{"id":292250,"date":"2023-12-08T13:10:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=292250"},"modified":"2024-01-05T16:15:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T21:15:58","slug":"secretary-general-urges-security-council-to-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-declaring-that-humanitarian-situation-is-now-at-breaking-point-security-council-meetings-coverage","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/secretary-general-urges-security-council-to-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-declaring-that-humanitarian-situation-is-now-at-breaking-point-security-council-meetings-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"Secretary-General Urges Security Council to Call for Ceasefire in Gaza, Declaring That Humanitarian Situation Is Now at \u2018Breaking Point\u2019 – Security Council- Meetings Coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"

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8 December 2023<\/h4>\n
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9498TH MEETING (AM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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SC\/15518<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u2018Nowhere in Gaza Is Safe,\u2019 Council Told Ahead of Key Vote Later Today<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Secretary-General went before the Security Council today to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to avert a humanitarian catastrophe that could have ramifications for peace and security in the region and beyond, two days after he invoked Article\u00a099 of the United Nations Charter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are at a breaking point [and] the situation is simply becoming untenable,\u201d Ant\u00f3nio Guterres told the 15-member organ, emphasizing that there is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in the Gaza Strip as Israel\u2019s war against Hamas raged for a sixty-third day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people of Gaza are being told to move like human pinballs \u2014 ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival \u2014 but nowhere in Gaza is safe,\u201d he said, warning that Palestinians in Gaza are, according to the\u00a0World Food Programme\u00a0(WFP), at serious risk of starvation and famine while health care is collapsing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people of Gaza are looking into the abyss.\u00a0 The international community must do everything possible to end their ordeal,\u201d he said, ahead of another meeting later today when the Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution, presented by the United Arab Emirates, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.<\/p>\n

The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine asked whether the Council is supposed to pretend that Israel\u2019s objective is not the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip.\u00a0 If the Council is against the destruction of the Palestinian people, then it must be in favour of an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 More than 2\u00a0million Palestinians in Gaza are fighting for their lives every day, he said, adding: \u00a0\u201cTell them \u2014 show them \u2014 help is on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s delegate, noting that Article\u00a099 was not invoked with the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine, said that security and stability in the Middle East requires the elimination of Hamas.\u00a0The \u201ctrue path\u201d to peace means supporting Israel\u2019s mission \u2014 not a ceasefire.\u00a0 Without military pressure, no amount of diplomacy can secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, he said, adding that Hamas is \u201csolely responsible\u201d for the humanitarian situation.\u00a0 Noting that today is the start of Hannukah, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cI pray that we see another Hannukah miracle here in the UN.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among Council members, the\u00a0representative of the United Arab Emirates said that the scale of destruction in Gaza has surpassed that of the 1945 bombing of Dresden.\u00a0 The Council must act when too little aid is getting in, when humanitarian workers cannot deliver aid for fear of being killed, when the siege of Gaza is becoming a major source of death and when unrelenting bombardment has killed more than 130\u00a0UN staff members, he said.<\/p>\n

The United States\u2019 representative said the undeniable reality is that, if Israel unilaterally lays down its weapons, Hamas would continue to hold hostages, many of whom are being subjected to inhumane treatment.\u00a0 Hamas remains a threat to Israel, he said, adding that the United States does not support calls for an immediate ceasefire, as Hamas has no desire for either peace or a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

The Russian Federation\u2019s representative, calling on other Council members to support the proposed draft resolution, said that a systematic strategy has taken shape for the violent displacement of Palestinians.\u00a0Its cannibalistic logic is very simple \u2014 \u201cto make life in Gaza unendurable and even possibly to leave the population with a single choice \u2014 to leave their homes or to be killed\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

The representative of France called for a new, immediate and lasting humanitarian truce that should lead to a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0 New crossing points for humanitarian assistance must also be opened.\u00a0 It is unacceptable that the Council has been unable to condemn Hamas\u2019s 7\u00a0October attacks, he said, adding that all hostages must be released.<\/p>\n

