of international humanitarian organizations and agencies, prohibiting the entry of any humanitarian and commercial goods and condemning the population to even greater suffering. As far as we can tell, the crossing points have been closed altogether today The 9 March blackout of the desalination plant, which some of my colleagues already mentioned, is yet another instance of West Jerusalem’s blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. That decision, which, by the way, makes no military sense whatsoever, puts hundreds of thousands of people at risk of death by depriving them of access to clean drinking water. Think about it: today only 1 in 10 residents of the Strip can afford clean drinking water. The consequences of such a situation will be catastrophic, including because the risk of the rampant spread of infectious diseases is extremely high in such conditions, and because, as we have seen, there is virtually no medical assistance available in the Strip. Of the utmost concern is the ongoing crisis surrounding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The open persecution of the Agency and the Knesset decisions to ban its operation in what is being called the “sovereign territory of Israel” only add to the picture of an intentional undermining of the humanitarian response in the Strip. UNRWA’s vital importance to Palestinian refugees cannot be disputed, and neither can one deny the fact that that United Nations agency continues to play an irreplaceable role in providing assistance to Gazans. We reiterate our unwavering support for UNRWA and recall the Agency’s role in the Middle East settlement process, including the resolution of one of the final-status issues, namely, that of Palestine refugees. Against that backdrop, we have heard statements from the Israeli authorities to the effect that they have a plan that envisages West Jerusalem taking full control of the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance. There are not many details on that plan, but there is every reason to believe that, if implemented, the plan will not only significantly limit the operational capabilities of international bodies in the Gaza Strip, but it will also undermine the functioning of the mechanism established pursuant to resolution 2720 (2023). It is also clear that such a plan cannot replace large-scale United Nations humanitarian assistance. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that Israel, as an occupying Power, refuses to take responsibility for meeting the needs of the people under occupation. We can see that such notions as “concern for the well-being of the population” and the protection of civilians are not among the principles adhered to and the methods used by the Israel The humanitarian bodies of the United Nations have shown that they can, especially if there is a ceasefire, conduct effective work in the Gaza Strip and save people’s lives. We must support them as much as we can, and humanitarians must be protected from persecution from West Jerusalem. This is purely political in nature. People’s suffering should not be used as a weapon of war, blackmail or a lever to exert influence on Hamas and the international community as a whole. And yet that is exactly what is happening. We strongly condemn the measures introduced by Israel and believe that their implementation is a key obstacle on the path towards easing the suffering of 2 million people in Gaza. We call on the Israeli authorities to immediately lift the restrictions on humanitarian action in the entire occupied Palestian territories, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We reiterate our consistent and constant call for an unconditional and permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages and detainees, while ensuring unimpeded humanitarian access to the occupied Palestian territories and a return to the peace process on the basis of the “two States for two peoples” formula. We are convinced that, without a just and lasting settlement, ensuring the legitimate rights and aspirations of Palestinians to have their own State, within the 1967 borders and with its capital in East Jerusalem, the vicious circle of bloodshed and violence in the Middle East will not be broken.

I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for his briefing. I also want to thank him for his efforts and to thank and recognize the sacrifices made by the humanitarian workers in Gaza and the region. They are doing everything they can. I would like to make four points. First, in conflicts we, as Slovenia, do not take sides. We stand with peace, the protection of civilians and international law. We entered the Security Council with an idealistic aim of helping to extend zones of peace, protecting civilians and promoting respect for international law. And yet it seems so difficult to work for peace. It seems so difficult for warring parties to surrender to peace. Today Israel resumed hostilities, setting in motion a new wave of strikes and evacuation orders. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed just today, and 2 million of them are facing a new cycle of hardship, destruction and relentless fear. We condemn those attacks and call on Israel to stop them immediately. Secondly, Slovenia has supported calls for the ceasefire time and again, and we continue calling on the parties to return to the agreement made with the support of mediators and guarantors — the United States, Qatar and Egypt — in line with resolution 2735 (2024). Six weeks of ceasefire have offered much-needed relief to the people in Gaza and to the people of Israel, finally reuniting them with hostages. The Council should now be focusing on discussing the plans to rebuild basic infrastructure and on reconstruction, in line with the vision provided by our Arab partners. This should be the time we launch a process leading to the two-State solution. Instead, we are back to pleading for the lives of civilians, Palestinians and hostages, to be spared and for food and water deliveries to Gaza to be allowed. That is wrong on so many levels. Humanitarian aid and access to basic goods and services, including electricity, cannot be politicized. International law is clear, and