Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nSpeakers today urged the Security Council to consider the long-term effects of allowing the status quo to remain in the Occupied Palestinian Territory following a three-day escalation in violence earlier this month, as some members welcomed economic measures to allay the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip while others stressed that this relief is no substitute for a genuine political horizon.<\/p>\n
Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Council that the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad remains in effect and that \u201ca fragile calm has been restored in Gaza\u201d. \u00a0While that measure prevented escalation into a full-scale war and allowed for the resumption of measures bringing much-needed economic relief to people in Gaza, the underlying drivers of conflict remain unresolved. \u00a0He underscored that, unless these fundamental issues are addressed, \u201cthe cycle of acute crisis followed by short-term fixes will persist\u201d.<\/p>\n
He went on to point out that, while some positive steps occurred during the reporting period \u2014 including the issuance of over 14,000\u00a0economic-needs permits \u2014 the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains troubling, and the humanitarian response across the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to face chronic funding gaps. \u00a0Past weeks have shown that \u201cmanaging conflict is no substitute for a real political process\u201d, he noted, calling for the cessation of unilateral steps that perpetuate negative trends across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, for an expanded space for Palestinian economic activity and for a strengthen Palestinian Authority. \u00a0\u201cThe status quo is not a strategy nor a strategic option,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u00a0(UNRWA), then told the Council that UNRWA remains the lifeline for one of the most underprivileged and desperate communities in the region. \u00a0\u201cGoing to school, getting health services or receiving a food parcel are, for many Palestinian refugees, their only sources of normality,\u201d he said. \u00a0For these refugees, UNRWA remains the last standing pillar of the international community\u2019s commitment to their right to a dignified life and a just, lasting solution, he stressed, appealing to Member States who have reduced their funding to reconsider the impact of that decision on the region\u2019s stability.<\/p>\n
Daniel Levy, President of the U.S.\/Middle East Project, next stressed that the illegal blockade of Gaza and the unlawful occupation represent forms of structural violence and collective punishment that cannot be ignored. \u00a0Any attempt to resume negotiations between the parties without addressing power asymmetries \u201cis a hollow and redundant exercise\u201d, he said, urging a focus on power relations rather than \u201cboth sides-ism\u201d. \u00a0\u201cEconomic palliatives under occupation deepen dependence and enmity,\u201d he pointed out, noting that profound shifts are occurring because of the unwillingness to hold Israel to account. \u00a0Talk of the eclipse of a two-State option is neither alarmist nor far-fetched, and he urged those present not to underestimate the longer-term significance and traction of what is happening.<\/p>\n
In the ensuing debate, many Council members expressed concern over Israeli raids on six\u00a0Palestinian civil society organizations that occurred on 18\u00a0August and the shrinking of civic space in the Occupied Palestinian territory. \u00a0Some Council members also called for an investigation into recent civilian deaths following the escalation in violence earlier in August. \u00a0Several Council members, while welcoming the increased issuance of work permits and reopening of border crossings, stressed that the blockade on Gaza must be lifted.<\/p>\n
On that point, Mexico\u2019s representative noted that the situation in the Gaza Strip remains critical despite those positive measures and called for an end to the blockade. \u00a0Also calling for a comprehensive investigation to clarify who bears responsibility for recent civilian deaths, she called for a cessation of harassment against Palestinian civil-society organizations. \u00a0\u201cA democratic State must not carry out actions that reduce civic space,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n
The representative of Ireland agreed, underscoring that the 18\u00a0August raids \u2014 and the measures that followed \u2014 represent a \u201cworrying reduction of space for civil society in the Occupied Palestinian Territory\u201d. \u00a0She went on to point out that Ireland has not received any information from Israel that would justify reviewing its policy towards those organizations, expressing serious concern over the misuse of counter-terror legislation in this regard.<\/p>\n