Egypt’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, described the ongoing conflict as\u00a0collective punishment and genocide against the Palestinian people.\u00a0The forcible displacement of 85\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Gaza\u2019s people, living in dire circumstances, represents not only the worst of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but also an effort to eliminate the Palestinian people, he stated.<\/p>\n

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION (<\/strong><\/em>S\/2023\/962<\/strong><\/em><\/a>)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Briefing<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

ANT\u00d3NIO GUTERRES,\u00a0Secretary-General of the United Nations<\/u>,<\/strong> said he invoked Article\u00a099 of the Charter of the United Nations because \u201cwe are at a breaking point\u201d.\u00a0 There is a high risk that the humanitarian support system in Gaza will collapse and that would have devastating consequences, including a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.\u00a0\u201cI fear the consequences could be devastating for the security of the entire region.\u201d\u00a0 He also emphasized the complete lack of safety and security for UN staff and the intensity of military operations, with at least 130\u00a0UN staff killed so far.\u00a0 \u201cSome of our staff take their children to work so they know they will live or die together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist,\u201d he continued.\u00a0 The Rafah crossing point is a major bottleneck and even if sufficient supplies were allowed in, it would be impossible to reach people in need due to the intense bombardment, Israeli restrictions on movement, fuel shortages and interrupted communications.\u00a0 Between 3\u00a0and 5\u00a0December, UN aid distribution was possible in only one of Gaza\u2019s five governorates, namely Rafah.\u00a0 \u201cPeople are desperate, fearful and angry.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 17,000\u00a0Palestinians have reportedly been killed, including more than 4,000\u00a0women and 7,000\u00a0children, he said.\u00a0 Tens of thousands have been injured and many are missing.\u00a0 Some 339\u00a0education facilities, 26\u00a0hospitals, 56\u00a0health-care facilities, 88\u00a0mosques and three\u00a0churches have been hit.\u00a0Over 60\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Gaza\u2019s housing has reportedly been destroyed or damaged and 85\u00a0per\u00a0cent of the population is displaced.\u00a0 \u201cThe people of Gaza are being told to move like human pinballs \u2014 ricocheting between ever-smaller slivers of the south, without any of the basics for survival.\u00a0 But, nowhere in Gaza is safe.\u201d\u00a0 People are running out of food, with the World Food Programme\u00a0(WFP) reporting a serious risk of starvation and famine.\u00a0 WFP\u2019s own food stocks are running out and in the north of Gaza, 9\u00a0out of 10\u00a0people have spent at least one full day and night without food.<\/p>\n

Gaza\u2019s health system is collapsing while needs are escalating, with just 14\u00a0out of 36\u00a0hospitals still functioning, he stated.\u00a0Of these, three are providing basic first aid.\u00a0 Many patients are being treated on the floor and without anaesthetics, while unsanitary conditions in shelters and insufficient water supplies are leading to more respiratory infections, scabies, jaundice and diarrhoea.<\/p>\n

He said that he condemns unreservedly the brutal terror attacks unleashed against Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7\u00a0October, adding that he is also appalled by reports of sexual violence.\u00a0 There is no possible justification for the deliberate killing of 1,200\u00a0people, he said, calling for the immediate release of the 130\u00a0remaining hostages.\u00a0 \u201cAt the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.\u201d\u00a0 International humanitarian law is binding on all parties equally at all times, and the obligation to observe it does not depend on reciprocity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people of Gaza are looking into the abyss.\u00a0 The international community must do everything possible to end their ordeal,\u201d he said, urging the Security Council to push for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the protection of civilians and the urgent delivery of life-saving aid.\u00a0 At the same time, he added, the international community must not lose sight of the only viable possibility for a peaceful future \u2014 a two-State solution.\u00a0\u201cThis is vital for Israelis, Palestinians and for international peace and security,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Statements<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