it must be respected. Crossings to Gaza must be opened, aid must flow in and humanitarian operations must run unimpeded. Fourthly, it is roughly a year since the International Court of Justice binding order on provisional measures focused on humanitarian aid, famine and starvation in the case brought by South Africa. It is unacceptable that our conversations are still the same and that Council resolutions and International Court of Justice orders are disregarded. To conclude and to summarize, the resumed killing and destruction must end. Aid is not negotiable. It should not be weaponized. We denounce those actions, just as we denounced hostage-taking by Hamas. In Gaza, both Palestinians and hostages are being sacrificed. This vile war should not continue being fought on the shoulders of civilians. This is not only tragic for Palestinians and hostages in Gaza but also for the credibility and relevance of the Security Council as the body responsible for maintenance of international peace and security.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for his sobering briefing. I also want to thank Algeria and Somalia for calling this meeting, an initiative that the United Kingdom fully supports, considering the alarming humanitarian situation. This meeting comes at a critical moment. As my Foreign Secretary has said, the civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight are appalling. I want to be clear. A return to fighting will only result in the deaths of more Palestinian civilians, Israeli hostages and Israel Defense Forces soldiers. This conflict cannot be resolved through military means. We want to see a ceasefire re-established as soon as possible. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was already catastrophic. After 17 days, Israel continues to block all aid entering Gaza. Crossing points have been shut off, bakeries are closing, hospitals and desalination plants are running on generators that could stop at any moment. That is horrifying and unacceptable. Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. We are calling for the following urgent steps to bring this terrifying situation back from the brink. First, we call for the protection of civilians and for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access. We call on Israel to fulfil its international obligations and allow for a rapid and unhindered resurgence in the flow of aid. That includes the supply of items such as medical equipment, shelter items and water and sanitation equipment, which are essential to meet humanitarian and early recovery needs in Gaza but which remain restricted. Failure to deliver that not only risks undoing the vital humanitarian progress made during phase one of the ceasefire agreement; it also risks violating international humanitarian law. Secondly, we urge all parties to return urgently to dialogue and to implement the ceasefire agreement in full, including scaling up aid and releasing the 59 hostages who have been cruelly held by Hamas for over 500 days and who have endured unimaginable suffering. For Israel to be secure, those terrorists can have no role in Gaza’s future. But cutting off aid and resuming the fighting is not a means to that end. Finally, we reiterate that the civilians of Gaza, who have suffered so much, must be allowed to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. We urge all parties to return to the ceasefire deal and get back to the path of peace. A negotiated two-State solution is the best way to ensure long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Middle East currently stands at a turning point, and the long-awaited ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza was a great example of what could be achieved through political will. We are seriously alarmed by the resumption of hostilities in Gaza and the new huge death toll, and we call on all parties to show restraint and resume the ceasefire talks. Following the profound shock of 7 October 2023, Greece maintained a principled stance. We expressed our condemnation of Hamas’ terrorist attack and the ongoing detention and cruel treatment of the hostages, and we reiterated our demand for their immediate and unconditional release. The people of Gaza have endured a second winter under extremely difficult circumstances. Tom Fetcher today and the briefers who preceded him in the Security Council tried to describe living conditions almost beyond our comprehension. We echo the calls for humanitarian aid to flow back to Gaza immediately and the crossings to open as soon as possible. Reports by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme of the inability to transport food supplies into Gaza due to the closure of all border crossing points is of the utmost concern. The suffering of the civilian population must come to an end. We call on Israel to allow and facilitate the safe, unconditional, massive and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid at scale and restore access to electricity and water, as well as to ensure the protection of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers, in line with international humanitarian law. Millions are in urgent need of primary healthcare services, education and shelter, as Gaza’s territory has been reduced to rubble. Thousands of children have been left dead, injured, separated from their families and internally displaced. Hence, the unhindered and continuous flow of aid into all parts of Gaza should remain a priority. The role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remains pivotal and indispensable. We support all efforts to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza and have consistently supported the Cypriot Amalthea maritime corridor and other initiatives in that regard. Within the European Union (EU), we took an initiative to enable that EU member States could assume the treatment of injured and sick children from Gaza. In that context, we welcomed 10 children and their families from Gaza, who are currently receiving treatment in Greek hospitals. OCHA warnings of increased settler violence across the West Bank is also alarming, as is the displacement of people and the unfolding security situation in Jenin, following