China\u2019s representative also expressed concern over recent Israeli actions against non-governmental organizations, called for Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza and urged investigations into violence by Israeli security forces. \u00a0He went on to stress that the international community must rise above piecemeal crisis management, noting that Israel and Palestine will remain neighbours and basing one\u2019s security on the insecurity of the other will only serve to trap everyone in an endless cycle of violence.<\/p>\n
Returning to the economic sphere, the representative of Kenya joined others in pointing out that addressing Gaza\u2019s isolation from the wider regional and global economy will be critical for the peace, security and stability of the broader Middle East region. \u00a0While confidence-building measures in the areas of commerce and security between Israeli and Palestinian authorities \u201cspeak to what is immediately practical in the context of an elusive peace process\u201d, he underscored that they are not a substitute for a resumed political process and dialogue between both parties.<\/p>\n
Other speakers highlighted the need to provide increased funding for UNRWA\u2019s vital humanitarian work. \u00a0The United Kingdom\u2019s representative announced his Government\u2019s approval of a new multi-year funding agreement for the Agency and said it will contribute \u00a315\u00a0million this year.\u00a0 India has also increased its financial contribution \u2014 giving $20\u00a0million since 2018 and pledging $5\u00a0million for this year \u2014 half of which has already been released, according to its delegate.<\/p>\n
Also speaking were representatives of the United States, Russian Federation, Brazil, Albania, United Arab Emirates, France, Gabon, Ghana and Norway.<\/p>\n
The meeting began at 10:05\u00a0a.m. and ended at 12:04\u00a0p.m.<\/p>\n
Briefings<\/u><\/p>\n
TOR WENNESLAND, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Council that the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad remains in effect and that \u201ca fragile calm has been restored in Gaza\u201d.\u00a0 The Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings have remained open since 8\u00a0August \u2014 allowing for the entry of essential goods and materials \u2014 and the United Nations is working with partners to ensure the delivery of urgent assistance to those in need.\u00a0 While the ceasefire prevented escalation into a full-scale war and allowed for the resumption of measures that bring much-needed economic relief to people in Gaza, the underlying drivers of conflict remain unresolved.\u00a0 Violence has increased across much of the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlement activity continues, fiscal and political challenges threaten the Palestinian Authority\u2019s efficacy in delivering essential public services and the West Bank and Gaza remain politically divided.\u00a0 He underscored that, unless these fundamental issues are addressed, \u201cthe cycle of acute crisis followed by short-term fixes will persist\u201d.<\/p>\n
Providing an account of the three-day escalation of violence that occurred earlier in August, he said that the Israel Defense Forces conducted some 147\u00a0airstrikes against purported military targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants indiscriminately fired approximately 1,100\u00a0rockets towards Israel.\u00a0 Emphasizing that the violence took a severe toll on civilians, he expressed concern that airstrikes in densely populated areas resulted in civilian fatalities and injuries, also condemning the indiscriminate launching of rockets into civilian population centres.\u00a0 He went on to note that daily violence continues at high levels across the occupied West Bank, and that settler-related violence also persisted during the reporting period, reiterating that perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and that security forces must only use lethal force when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.<\/p>\n
Also detailing settlement-related developments, he reiterated that all settlements are illegal under international law and called on Israeli authorities to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned property, to cease the displacement and eviction of Palestinians and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs.\u00a0 He also expressed concern over the decision by Israel\u2019s Ministry of Education to halt the granting of permanent licenses to six Palestinian schools in occupied East Jerusalem and the 18\u00a0August closure of the offices of all\u00a0six non-governmental organizations designated as terrorist organizations in November\u00a02021.\u00a0 While some positive steps occurred during the reporting period \u2014 including the issuance of over 14,000\u00a0economic-needs permits, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains troubling, and the humanitarian response across the Occupied Palestinian Territory continues to face chronic funding gaps.<\/p>\n