RIYAD H. MANSOUR,\u00a0<\/strong>Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine<\/strong><\/u>,<\/strong> noted that Ecuador is the third President of the Security Council to take office \u201csince Israel started its carpet bombing of the Gaza Strip\u201d.\u00a0 He thanked the Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres for \u201cthe clarity of his voice\u201d and condemned \u201cdespicable attacks\u201d on UN personnel.\u00a0 In two months, Israel has killed 17,000\u00a0Palestinians including 7,000\u00a0children, displaced 1.9\u00a0million people, \u201cand we are all supposed to pretend that this aggression is not aimed at the destruction of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip\u201d.\u00a0 He added:\u00a0 \u201cAre we supposed to pretend we don\u2019t know the objective is the ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip?\u201d\u00a0 If the Council is against the destruction of the Palestinian people, it must be in favour of an immediate ceasefire, as Israel is conducting the war through atrocities and by telling people to head south to be safe while bombing them in the south itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the moment of truth,\u201d he continued, as the shame is not on those calling for a ceasefire in the face of such atrocities \u2014 it haunts those refusing to do so.\u00a0 \u201cThis is Netanyahu\u2019s war [\u2026] the war of the extremist coalition in power in Israel.\u201d\u00a0No one should pretend that this war is targeting Hamas when 70\u00a0per\u00a0cent of those killed are women and children.\u00a0 Citing hostages held by Israel as a means to terrorize and pressure the Palestinian people, he referred to \u201c2\u00a0million hostages in the Gaza Strip.\u201d\u00a0 There is no hierarchy of races, faiths or nationalities and no one should take example from the horrors of the Second World War to justify horrors taking place in Gaza.\u00a0 Israeli exceptionalism must end immediately, he said, calling on the international community to stop rewriting international law to fit Israeli crimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Palestinian people will not die in silence,\u201d he said, emphasizing that they have survived every attempt to annihilate them over a century.\u00a0 This is a moment in history, one where everyone will be asked where they stood, and that will determine who they truly are and what they really stand for.\u00a0Calling on the Council to heed the call of the overwhelming majority of States and billions of people worldwide, he said that the organ has no role more important than saving civilian life.\u00a0Noting that 2.3\u00a0million Palestinians are fighting for their lives every single day, he said:\u00a0 \u201cTell them \u2014 show them \u2014 help is on the way.\u201d\u00a0 The Council must vote for a ceasefire by supporting the draft resolution presented by the United Arab Emirates as the Arab representative on the Council, he said, adding:\u00a0 \u201cTime is up.\u201d<\/p>\n

GILAD MENASHE ERDAN (Israel<\/u><\/strong>) said that, after the Russian Federation\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, a chance of a global war became a possible reality, yet Article\u00a099 was not invoked.\u00a0Thousands of people were also killed and millions displaced in Yemen and Syria, but again, Article\u00a099 was not invoked.\u00a0 Regional stability and security of Israelis and Gazans can be achieved once Hamas is eliminated and the true path to that goal means supporting Israel\u2019s mission, not a ceasefire.\u00a0 \u201cOn 6\u00a0October, there was a ceasefire in place.\u00a0 But, on October 7, Hamas broke the ceasefire with an unprovoked invasion,\u201d he said, adding that a ceasefire would cement Hamas\u2019s control of Gaza.\u00a0Without military pressure, no amount of diplomacy can secure the release of hostages, he added.<\/p>\n