the intensification of operations and terrorist attacks in the West Bank. We need a permanent ceasefire that can pave the way for the release of all remaining hostages and for the reconstruction of Gaza. In that vein, we welcome regional efforts to agree on a single plan for the next phase in Gaza, and we stand ready to support and develop those ideas further. The Arab plan put forth by Egypt is a constructive proposal on the table. We are clear that any plan must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israel’s security and must not displace Palestinians from Gaza. Any scenario of displacement would jeopardize regional stability and security, and it would undermine the prospect of achieving the two-State solution. The political process must remain a core objective of our collective efforts. We support the creation of a sovereign Palestinian State on the basis of a two-State solution, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new colleague from France. And we thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher for his very sobering briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. We are at another tragic milestone in the war in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The war and the manner in which the Security Council and the international community respond to the atrocities and actions that have been taken will have a lasting impact on the nature of the world order that we and succeeding generations inherit. More than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza, 150,000 have been injured, and two thirds of them have been women and children. There have been attacks on hospitals, schools, mosques and civilian centres. Every principle and every article of international law and international humanitarian law have been blatantly violated with impunity, defying the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council and the decisions of the International Court of Justice. Unless the international community responds with justice to what has happened and is happening in the occupied Palestinian territories, our world order is likely to regress into the barbarism from which the Charter of the United Nations was supposed to rescue us. The agreement of 15 January for a three-phase ceasefire offered a sliver of hope for the Palestinian people, for the Israeli people and for the world community. Phase 1 of that agreement was implemented, and serious consideration was continuing for the negotiation, elaboration and implementation of phases 2 and 3 of the agreement, as outlined in resolution 2735 (2024). The Arab and Organization of Islamic Cooperation reconstruction and peace plan was under consideration in capitals. It offered a road to peace. But obviously that glimmer of hope for peace was not to the liking of the extremist leaders who rule Israel today. They see their survival in the continuation of the war. But is that in the interest of the hostages? Is that in the interest of the Israeli people? Is that in the interest of the Palestinians? And is that in the interest of world order? I think the answer is obvious. The first tactic to erode the ceasefire agreement was the imposition of the humanitarian blockade  — an attempt to extort concessions beyond the ceasefire agreement of 15 January. Blocking trucks, cutting off electricity and water, restricting non-governmental organizations, barring Muslims from the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan — those are all tactics of the oppressor. And now such actions have escalated to blatant violations of the ceasefire and the resumption of attacks against the helpless Palestinians in Gaza, who were just returning to rebuild their homes. Four hundred people, mostly women and children, were killed just last night. And if these bombing and artillery attacks continue, hundreds more may be dying as we speak. The Security Council’s response must be clear, quick and just. Secondly, the negotiations on phases 2 and 3 of the ceasefire agreement reflected in resolution 2735 (2024) must be resumed. We call for the full implementation of all phases of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the permanent and comprehensive cessation of Israeli hostilities, the return of displaced persons to their homes, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the opening of all crossings, adequate humanitarian access to all parts of the Gaza Strip and a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza. Thirdly, humanitarian assistance must be immediately resumed, and the restrictions that have been imposed must be lifted. According to Amnesty International, “Israel’s decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza is a war crime and amounts to collective punishment of the civilian population. It is a continuation of the policy to impose on Palestinians conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. This is genocide.” We demand that adequate funding be provided for the coordinated efforts that are crucial to enable the 2025 flash appeal for the occupied Palestinian territories of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to be funded. Donor contributions today are only $173 million of the $4 billion required. The unparalleled capacity of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to deliver emergency shelter, food and medical assistance is irreplaceable, and it must be allowed to operate without obstruction. Fourthly, the Israeli aggression in the West Bank must end. Forced displacement, illegal land annexations and settler violence must be reversed in accordance with resolutions 2720 (2023) and 2334 (2016). Finally, we must ensure the revival of a credible and irreversible political process towards a two-State solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State within the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. That is the only viable path to durable peace. The upcoming June conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia is an important opportunity for the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-State solution. But, to realize the possibility of peace, Israel’s aggression, its attacks and its slaughter of the Palestinians must stop.

