Security Council Media Stakeout – Welcomes release of Edan Alexander; deems Israel’s blockade of aid to Gaza as a ‘pressure lever’ unacceptable – Joint Press Encounter delivered by ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on behalf of the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia

13 May 2025

Joint Press Encounter delivered by ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza on behalf of the UK, France, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia.

Transcript:

Good afternoon. We, the UK, Denmark, France, Greece, and Slovenia, called for today’s urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza.

First, we want to welcome the release of Edan Alexander yesterday and reiterate our call for all of the remaining hostages who have been cruelly held by Hamas for over 18 months to be released immediately. Their suffering must end.

The Security Council has been consistent and clear on this since the brutal terror attack on the 7th of October. Hamas must have no future role in Gaza or be in a position to threaten Israel. Israel has now fully blocked aid entering Gaza for over two months. Blocking aid as a pressure lever is unacceptable. And last week, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to expand its military operations in Gaza. We strongly oppose both these actions, which will add to Palestinian suffering while doing nothing to serve the long-term interests of peace and security in the region, nor to secure the safe return of the hostages. Any attempt by Israel to annex land in Gaza would be unacceptable and violate international law. Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.

On the humanitarian situation, the World Food Program have told us they already have no food left. Palestinian civilians, including children, face starvation as a result. Just yesterday, the IPC released a report warning that Gaza’s entire population is already at critical risk of famine. Without an urgent lifting of the aid block, more Palestinians are at risk of dying—deaths that could easily be avoided. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or a military tactic.

We’re also deeply concerned at proposals to establish a new mechanism for the delivery of aid, which the UN has said would not meet humanitarian purposes and principles. International law requires Israel to allow and facilitate the safe, rapid, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid and ensure that basic services are provided for all Gazan civilians. This applies to all armed conflicts around the world. Gaza is not an exception.

We have two clear messages for the government of Israel: lift the block on aid entering Gaza now and enable the UN and all humanitarians to save lives. Any model for distributing humanitarian aid must be independent, impartial, and neutral, and in line with international humanitarian law and principles. We cannot support any model that places political or military objectives above the needs of civilians or that undermines the UN and other partners’ ability to operate independently.

We are also outraged by the killing of Palestinian Red Crescent workers and the hit on a UN compound on the 19th of March. Humanitarian aid workers and UN premises must be protected. We call on Israel to complete and release the findings of its investigation into the UN compound incident and take concrete action to ensure this can never happen again. At least 418 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began. That is at least 418 too many. We urge Israel to investigate all incidents transparently, to be clear on the steps taken to hold those responsible to account, and reinstate an effective deconfliction system.

The only way to end the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis is for an immediate return to a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, and to urgently advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution. This is the only way to achieve long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis. And we welcome France and Saudi Arabia’s leadership in chairing an international conference on the two-state solution here in New York in June.

I thank you.

Q& A

In 2006, when the Palestinians had a chance to go to the polls, they elected Hamas. Now why do you give yourself the right to confiscate the right of the Palestinians to choose their leaders? Why don’t you put pressure on Abbas to open the area for free and fair elections and see who the Palestinians want to choose?

So the purpose of the Security Council meeting today, when we’ll have briefings from the World Food Program, is to talk about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. We’ll move on to other considerations, but today’s focus is the humanitarian situation.

Ambassador, when you express concern in your statement about the aid mechanism, are you referring specifically to the aid mechanism that’s been put forward by the United States—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation?

So this is the aid mechanism that is currently being discussed. It was put forward, I think, initially by Israel and is now being considered by the United States. And the UN is concerned that it won’t do the work.

Thank you very much. You have a very strong statement. Do you expect strong actions from the Security Council?