CEIRPP Chair’s Statement at the Security Council Quarterly Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question – 18 April 2024

New York, 18 April 2024

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Malta for assuming the April presidency of the Security Council. I join previous speakers in thanking Malta for convening this meeting at ministerial level, elevating the Council’s attention to the gravity of the prevailing crisis.

I also extend my gratitude to the Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his briefing and tireless efforts toward achieving a just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Distinguished Council members,

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People rejects linking the origin of the current crisis solely to the abhorrent attacks of 7 October 2023 inside Israel. The historical context, spanning over 76 years on the UN agenda, helps to understand the illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem, decades of documented human rights violations, grave breaches of international humanitarian law, and seventeen years of blockade of the Gaza Strip. Addressing such issues is essential for a just and lasting resolution to the question of Palestine, including the current catastrophic crisis in Gaza.

Our Committee welcomed the Security Council’s belated adoption of resolution 2728 (2024) demanding, inter alia, an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan leading to a lasting, sustainable ceasefire.

However, the Committee deeply regrets that the resolution was not implemented. Ramadan is over, and thousands of Palestinian civilians continue to being killed and maimed. This must stop.

Israel’s war in Gaza has resulted in high civilian deaths among Palestinians, extensive displacement, denial of food and medicine as a weapon, plausible genocide, and consistent violations of international law, including disregarding ICJ orders. Blatant disrespect for international law undermines the UN and its authority, eroding the multilateral system and the Council’s standing.

In six months of this horrific war, the occupying Power’s military operations have killed over 33,000 Palestinians and injured over 76,000, mostly women and children. Deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid has plunged 1.1 million civilians into starvation, disease, and death. Gaza is today victim of an openly admitted human-made famine.

At the same time, Israel’s occupying forces and armed settlers continue to inflict violence and dispossession to the Palestinian population in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since the start of 2024, according to the Israeli organization Peace Now, Israel’s confiscation of Palestinian land and settlement expansion has grown massively compared to previous years. Israel’s illegal settlement activities and its illegal occupation must cease.

Distinguished Council members,

 The Committee commends the UN, Member States, and NGOs for aid efforts in Gaza, while condemning Israeli deliberate attacks on humanitarian workers and infrastructure. We note the disparity in attention devoted to these incidents, including the killing of 178 UNRWA and other staff, and the equally horrendous World Central Kitchen staff tragedy.

We continue to demand unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza. We also demand a stop to the targeting of journalists – over 150 of them have been killed in Israeli attacks. Moreover, the international press must be allowed access to Gaza.

The Committee strongly denounces Israel’s persistent efforts to undermine UNRWA, the only entity with the capacity to address the needs of civilians in Gaza. The Committee opposes any attempts to shift the status of Palestinian refugees as per General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 1948.

We must not let UNRWA collapse, as the ramifications go beyond mere humanitarian concerns. It would threaten to ignite new flames of tension and conflict in an already volatile region. The Committee urges donors to promptly resume funding UNRWA and to support the full implementation of its General Assembly mandate.

The Committee welcomes the UN Human Rights Council resolutions of 5 April urging, among other measures, to prevent forced transfers of Palestinians and halt arms sales to Israel.

We acknowledge efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States towards achieving a permanent and sustainable ceasefire and the release of all hostages and hope for an agreement.

We must strive for peace in Gaza to prevent escalating conflicts that threaten global security. The Committee urgently calls for an immediate halt to Israel-Iran escalation, emphasizing adherence by all to the UN Charter’s principles.

The Committee urges the Security Council and Member States to support the State of Palestine’s application for UN membership. This crucial step will support the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the realization of the two-State solution. We salute the ongoing efforts of the European Union countries planning to join the 140 Member States who already recognize the State of Palestine.

We welcome the appointment of a new Prime Minister to lead the Government of Palestine to help streamline recovery and reconstruction efforts.

I conclude with a plea to all Member States, including Council members, to heed the calls of the General Assembly as well as civil society, civil servants, and citizens throughout the world who are clamoring daily for an end to the carnage in Gaza, accountability for egregious crimes committed by all parties, and for vigorous efforts to achieve a just, lasting solution to the question of Palestine.

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