I also thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher for his detailed briefing on the dismal humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are gravely alarmed by Israel’s renewed offensive in Gaza, causing hundreds of fatalities, including scores of children, today alone. We are also seriously concerned about the precarious fate of the hard-won agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, as well as about the quickly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. As repeatedly stressed by the members of the Security Council, it is clearly Israel’s legal obligation under international humanitarian law to allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including 1 million children. Hostage-taking by Hamas is unacceptable under any circumstances and must be condemned by all members of the Council. And we repeat our demand that all hostages be released immediately and unconditionally. We take note of the horrifying remarks by Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher during his press briefing last Wednesday, sharing what he witnessed in Gaza in January, “I said to my colleague who was with me, why are the dogs so fat? And he said, well, because the dogs are looking for corpses. And you notice that the people are thin, and then you see that for miles and miles and miles.” During the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, we witnessed the crucial impact of political will in easing the immense suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. However, once again today, we are seeing and feeling, with shock and concern, a grim sense of déjà vu in relation to the unfathomable suffering, insecurity, destruction and hunger that has haunted civilians in Gaza for more than a year. The horrendous terrorist attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and Israel’s massive military operations, resulting in extreme anguish, highlight once again the imperative to move towards a just and long-lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. A sober approach based on the acknowledgement of the legitimate rights and concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians is the only option for durable peace and stability in the region. We call on Israel to immediately cease the offensive and on all parties to return to the negotiating table. We hope that the mediating countries  — including the United States, Qatar and Egypt — will exert the utmost effort to secure the ceasefire and the release of the hostages. We believe that all phases of the ceasefire agreement, endorsed by the Council through resolution 2735 (2024), should be implemented in full, leading to the release of all hostages, a permanent end to hostilities and the swift beginning of reconstruction based on international law.

I thank Algeria and Somalia for calling for the convening of today’s meeting and thank Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for the briefing. I also welcome the new Permanent Representative of France. With the implementation of the ceasefire on 19 January, the people of Gaza were given some long-awaited respite and the humanitarian disaster was relieved to a certain extent. However, with expiry of the first phase on 1 March, the ceasefire agreement failed to enter its second phase. Despite strong calls from the international community for the Gaza ceasefire to be extended and the population of Gaza’s ardent desire for a return to peace and tranquillity, the situation is taking the opposite course. On 2 March, Israel announced its decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. On 9 March, it cut off the supply of electricity to Gaza. Just yesterday, Israel launched wide-scale air strikes on Gaza, causing hundreds of civilian casualties. China finds the damage done to the hard-won ceasefire regrettable and is gravely concerned at Israel’s resumption of hostilities in Gaza. We deeply condemn that. We issue a strong appeal for the false logic of the supremacy of force to be abandoned. Military means is not the way to solve the Palestine-Israel question. The stark contrast between 15 months of bloody conflict and 42 days of ceasefire clearly shows that the indiscriminate use of force is not the right way to bring the hostages back and could even put them at greater risk. China urges Israel to abandon its obsession with the use of force, immediately cease military operations in Gaza and stop the collective punishment of Gazan civilians. We demand a permanent We strongly object to the weaponization and politicization of humanitarian aid. Today marks 17 consecutive days since humanitarian aid was barred from Gaza. The loss of electrical power has disabled the desalination plant, worsening the water shortage crisis. The use of humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip is a violation of international law, in particular international humanitarian law. China condemns such practices. We urge Israel, as the occupying Power, to fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law and restore full humanitarian access to Gaza. We appeal for the political prospects of the two-State solution to be revived. The implementation of the two-State solution is the only viable way of resolving the question of Palestine, with Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, all forming inseparable parts of the Palestinian State. We support the recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza, which was jointly initiated by Egypt and other Arab States, and support a swift start to reconstruction, underpinned by the principle of the Palestinian people governing Palestine and rebuilding their homes in their own territory. The international community should step up efforts to advance the political process for the two-State solution and provide the necessary support to that end. For some time now, we have been witnessing the emergence of a dangerous phenomenon in the Middle East in which the international rule of law and the international order are being violated and undermined. The law of the jungle seems to reign — a worrisome development and a cause for concern. The Security Council, as the primary body for maintaining international peace and security, should put a timely end to such chaos. We support