While welcoming the measures taken by Israel towards easing conditions in Gaza since the May\u00a02021 escalation, he emphasized that the past weeks have again shown that \u201cmanaging conflict is no substitute for a real political process\u201d.\u00a0 Urging work towards a political horizon, he called for unilateral steps that perpetuate negative trends across the Occupied Palestinian Territory to cease, for an expanded space for Palestinian economic activity and for a strengthened Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 \u201cThe status quo is not a strategy nor a strategic option,\u201d he stressed, urging firm action to enable a return to meaningful negotiations.<\/p>\n
PHILIPPE LAZZARINI, Commissioner-General of the\u00a0United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA<\/u>), said the situation of Palestine refugees has further deteriorated since his last briefing, with over 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent of refugees in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza living below the poverty line.\u00a0 In Gaza, the escalation of violence earlier this month was a stark reminder that war and violence can erupt anytime in the absence of a comprehensive effort to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\u00a0 He noted that 60\u00a0refugee families lost their homes and 17\u00a0children were killed. \u00a0Nearly half of UNRWA students suffer from trauma and need special assistance to cope with the repeated cycles of violence and economic hardship.\u00a0 In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, political, economic and security conditions are deteriorating as refugees experience high levels of dispossession, violence and insecurity.<\/p>\n
In Syria, after 11\u00a0years of conflict, the most destitute families are returning to live amid the rubble of their destroyed homes as they can no longer afford rent, with children walking near unexploded ordnance to take UNRWA buses to school, while in Lebanon, the pressure on the Agency to do more is becoming unbearable, he said.\u00a0 Protests and acts of violence directed against UNRWA at times force the closure of installations, while illegal emigration of refugees is rising. \u00a0UNRWA remains the lifeline for one of the most underprivileged and desperate communities in the region, contributing to one of its most successful human development stories, educating over 2\u00a0million girls and boys, ensuring universal infant vaccination and reducing maternal mortality.\u00a0 \u201cGoing to school, getting health services or receiving a food parcel are, for many Palestine refugees, their only sources of normality,\u201d he said, adding: \u00a0\u201cThey look to UNRWA for that normality.\u201d\u00a0 The quality of the education which UNRWA students receive is praised by reputable validators such as the British Council, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees\u00a0(UNHCR) and the World Bank, on average outperforming their peers by one year of learning, with schools also having reached gender parity.<\/p>\n
However, shifting geopolitical priorities, regional dynamics and the emergence of new humanitarian crises have forced the Agency to operate with a shortfall of around $100\u00a0million year after year, with UNRWA facing an existential threat, he warned.\u00a0 At stake are quality and principled education for over half a million girls and boys, access to health care for 2\u00a0million Palestine refugees and a social safety net for 400,000 of the poorest amongst the poor. \u00a0For these refugees, he stressed that UNRWA remains the last standing pillar of the international community\u2019s commitment to their right to a dignified life and their right to a just and lasting solution.<\/p>\n
Despair and a sense of abandonment are growing in the refugee camps, he stressed \u2014 a threat to peace and stability.\u00a0 \u201cThe impact of predictable services on the safety of refugees and on regional stability should suffice to convince every Member State to commit funding to UNRWA in line with the resolutions they adopt,\u201d he said. \u00a0Instead, the Agency continues to be under intense pressure due to lack of adequate funding from Member States, and the objection to any perceived change in the way services are delivered.\u00a0 Any change is seen as an attempt to encroach on the rights of the refugees, with hosts and refugees fearing that UNRWA may be weakened or dismantled altogether. \u00a0He appealed to Member States who have reduced their funding to reconsider the impact of their decision on the region\u2019s stability. \u00a0With extension of the UNRWA mandate soon to be put to the General Assembly for approval, he further appealed to them to mobilize politically and financially to support UNRWA and to continue working towards a political solution.<\/p>\n