Hamas knows that they cannot win against Israel on the conventional battlefield; therefore, it hides behind the civilian population to maximize casualties.\u00a0 \u201cThe more civilian fatalities there are, the more pressure the international community will put on Israel.\u201d\u00a0 In addition, Hamas fabricates death tolls which are taken at face value at the United Nations.\u00a0 \u201cDo we want to be the actors in the show that Hamas has carefully crafted?\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Hamas violated the recent humanitarian pause while still holding 138\u00a0hostages in Gaza, he noted.\u00a0 \u201cIf the Security Council wants to see a ceasefire, start by demanding it from Hamas \u2014 the party that broke the past two,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Hamas is solely responsible for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, he said, adding that that group is committed to bringing death and destruction to both Israelis and Gazans.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael is taking every possible effort to improve the situation,\u201d he said, reporting that since the war began, more than 35,000\u00a0trucks carrying more than 70,000\u00a0tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing.\u00a0 Israel has also facilitated the entry of 65\u00a0trucks with fuel, he said, adding that the UN has a limited capacity to accept more trucks.\u00a0Israel has facilitated the construction of two field hospitals, while France has supplied a floating hospital with Italy to follow suit.\u00a0 Furthermore, Saudi Arabia donated 21\u00a0additional ambulances and 5\u00a0more field hospitals are set to open soon.\u00a0 \u201cThis was all allowed and facilitated by Israel,\u201d he said, adding that aid is being distributed by Hamas among its terrorists.\u00a0 Noting that today is the start of Hannukah, he stated:\u00a0 \u201cI pray that we see another Hannukah miracle here in the UN.\u201d<\/p>\n

MOHAMED ISSA ABUSHAHAB (United Arab Emirates<\/u><\/strong>) said that the scale of destruction in Gaza has surpassed that of the 1945\u00a0bombing of Dresden.\u00a0 \u201cThe invocation of Article\u00a099 must be a tipping point.\u201d\u00a0 The Council must act when too little aid is getting in, when humanitarian workers cannot deliver aid for fear of being killed, when the siege of Gaza is becoming a major source of death and when unrelenting bombardment has killed more than 130\u00a0UN staff members.\u00a0Resolution\u00a02712\u00a0(2023) must be fully implemented, \u201cbut we all know that the only way to end this tragedy is to impose an immediate humanitarian ceasefire\u201d.\u00a0 After two months of war, ambulances are delivering more dead than survivors to the few emergency rooms still functioning in Gaza, he said, adding that the United Arab Emirates has circulated a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, on which the Council will vote later today.<\/p>\n

DMITRY A. POLYANSKIY (Russian Federation<\/strong><\/u>) said that, after a pause, Israel \u2014 supported by the United States \u2014 transitioned to a more violent phase of its ground operation.\u00a0 Calling on Council members to adopt the draft resolution prepared by the United Arab Emirates, he said that indicators of deliberate destruction of objects protected by international humanitarian law and war crimes are mounting.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s plans to flood underground facilities with sea water would constitute a blatant war crime, as the consequences of groundwater pollution \u2014 the sole source of fresh water in Gaza \u2014 will persist for a century.\u00a0 A systematic strategy has taken shape for the violent displacement of Palestinians and its cannibalistic logic is very simple \u2014 \u201cto make life in Gaza unendurable and even possibly to leave the population with a single choice \u2014 to leave their homes or to be killed\u201d.\u00a0 Hamas\u2019s actions in October, which the Russian Federation condemns, cannot justify war crimes, he added.<\/p>\n

ZHANG JUN (China<\/u><\/strong>) said the Secretary-General’s call demonstrates the urgency of the situation.\u00a0\u201cAct immediately, activate a ceasefire, protect civilians and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe on a larger scale,\u201d he said.\u00a0 The draft resolution circulated by the United Arab Emirates reflects the international community\u2019s universal call and is the right direction for restoring peace.\u00a0Only a ceasefire can save lives, avoid a bigger humanitarian catastrophe, avert regional conflagration and revive a political process for a two-State solution.\u00a0 Only a ceasefire is befitting the appropriate role of the Council and it has no other option but to act urgently.\u00a0 Any hesitation or excuse would be irresponsible, he said.<\/p>\n

ROBERT A. WOOD (United States<\/u><\/strong>) noted that his country, in partnership with Qatar and Egypt, helped reunite more than 100\u00a0hostages with their loved ones and dramatically expanded aid.\u00a0 \u201cHamas, however, has a different set of goals,\u201d he stated, refusing to release young women hostages, while he cited the Council\u2019s serious moral failure to condemn that group\u2019s evil attacks on 7\u00a0October.\u00a0 An undeniable reality is that if Israel unilaterally laid down its weapons, Hamas would continue to hold hostages, many of whom are being subjected to inhumane treatment.\u00a0 Hamas continues to pose a threat to Israel \u2014 one that no other Member State would allow to exist on its borders.\u00a0 His delegation does not support calls for an immediate ceasefire, as Hamas has no desire for peace or a two-State solution.\u00a0 Condemning extremist settler violence, he noted that his Government is implementing a visa restriction policy on guilty parties.<\/p>\n