further action by the Council to bring about a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, restore peace in the Middle East and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Denmark. I would like to join colleagues in thanking Under-Secretary-General Fletcher for his sobering briefing and his very detailed description of the many achievements accomplished during the ceasefire. At the outset, let me express Denmark’s shock and sadness at the news coming from Gaza about the many civilian casualties following the Israeli air strikes last night. Let me be clear: the violence must stop, and the terms of the ceasefire must be respected. The ceasefire can pave the way for the release of all remaining hostages and ensure much-needed humanitarian aid reaches the civilians of Gaza. We urge all parties to show restraint. Denmark has repeatedly underlined the need to ensure the protection of civilians in line with international humanitarian law. We reiterate that call today. As we heard several times this morning, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. The recent decision by Israel to block all further humanitarian assistance and to cut electricity to the enclave is rendering the situation even more desperate and threatening to reverse the progress made during the first phase of the ceasefire. The consequences are already starting to emerge. The lack of supplies has meant that humanitarian partners are reducing food rations. UNICEF reports that approximately 1 million children in Gaza are now, once again, living without basic necessities for survival. The recent resumption of hostilities will only worsen that suffering. International humanitarian law is clear: humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip or a political tool. That applies to all parties in a conflict. As the occupying Power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and ensure that the civilian population does not lack food or other basic needs, including water. The civilians of Gaza have suffered enough. The sustained supply of aid is indispensable to the survival of more than 2 million Palestinians. They have the right to receive humanitarian aid. They have the right to clean water, food and medicine. We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza and to ensure the protection of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers, in line with international humanitarian law. The immediate threat of malnutrition in Gaza is already affecting thousands of children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. The decisions to withhold humanitarian aid and to limit the production of clean drinking water are likely to have long-term consequences for the health of Gaza’s population and for longer-term prospects for socioeconomic recovery. The massive task of reconstructing Gaza lies before us. We need a permanent ceasefire as a first step to be able to address that challenge. We call on parties to find a way forward to the next phases of the ceasefire agreement that hopefully would lead to a permanent ceasefire. We commend regional efforts undertaken through the Arab recovery and reconstruction plan presented at the recent Cairo summit. We maintain that any plan for the future of Gaza must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israeli security and must not displace Palestinians from Gaza. In conclusion, the civilian population in Gaza has already endured too much suffering for far too long. It is looking to the Council for support. Around this table, we have a responsibility to act and to urgently work towards the two-State solution  — the only viable path to lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Let me reiterate Denmark’s unwavering commitment to that goal. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the Permanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine.

Allow me at the outset to thank you, Madam President, for convening this urgent meeting at this critical time, to thank Algeria and Somalia for requesting it on behalf of the Group of Arab States, and to thank China, France, Guyana, Pakistan, Slovenia and the United Kingdom for their support of that request. Allow me also to thank Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, who recently visited Gaza and the region, for his relentless efforts and for his sobering and alarming briefing. This meeting was originally requested to discuss Israel’s weaponization of humanitarian aid for collective punishment purposes, with Israeli leaders confessing to it publicly — they are not denying it or claiming, as they have done in the past, that hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of truckloads of humanitarian aid were in the Gaza Strip. This time around, they have publicly made the decision to weaponize it, to use it and to stop it. They are not denying it, no longer feeling the need even to keep up pretences. We were supposed to gather here to discuss how an entire civilian population that had survived a genocide was, despite its still immense needs, yet again confronted with fuel and electricity being cut off, leading to the shutdown Now we gather here after a series of deadly Israeli attacks that, last night alone, killed hundreds of Palestinians. Current reports indicate that more than 400 were killed and that nearly 600 were injured in the span of a few hours over the night last night, in events reminiscent of the criminal bombardments that our people endured for more than 15 months. The same images are back to haunt us: small children on gurneys; little siblings injured and disoriented, trying to comfort and reassure one another; entire families killed; and children, mothers and fathers searching for their loved ones under the rubble, not knowing if they are dead or alive. Bombardments, death, devastation, fire and fear are yet again spreading throughout the Gaza Strip. And that is all happening during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, one year after the Council chose this same period, given its significance, to call — for the first time — for a ceasefire to halt the genocide and stem unimaginable human suffering (see S/PV.9586). In our tradition, no one would fight during Ramadan. That dates back to the beginning of time. But yet, the