DANIEL LEVY, President of the\u00a0U.S.\/Middle East Project<\/u>, then briefed the Council that the permanent dispossession and denial of the most-basic rights and freedoms to the Palestinian people \u201cwill never be a recipe for achieving sustainable security\u201d.\u00a0 The illegal blockade of Gaza and the unlawful occupation represent forms of structural violence and collective punishment that cannot be ignored, and there is a need to respect international law across the board \u2014 whether in State responses to armed threats or partisan resistance against State occupation.\u00a0 Underscoring that any attempt to resume negotiations between the parties without addressing power asymmetries \u201cis a hollow and redundant exercise\u201d, he urged that a focus on relations of power \u2014 rather than \u201cboth sides-ism\u201d \u2014 offers a path to clarity of thinking and policy.\u00a0 On that point, he said that attempts at economic confidence-building are \u201cconsistently too little, too late and too ephemeral\u201d when attempted under conditions of permanent occupation.\u00a0 The Palestinian economic predicament must be understood primarily as a function of politically imposed obstacles \u2014 on movement, borders, access to land, confiscations and demolitions \u2014 rather than an absence of charity.\u00a0 \u201cEconomic palliatives under occupation deepen dependence and enmity,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
He went on to stress that Israel\u2019s actions as the powerful occupying party determine this conflict\u2019s direction of travel, and that profound shifts are occurring because of the unwillingness to hold Israel to account.\u00a0 Responses limited to expressions of condemnation are too easily dismissed, he said, pointing out that this \u201cimpunity on steroids\u201d encourages more of the same, or worse.\u00a0 Suggesting that \u2014 contrary to a prevailing perception of stalemate \u2014 Israelis and Palestinians are passing through a \u201cprofound transition\u201d, he said that talk of the eclipse of a two-State option is neither alarmist nor far-fetched; rather, \u201cit is a sober and probably behind-the-curve rendering of the lived reality\u201d.\u00a0 An increasingly weighty body of scholarly, legal and public opinion has designated Israel as perpetrating Apartheid in the territories under its control.\u00a0 \u201cThis is what failure to generate accountability and to achieve two\u00a0States looks like,\u201d he stressed, urging those present not to underestimate the longer-term significance and traction of what is happening.\u00a0 Recalling that the United Nations offered partition as the political paradigm for the Holy Land 75\u00a0years ago \u2014 a land that, today, is\u00a0de facto\u00a0<\/em>united under one dominion \u2014 he underscored that, absent unprecedently far-reaching action to make good on that partition, \u201cyour successors in this chamber will come to debate the challenge of achieving equality under a reality of non-partition\u201d.<\/p>\nStatements<\/u><\/p>\n
RICHARD M. MILLS JR. (United States<\/u>) welcomed the ongoing ceasefire and fuel shipments to Gaza, while mourning the loss of life.\u00a0 Citing the support of Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and the United Nations, he demanded that terrorist groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad cease attacks on Israel, while appreciating the work of non-governmental organizations in monitoring human rights abuses.\u00a0 Expressing concern over escalating tensions, he urged all parties to refrain from unilateral activities including settlements, demolitions and disruption of the historic status quo at holy sites.\u00a0 Citing the recent visit to the region by President Joseph R. Biden, he stressed that the Palestinian people deserve a State of their own that is independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous \u2014 two\u00a0States for two\u00a0peoples with deep roots in the region.\u00a0 There are no shortcuts to statehood, he affirmed, calling for direct negotiations between the parties.\u00a0 The United States is committed to serving as a strong partner with UNRWA, noting it is the largest single donor, while many other States profess support without offering it financially.\u00a0 He called on all countries to join the United States\u2019 efforts for peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation<\/u>) said that it is increasingly clear that the Palestinian question has been unresolved for so long that any provocation could lead to far-reaching regional confrontation.\u00a0 Western countries\u2019\u00a0de facto\u00a0<\/em>disregard of systemic violations of Palestinian rights over the longest occupation in post-war history indicates a clear case of double standards, he stressed, pointing out that one of the factors hindering just peace for Palestinians is the behaviour of the United States.\u00a0 That country is trying to monopolize the peace process and \u201creformat it to fit their mould\u201d, he said, attempting to impose \u201ceconomic peace\u201d on Palestinians rather than meeting their legitimate claims for an independent State.\u00a0 Calling for a just resolution to the Palestinian question based on a two-State formula, he also underscored the need for direct negotiations between the parties, which should address other final-status issues such as refugees, water resources and Israel\u2019s security concerns.