S/2023/795 SC

The Security Council, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), 446 (1979), 452 (1979), 465 (1980), 471(1980), 476 (1980), 478 (1980), 497 (1981), 1397 (2002), 1515 (2003), 1701 (2006), and 1850 (2008) and 2334 (2016), Condemning any terrorist acts as well as acts of violence and hostilities against civilians regardless of their motivations, whenever and whomsoever committed, Expressing grave concern at the escalation of violence and the deterioration of the situation in the region, in particular the resulting heavy civilian casualties, and emphasizing that civilians in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, must be protected, in accordance with international humanitarian law, Expressing deep concern at the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and at its grave impact on the civilian population, especially disproportioned effect on children, and underlining the need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, Determining that the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip constitutes a threat to peace and security in the region, Emphasizing that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate further in the absence of a political solution, Reiterating its vision of a region where two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, Recalling that a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be achieved by peaceful means, based on its relevant resolutions, 1. Calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire; 2. Firmly condemns all violence and hostilities against civilians; 3. Unequivocally rejects and condemns the heinous attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting 7 October 2023 and the taking of civilian hostages, and expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to all Israeli civilians and all other civilians who have lost their lives; 4. Also unequivocally condemns indiscriminate attacks against civilians as well as against civilian objects in the Gaza Strip resulting in civilian casualties, in particular heinous strike against Al Ahli hospital 17 October and the orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius 19 October, and condemns and rejects the actions to impose the blockade of the Gaza Strip depriving civilian population of means indispensable for their survival, in violation of international humanitarian law, and expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to Palestinian civilians and all other civilians who have lost their lives, as well as the UN personnel; 5. Notes in this regard that humanitarian ceasefire agreement could play a vital role to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance in order to help save civilian lives, and further calls for all measures, such as humanitarian pauses and establishment of humanitarian corridors, necessary to allow humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other impartial humanitarian organizations full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to all affected areas in the Gaza Strip in accordance with international humanitarian law, to provide essential goods and services important to the well-being of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, including water, electricity, fuel, food and medical supplies; 6. Welcomes the announcement on 21 October 2023 by the Secretary-General of the initial provision of humanitarian supplies to civilians in the Gaza Strip via the “Rafah” border crossing, as well as the additional delivery of supplies on 22 October 2023, and calls on Member States to further support the efforts of the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, and others to build on this important step; 7. Also strongly urges the continuous, sufficient and unhindered provision of essential goods and services to civilians, including electricity, water, fuel, food, and medical supplies, stressing the imperative, under international humanitarian law, to ensure civilians are not deprived of objects indispensable to their survival; 8. Urges the immediate rescission of the order for civilians and UN staff to evacuate all areas in Gaza north of the Wadi Gaza and relocate in southern Gaza; 9. Stresses the importance of a humanitarian notification mechanism to protect UN facilities, all humanitarian sites and hospitals and other medical facilities, and to ensure the movement of aid convoys; 10. Strongly urges all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including those related to the conduct of hostilities, including in relation to the protection of civilians; 11. Reiterates the call on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including regarding taking constant care to spare civilian objects, including those critical to the delivery of essential services to the civilian population, refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian populations and respecting and protecting humanitarian personnel and medical personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities; 12. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages, demanding for their safety, well-being, and humane treatment in compliance with international law; 13. Emphasizes the importance of preventing spillover in the region and, in this regard, calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and on all those with influence on them to work toward this objective; 14. Stresses that lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to mutual recognition, full respect for human rights, freedom from violence and incitement, and affirms the urgency of diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders as envisioned in its prior resolutions, and calls for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations based on the relevant United Nations resolutions including a two-State solution; 15. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

UN Project. “S/2023/795.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/S-2023-795/. Accessed .

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