criminal, cruel, selfish leaders of the Government of Israel and of the occupying authorities do those things in spite of traditions and without respect for religion or humanity. Palestinians are being killed indiscriminately, are being denied humanitarian aid indiscriminately and are being maimed and detained indiscriminately. We condemn those crimes in the strongest possible terms. They can never be justified, and it must stop immediately. And I agree with the President of the Council, who said that the Council, seated around this table, has a responsibility to act. It must act. It must stop these criminal actions. It must stop them from denying our people food in the month of Ramadan, denying them water and keeping hospitals from operating. It must act. It has resolutions. It must act. It has power. It must act or, as my friend the Ambassador of Slovenia said, become irrelevant. It must act in line with the power given to it by the Charter of the United Nations. Ceasefires work. It is the only thing that does. It stopped the bloodshed. It allowed the entry of humanitarian aid that Israel had long denied. It allowed the release of hostages and prisoners. It allowed for starving people to be given sustenance and for the sick and wounded to receive medical care, as the tenets of international humanitarian law and of our very humanity oblige. Life was starting to triumph over death. Our collective role is to ensure that life prevails, and that requires ensuring the full and effective implementation of resolution 2735 (2024). Resolution 2735 (2024) is unequivocal. It clearly spells out the terms of each phase and the obligations of each side. In relation to phase two, which includes the release of hostages and full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, the resolution also clearly states that the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue and that negotiations will keep going until all the agreements are reached and phase two is able to begin. There should not be unilateral, self-serving and irresponsible decisions to excuse breaking the ceasefire. While the Trump Administration has prioritized the release of hostages, it is evident that Netanyahu’s concern for his selfish political survival far outweighs his concern for the survival of the hostages. The resolution is also clear in rejecting any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza — a goal that Israel continues to pursue, as mass forcible displacement and annexation remain its primary aims throughout the occupied Palestinian territory. The resolution also reiterates the Council’s unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-State solution in which two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side That is the only way forward — sustaining the ceasefire, implementing it in full and transforming it into a clear and immediate pathway to Palestinian independence and a ceasefire for all. The Council must act now. The Council can act, to not allow the ceasefire to be broken, to not allow the starvation of the Palestinian people. The State of Palestine and Arab countries, with the support of many around the world, have exerted every effort to ensure that Gaza, in particular, and Palestine, as a whole, are set on a different trajectory, towards life and liberty, to change the reality that our people has for too long endured and to change, forever and for the better, our region, for the benefit of all States and all peoples. A clear vision accompanied with a solid plan was endorsed by the Arab summit and supported by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ministerial meeting and has been welcomed worldwide. Many Council members, in their statements, referred to their support for what was adopted at the Arab summit conference. A small ray of hope was appearing — the dawn of the possibility of changing the tragedy in the Middle East to something that is different and promising. And perhaps that is why the criminal extremist leaders of Israel who do not want to allow that ray of possibility to flourish did what they did last night in order to destroy the efforts of all of us to open the door of peace. They are trying to close that door and to open the door of war and destruction and killing people. Those efforts of the Arabs and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to which Council members have referred, should be supported, not compromised and sabotaged. They offer the only viable path away from conflict and towards peace. They have transformative power. Allow them to flourish. Allow them to become the new reality. The Council must not allow the other option, of war and destruction and taking away lives, especially of children and women. Peace saves lives; war takes lives. The Council must act and choose peace. We, Palestine and Arab countries, are acting responsibly and with resolve to end this conflict once and for all. We will spare no effort, and we need all the help we can get. The Council must help us. The Council must act. We want peace. We have a plan. We have an alternative. We have options. It is crystal clear. The Council must help us and act with us to make peace. That is the option for the world to make war unacceptable and to stop it and see the ceasefire prevail. This starts with supporting the Arab plan for reconstruction, which many speakers referred to; supporting the Palestinian Government’s assumption of its responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territory; the deployment of a United Nations-mandated mission throughout the occupied Palestinian territory; achieving a complete, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and supporting an end to the occupation and Palestinian independence, implementing the two-State solution and achieving shared peace and security. This is a historical moment, at which everyone must choose where they stand and what vision they want to see prevail. The next few days are decisive and can either set us on the right path or the wrong one, with huge implications for the region and the world. The Council must help us in these few days to have the ceasefire in place, not the continuation of war. Life must prevail. Liberty must prevail. Peace must prevail. I speak to the mighty Security Council. It must act and help us.