<\/p>\nJO\u00c3O GEN\u00c9SIO DE ALMEIDA FILHO (Brazil<\/u>) noted the ceasefire announced on 7\u00a0August remains fragile, and without concrete measures to reduce tensions in the Palestinian territories and in Israel, there is a real risk of the resumption of violence \u2014 citing the attack on Jewish worshippers in Jerusalem on 14\u00a0August.\u00a0 Unless there is progress towards a just and sustainable political solution to the conflict, the danger of renewed cycles of violence will persist.\u00a0 As the conflict drags on, the civilian population pays a heavy toll not only in terms of lives lost and people injured, but also frustrated expectations and dreams cut short. \u00a0Stressing the need for financial support to the Palestinian Authority as well as the Palestinian economy as a whole, he noted that \u2014 while his Government\u2019s budget faces constraints of its own \u2014 Brazil announced in June an additional financial contribution to UNRWA.\u00a0 Diplomacy and the efforts of the international community have prevented the most recent flare-up of violence from escalating further. \u00a0\u201cLet us not be satisfied with a mere ceasefire,\u201d he stressed, calling for the Council to spare no effort to bring about real progress towards a political solution.<\/p>\n
FERIT HOXHA (Albania<\/u>), reiterating his country\u2019s strong support for civil society as a critical pillar of any democratic society, joined others in expressing concern over Israel\u2019s action against six\u00a0Palestinian non-governmental organizations and calling on Israel to refrain from any action that would prevent these organizations from continuing their critical human rights, humanitarian and development work.\u00a0 He also stressed that settlements and their expansions contravene international law and pose an obstacle to a two-State solution, urging all sides to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric that escalates tensions and endangers the peace process.\u00a0 Violence is never conducive to any positive development, and the negotiation table is the only place where a viable, just solution can be found.\u00a0 Supporting all efforts to bring the parties together to deal with difficult, complex issues with patience and determination, he urged that \u201cwe should not let hope die, since nothing good is ever done without hope and nothing important is ever built without dreams\u201d.<\/p>\n
AMEIRAH OBAID MOHAMED OBAID ALHEFEITI (United Arab Emirates<\/u>) stressed the security situation is fragile with worrying repeated cycles of violence, requiring a fair and viable solution to the Palestinian issue.\u00a0 Parties must resume negotiations to implement a two-State solution, resulting in an independent and sovereign Palestinian State based on the 1967\u00a0borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel, in peace, security and mutual recognition.\u00a0 She stressed it is also vital to maintain the ceasefire in Gaza, hailing mediation role of Egypt.\u00a0 More than 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent of 2\u00a0million Gazans rely on humanitarian aid, with youth unemployment at 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent.\u00a0 Fifteen-year-old children have now witnessed five\u00a0devastating cycles of conflict, she stressed, calling on the United Nations and international partners to intensify efforts to support the recovery and reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 She further urged the Palestinian and Israeli authorities to intensify cooperation in the economic, health and service sectors to improve the lives of Palestinians, especially refugee communities, underlining the important role that civil society actors can play in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 She condemned all unilateral steps that hinder efforts to achieve a two-State solution \u2014 particularly the settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in clear violation of international law and of Council resolutions. \u00a0It is further crucial to safeguard the status quo in Jerusalem.\u00a0 Diplomacy is the best way to resolve the issue, she stated.<\/p>\n
NATHALIE BROADHURST ESTIVAL (France<\/u>) said that the Council\u2019s immediate priority is to ensure that the ceasefire in Gaza holds and that the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings remain open for the movement of goods and people.\u00a0 However, a new escalation is inevitable without a paradigm shift and the resumption of a genuine political process.\u00a0 On that point, she stressed that a strictly economic approach \u2014 one that does not restore a political horizon \u2014 will not bring stability to the region.\u00a0 Unilateral measures must end, which involves the cessation of settlement activities, demolitions and evictions.\u00a0 Further, she called on Israel to abandon projects concerning the \u201cE1\u201d zone and urged respect for the status quo of holy sites.\u00a0 Also expressing concern over Israeli raids targeting Palestinian non-governmental organizations, she stressed that a free, dynamic civil society is vital for promoting democratic values and implementing a two-State solution.<\/p>\n
