Security Council meets to issue statement on the grave situation in Gaza – Verbatim record

Provisional

Security Council 

Sixty-ninth year 

  

7225th meeting 

Monday, 28 July 2014, midnight 

New York 

  Agenda 

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

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The meeting was called to order at midnight.

Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was adopted.

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

The President: 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 the previous practice in this regard.

There being no objection, it is so decided.

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, to participate in this meeting.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda.

Following consultations among Council members, I have been authorized to make the following statement on their behalf

“The Security Council expresses grave concern regarding the deterioration in the situation as a result of the crisis related to Gaza and the loss of civilian lives and casualties.

“The Security Council calls for full respect of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilian populations, and reiterates the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection.

“The Security Council expresses strong support for the call by international partners and the Secretary-General of the United Nations for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire, allowing for the delivery of urgently needed assistance, and they urge all parties to accept and fully implement the humanitarian ceasefire into the Eid period and beyond. The Security Council commends the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United States Secretary of State John Kerry for their efforts in this regard.

“The Security Council also calls on parties to engage in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected ceasefire, based on the Egyptian initiative. In this regard, the Security Council welcomes the efforts of international partners and the convening of the international meeting to support the ceasefire held in Paris on 26 July 2014 and urges all concerned regional and international parties to vigorously support efforts to consolidate an agreement between the parties.

“The Security Council emphasizes that civilian and humanitarian facilities, including those of the United Nations, must be respected and protected, and calls on all parties to act consistently with this principle.

“The Security Council calls for the full implementation of resolution 1860 (2009) and stresses the need for immediate provision of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, including through urgent additional contributions to the United Nations Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The Security Council recognizes and commends the vital role played by the Agency, along with other United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations, in addressing the critical humanitarian needs in Gaza.

“The Security Council urges the parties and the international community to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the vision of a region where two democratic States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace with secure and recognized borders as envisioned in Security Council resolution 1850 (2008).”

This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2014/13.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.

The meeting rose at 12.10 a.m.