I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

We stand firm in our commitment to return the hostages and defeat Hama. And it is time for the international community to take our commitment The Israel Defense Forces are attacking targets of the Hamas terrorist organization to achieve our objectives. Those precise attacks include Hamas terrorist commanders, terrorist cells, launching posts, weapons stockpiles and additional military infrastructure that are being used by these terrorist organizations to continue to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and Israel Defense Forces soldiers. However, we are drawn into a discussion today not to alleviate suffering, not to seek truth, but to indulge the political agenda of certain members of the Council. Those who wield humanitarian rhetoric and feign concern as a weapon, turn a blind eye to the primary cause of suffering in Gaza — the Hamas terrorist organization, which continues to hold 59 innocent hostages. For those truly concerned about humanitarian crises, there is one that should be paramount — the hostages still held in Hamas’ brutal captivity — the men, women, children and elderly — innocents ripped from their homes and subjected to horrors beyond comprehension. Many are already believed to be dead, while others continue to be tormented day after day. For over a year and four months, they have been deprived of sunlight, medical care and the comfort of their families’ embrace. Their conditions are unknown, their treatment unimaginable. That is the most urgent humanitarian crisis, and yet those who claim to be the loudest voices for human rights have somehow lost their voices on that matter. Therefore, let us be clear — any discussion of humanitarian suffering that does not begin with the hostage release is not an honest discussion. For months, Israel took unprecedented steps to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel’s war is against Hamas, not Gaza’s civilians. And yet, despite our efforts, Hamas refuses every opportunity for peace; it refuses to release the hostages. Over a six-week period between January and February alone, Israel facilitated the entry of an unprecedented amount of humanitarian aid into Gaza  — more than 25,000 aid trucks, averaging more than 4,200 trucks per week. Those trucks carried food, medical supplies and essential goods. That is not speculation, not political rhetoric. That is, in fact, documented, verifiable and confirmed by the organizations distributing and supplying the aid. In addition to the thousands of aid trucks, bakeries operated across Gaza, producing millions of loaves of bread daily. In northern Gaza alone, increased fuel deliveries resulted in a 40 per cent increase in bakery output. The slander that the people of Gaza are currently starving is quite simply untrue. Fuel and gas deliveries also continued over that period. Nearly 1,000 fuel tankers entered Gaza, including 275 tankers to the north. Claims that the electricity cut-off has plunged Gaza into humanitarian collapse are greatly exaggerated, particularly regarding water infrastructure. Water pipes and sewage repair materials were sent to northern Gaza, ensuring that infrastructure remained functional. During the same six-week period, over 840,000 tents were delivered. That was a massive logistical undertaking supported by international partners and facilitated by Israel. Let us be very clear: if there is suffering in Gaza, it is not because of a lack of aid. It is because Hamas has hijacked an entire civilian population for its own violent ends. Hamas diverts food. Hamas hoards fuel. Hamas transforms hospitals, schools and United Nations facilities into command centres, ensuring that even in the presence of humanitarian aid suffering persists. But somehow in the debates of the Security Council, Hamas is an afterthought, a footnote, a mere inconvenience in Israel will not be lectured by those who exploit human suffering for political gain. If the Council wishes to address suffering, then it must demand the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. There can be no progress until that occurs. There can be no relenting against the evil that we face. The massive amounts of humanitarian aid, which Israel coordinated and facilitated — at least those amounts not seized by Hamas  — have reached every segment of Gaza’s population, with one tragic exception  — the hostages. While Gazan civilians benefit from food, medicine, shelter and support, those innocent individuals languish in conditions that defy human comprehension — a stark reminder of the vast moral inequality between Israel and Hamas. The release of the hostages is the first and the most urgent and fundamental step towards ending the war. The people of Gaza deserve a future free from Hamas and the pain that they wrought. The innocent Israelis wasting away in Hamas’ tunnel network must once again feel the sun on their faces and embrace their loved ones. That is the only true path to peace.

I now give the floor to Mr. Abdelaziz.