MARTIN KIMANI (Kenya<\/u>) said that addressing Gaza\u2019s isolation from the wider regional and global economy will be critical for the peace, security and stability of the broader Middle East region.\u00a0 On this, he welcomed Israel\u2019s recent decision to increase the work-permit quota for Palestinians in Gaza and to reopen the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings.\u00a0 Turning to UNRWA, he pointed out that, while the Agency continues to play a key role in facilitating critical health, education, social protection, microfinance and other services to the Palestinian population, its fiscal situation remains dire.\u00a0 He therefore urged \u2014 in addition to fulfilling pledges to ensure adequate, predictable funding for the Agency \u2014 strengthened efforts to identify areas of cooperation between UNRWA and other peacebuilding and development entities.\u00a0 Confidence-building measures in the areas of commerce and security between Israeli and Palestinian authorities \u201cspeak to what is immediately practical in the context of an elusive peace process\u201d, he added, but underscored that these are not a substitute for a resumed political process and dialogue between both parties.<\/p>\n
ALLEGRA PAMELA R. BONGO (Gabon<\/u>) reiterated the call on all parties to show restraint and refrain from unilateral actions that could lead to the resumption of hostilities.\u00a0 Noting the humanitarian and economic situations in the Palestinian territories remain critical, she cited the unprecedented financial crisis facing the Palestinian Authority, and the budgetary problems of UNRWA \u2014 underscoring the urgency which the international community faces.\u00a0 She noted Israel has allowed more workers to enter, a sign of d\u00e9tente.\u00a0 She reaffirmed commitment to a two-State solution on the basis of the 1967\u00a0borders and for a real and lasting peace, based on respect for the principles agreed upon by the parties and on the application of international law. \u00a0Citing the essential role of all States in the sub-region, she further noted the recent visit of President Mahmoud Abbas to T\u00fcrkiye after the resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel. \u00a0The normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab countries should contribute to the peace process in the Middle East, and thus respond to the legitimate needs and aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.<\/p>\n
ALICIA GUADALUPE BUENROSTRO MASSIEU (Mexico<\/u>), while noting that the ceasefire is holding, called for a comprehensive investigation to be conducted to clarify who bears responsibility for recent civilian deaths.\u00a0 Additionally, despite the reopening of border crossings and the increasing number of work permits granted, she stressed that the situation in the Gaza Strip remains critical and called for an end to the blockade.\u00a0 Turning to UNRWA, she said that the Agency is essential to meet humanitarian needs, conduct reconstruction work and supply basic services to the Palestinian people, but pointed out that a chronic financial deficit undermines the Agency\u2019s ability to meet these needs.\u00a0 She went on to note the decision by several European nations to continue cooperating with six\u00a0Palestinian civil society organizations considering the lack of evidence regarding such organizations\u2019 ties with terrorism and called for a cessation of harassment against these organizations.\u00a0 \u201cA democratic State must not carry out actions that reduce civic space,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
JAMES KARIUKI (United Kingdom<\/u>) welcomed the two-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords, a historic milestone towards the goal of shared prosperity and peace throughout the region, and called for the parties to make every effort to sustain the ceasefire in Gaza.\u00a0 He condemned the terrorist attack in Jerusalem on 13\u00a0August, as well as all acts of terrorism, reiterating unwavering commitment to Israel\u2019s security.\u00a0 Noting the record number of Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces this year, he urged that State to show restraint in the use of live ammunition, voicing concern over the Government\u2019s decision last year to designate six Palestinian non-governmental organizations as terrorist organizations.\u00a0 Civil society organizations play an important role in upholding human rights and democracy and they must be able to operate freely in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 He called on the Israeli authorities to halt plans to advance evictions at Khan al Ahmar and on the \u201cE1\u201d settlement plan, further noting that demolitions cause unnecessary suffering and in all but exceptional circumstances are contrary to international law.\u00a0 He noted that the United Kingdom approved a new multi-year funding agreement for UNRWA and will contribute \u00a315\u00a0million this year.\u00a0 The situation on the ground demonstrates the urgent need for a two-State solution ensuring a safe and secure Israel, living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State based on 1967\u00a0lines, with Jerusalem the shared capital of both States.<\/p>\n
FELIX AKOM NYARKU (Ghana<\/u>), while noting that his country is conscious of Israel\u2019s security concerns, expressed concern over the dire humanitarian situation and incidence of human-rights abuses in parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Further, the raiding and closure of the offices of six\u00a0prominent Palestinian civil society organizations that are known to have contributed to human-rights protection in the Territory is worrying.\u00a0 Terrorist designations, if they are to be shared by the international community, require full justification.\u00a0 \u201cTo achieve peace requires deliberate actions in building trust,\u201d he went on to say, urging the parties to de-escalate existing tensions and generate the needed political momentum for direct negotiations.\u00a0 All parties must comply fully with international humanitarian law, the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions, and Israel \u2014 as an occupying Power \u2014 has a responsibility to protect the civilian population, guarantee access for humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable and facilitate the free movement of humanitarian workers throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, he added.<\/p>\n
TRINE SKARBOEVIK HEIMERBACK (Norway<\/u>) stressed that escalations have consequences, with 17\u00a0children killed and 151\u00a0injured in Gaza during the hostilities earlier this month. \u00a0She condemned all acts of terror, including the attack on Israeli civilians in Jerusalem on 14\u00a0August, as everyone deserves to live in security. \u00a0Citing the role of civil society organizations, she stressed that the information Israel has provided does not sufficiently justify designating some of them as \u201cterror organizations\u201d. \u00a0Norway will convene the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee ministerial meeting in the margins of the General Assembly on 22\u00a0September, to help build the foundations for the Palestinian state. \u00a0Its multi-level work must also include Palestinian leaders contributing to strengthening the legitimacy and accountability of the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 Noting the continued ability of UNRWA to serve its functions also remains crucial for regional stability, she voiced concern over the warnings of yet another looming financing crisis. \u00a0The international community must renew efforts to mobilize resources, provide flexible financing, and put the Agency on a more stable financial footing. \u00a0She further reiterated the call for increased efforts to prepare for negotiations towards a political settlement, as a two-State solution \u2014 based on the 1967\u00a0lines \u2014 is the only viable way to ensure peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.<\/p>\n
C\u00c1IT MORAN (Ireland<\/u>) welcomed the holding ceasefire and the lifting of additional restrictions on crossings into the Gaza Strip, but expressed concern over the potential for another major escalation as tensions remain high in the West Bank.\u00a0 \u201cWe know what is needed to protect civilians in Gaza,\u201d she said, calling for a permanent ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade in line with resolution\u00a01860 (2009).\u00a0 Further, continued support for UNRWA is vital.\u00a0 Expressing concern over the alarming increase in Palestinian civilian fatalities in the West Bank resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli forces, she called on that country to refrain from using excessive force and for those responsible for violations to be held accountable.\u00a0 She went on to underscore that Israeli raids on six\u00a0Palestinian civil society organizations on 18\u00a0August \u2014 and the measures that followed \u2014 represent a \u201cworrying reduction of space for civil society in the Occupied Palestinian Territory\u201d.\u00a0 Ireland has not received any information from Israel that would justify reviewing its policy towards those organizations, and she expressed serious concern over the misuse of counter-terror legislation to reduce civil society space in the Territory.<\/p>\n