I am honoured to deliver this statement on behalf of the League of Arab States and its member States. I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation for your excellent stewardship of the Council’s work, Madam President, and for your positive response to the request of the Group of Arab States, the League of Arab States and many other States to convene this meeting to promote international work through the Security Council in order to address Israel’s resumption of its brutal military bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza as a result of the restrictions that were imposed and continue to be imposed by Israel on the entry of humanitarian aid in continuing its internationally prohibited policy of starvation and forced thirst. At the same time, I express my appreciation to Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher for his important briefing and constructive suggestions. The Arab Summit had previously affirmed in the Bahrain declaration of 16 May 2024 and reaffirmed in the Cairo communiqué issued by the Extraordinary Arab Summit, known as the Palestine Summit, on 4 March, its condemnation of the starvation and scorched-earth policies aimed at forcing the Palestinian people to leave their land. The Cairo Summit condemned the recent decision of the Israeli Government to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and close the crossings used for relief operations. The Summit also rejected Israel’s use of the blockade as a weapon and the starvation of civilians as a means of achieving political objectives and stressed that continuing the implementation of the second and third phases of the ceasefire agreement was the top priority. All that underscores the crucial link between a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, in accordance with the agreement reached through United States-Egyptian-Qatari mediation, and allowing the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance on a massive scale and immediately starting the implementation of the first phase of the plan proposed by Egypt, in full coordination with the State of Palestine and the Arab States and based on the studies conducted by the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme on the early recovery and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war on Gaza, which has lasted more than 470 days, has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, including nearly 18,000 children and 13,000 women, and has almost completely destroyed Gaza’s health and education infrastructure and everything required to sustain life in Gaza. There is no doubt that the resumption of the brutal and intensive military bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the martyrdom of more than 400 Palestinians in Gaza yesterday alone and Israel’s intensification of the policy of starvation and siege in the Gaza Strip, most recently exemplified by the decision by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to cut off the power supply to vital sectors in the Gaza Strip, including the main water desalination plants, have added thirst to starvation and worsened the suffering of more than 2 million Palestinians living in harsh and compelling conditions. Those attacks and inhumane measures are condemned and rejected and can be described only as collective punishment imposed by Israel against the defenceless Palestinian people, which runs counter to the humanitarian values and principles that constitute the foundation and mission of this Organization and challenges the international will that has supported the ceasefire. In the light of the deterioration of the crisis and Israel’s resumption yesterday of its intensive military bombardment in Gaza, the Arab Group stresses that the Council needs to shoulder its responsibility this time and to compel Israel to honour its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, including opening all crossings to humanitarian aid and the delivery of medical, fuel and shelter provisions and to restore electricity to the entirety of the Strip, including the water plants, and to meet the basic needs of the people and alleviate their suffering. The Group warns against the Council not taking such measures, which would usher in a catastrophic humanitarian disaster with unpredictable consequences. The Arab Group and the League of Arab States stresses that the continuation of this crisis and obstruction or prevention of aid delivery is a grave violation of Israel’s obligations as the occupying Power under international law, United Nations resolutions, the rules of human rights, the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice issued in July 2024 and the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, as well as all the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly on the basis of the measures and orders of the International Court of Justice. The Arab Group and the League of Arab States stress that the Council needs to activate international oversight mechanisms in order to guarantee the delivery of aid safely and in a sustainable manner to all Palestinians in need. We also stress the need promote international efforts to ensure the protection of civilian Palestinians and to meet their basic needs immediately and effectively. In that regard, we stress the central humanitarian role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Gaza, which cannot be replaced by any other entity. We stress the importance of the continued work of UNRWA to provide its vital services to Palestinian refugees in accordance with its United Nations mandate. The Arab Group commends the tireless efforts spearheaded by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, including the release of detainees and hostages. We stress the need for the Council to exercise the utmost pressure on Israel in order for it to end the military aggression resumed yesterday and to complete the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the second and third phases, and all its other terms. That would lead to a permanent end of the aggression on Gaza and Israel’s full withdrawal from the Strip and facilitate the return of Gazans to the areas of residence, including in the north, in line with Security Council resolutions, most notably resolution 2735 (2024). The Arab Group and the Arab League stress the need to build on those efforts to begin the implementation In conclusion, the Arab Group and the League of Arab States reaffirm their full solidarity with the Palestinian people and their staunch support for the people’s historical steadfastness and attachment to its land and its refusal to be displaced. We stress that continued military operations, siege, starvation, forced thirst and oppressive measures perpetrated by Israel will lead only to further deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation threatening the security of the entire region. We reiterate that the only solution to this conflict is through ending the Israeli occupation, guaranteeing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of an independent sovereign State, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the basis of the two-State solution and the Arab Peace Initiative, and with the State of Palestine joining as a full-fledged member of the United Nations.

The representative of the United States has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I could not help but notice that some of the behaviour during this meeting, including departing from the Chamber and leaving a seat vacant while the representative of Israel was speaking under rule 37, is inconsistent with the decorum that we expect in the Chamber. I simply wanted to register that.