RUCHIRA KAMBOJ (India<\/u>) urged the parties to strictly abide by the ceasefire agreement, noting Israel\u2019s efforts to resume the movement of people from Gaza and the entry of humanitarian goods and fuel.\u00a0 She expressed deep concern over developments in the West Bank and Jerusalem, where violent attacks and the killing of civilians have continued during the reporting period, along with acts of destruction and demolition. \u00a0The historical and legal status quo at Jerusalem\u2019s holy places must be respected and upheld, she stressed, also citing acts of terror and incidents of violence in West Bank and Israel.\u00a0 She urged the parties to refrain from unilateral measures that vitiate conditions necessary for promoting peace. \u00a0Citing the UNRWA budget crisis, she noted that India has increased its annual financial contribution, contributing $20\u00a0million since 2018 and pledging $5\u00a0million for this year \u2014 half of which has already been released.\u00a0 Noting the absence of direct negotiations is not conducive to securing long-term peace, she called for an early return to the political dialogue process by launching credible direct negotiations.\u00a0 India has consistently called for direct peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine towards a two-State solution, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for Statehood and Israel\u2019s legitimate security concerns, she noted.<\/p>\n
ZHANG JUN (China<\/u>), Council President for August, speaking in his national capacity, said the conflict in Gaza has led to hundreds of civilian casualties, plunging the situation to the brink of war.\u00a0 He noted that UNRWA has overcome many difficulties, and the path of recovery for Gaza is a long and tortuous one, calling for strong international community support, and for Israel to facilitate the entry of supplies into Gaza and lift its blockade.\u00a0 Condemning all indiscriminate attacks on civilians, he called for investigations into violence by Israeli security forces, noting there has been no credible explanation for the death of an Al Jazeera journalist over 100\u00a0days ago.\u00a0 Recent Israeli actions against non-governmental organizations are a cause of concern.\u00a0 He noted that the international community must rise above piecemeal crisis management to and return settlement of the Palestinian question to right track.\u00a0 Israel and Palestine will remain neighbours, he stressed, and basing one\u2019s security on the insecurity of the other will only aggravate mistrust and trap everyone in an endless cycle of violence.\u00a0 The occupying Power must protect the safety of people in occupied territories, while settlement activities violate Palestine\u2019s right to self-determination.\u00a0 Every inch of expansion is a new obstacle to a two-State solution, he stressed, calling for peaceful negotiations and advancement of a two-State solution on all fronts, as the situation has been dragging on for 70\u00a0years.\u00a0 He called for harmonious coexistence between Arab and Jewish nations.<\/p>\n
For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 9116TH MEETING (AM) SC\/15006 25 AUGUST 2022 video Fran\u00e7ais\u00a0 Speakers today urged the Security Council to consider the long-term effects of allowing the status quo to remain in the Occupied Palestinian Territory following a three-day escalation in violence earlier this month, as some members welcomed economic measures to allay the dire humanitarian situation in […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[657,723,759,834,5615,5533,882,894,915,981,1029,1074,1197,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329,2805,4389],"document-source":[1362,6169,1817,2901],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,1769,1829,2265,2033,1937,2005,4317,1857,2349,5362,3589,2309,2385,2137,1917,2117,6245,6251],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-281076","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-albania","country-brazil","country-china","country-france","country-gabon","country-ghana","country-india","country-ireland","country-kenya","country-mexico","country-norway","country-russian-federation","country-united-arab-emirates","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-category-video","document-category-webcast","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-department-of-global-communications","document-source-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-in-the-near-east-unrwa","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-in-the-occupied-territories-unsco","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-casualties","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-children","document-subject-economic-issues","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-governance","document-subject-incidents","document-subject-living-conditions","document-subject-ngo-civil-society","document-subject-population","document-subject-protection","document-subject-security-issues","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-situation-in-the-opt-including-jerusalem","document-subject-terrorism","document-subject-violence","document-subject-west-bank","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/281076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/281076\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=281076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=281076"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=281076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}