ALBANA DAUTLLARI (Albania<\/u><\/strong>), noting that about 80 trucks per day made their way into Gaza this week compared to over 200 during the November week-long humanitarian pause, stressed that civilians there need much more humanitarian aid than before the Hamas attack.\u00a0Condemning the Hamas 7\u00a0October attack, she called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.\u00a0\u201cWe regret that the Security Council has not been able to condemn Hamas terror, by not condemning Hamas the Security Council risks empowering them,\u201d she said.\u00a0 She also called on Israel to fully comply with international humanitarian law, as protection of civilians at war is a must and lives matter the same, Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u00a0 She also called on Israel to address the issue of increased settlers\u2019 violence on Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, deploring the extremist violence.<\/p>\n

FRANCESCA MARIA GATT (Malta<\/u><\/strong>), expressing disappointment over the breakdown of the temporary truce, stressed that the Council\u2019s inaction \u201cis not an option\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cThere is no scenario which justifies the denial of aid for 2.2\u00a0million people, 80\u00a0per\u00a0cent of whom have been displaced,\u201d she said, observing that the only way to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure is through a humanitarian ceasefire.\u00a0 Reiterating Malta\u2019s condemnation of the 7\u00a0October attacks, she voiced concern over the escalations in the West Bank, including in refugee camps.\u00a0 She condemned the forcible transfer of the Palestinian community in Zanuta and the recent destruction of its European Union-funded school by Israeli settlers.\u00a0 Also denouncing all violations on the Blue Line and attacks against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), she stressed:\u00a0 \u201cFurther conflict fronts must be avoided at all costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

NICOLAS DE RIVI\u00c8RE (France<\/u><\/strong>) called for a new, immediate and lasting humanitarian truce that \u201cshould lead to a permanent ceasefire\u201d.\u00a0Further, the opening of new crossing points is necessary, and procedures for inspecting aid should not delay its delivery.\u00a0 For its part, France has announced an additional pledge of \u20ac100\u00a0million for\u00a02023 \u2014 including \u20ac54\u00a0million for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) \u2014 and is caring for civilians on the helicopter carrier\u00a0Dixmude<\/em>.\u00a0 He went on to state that it is \u201cunacceptable\u201d that the Council has been unable to condemn Hamas\u2019 7\u00a0October attacks, underscoring that all hostages must be released.\u00a0 Expressing concern over the situation in the West Bank, he condemned recent decisions regarding settlement-expansion, along with violence carried out by settlers.\u00a0Israel must put an end to this, he stressed, adding that his country is considering certain entry bars and asset freezes in this context.<\/p>\n

PASCALE CHRISTINE BAERISWYL (Switzerland<\/u><\/strong>) said that Article\u00a099 being invoked for the first time under the Secretary-General\u2019s mandate bears witness to the dramatic prevailing situation in the Middle East.\u00a0\u201cSwitzerland shares the Secretary-General’s concern that the situation could have irreversible consequences for the peace and security of the entire region, and even beyond.\u201d\u00a0 It is therefore imperative that the Council be seized and act to prevent an even more serious deterioration, she said.\u00a0 Her country prioritizes respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in particular, for its mandate on the Council.\u00a0 Her country has come to the bitter conclusion that no one is safe in Gaza today \u2014 not even humanitarian workers, medical staff, the wounded, journalists nor the hostages.\u00a0 She said the situation has plunged the Gaza Strip into total insecurity.\u00a0 She called for respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, while recognizing Israel\u2019s right to ensure its own security.\u00a0 Her country supports the United Arab Emirates\u2019 draft resolution.<\/p>\n

DOMINGOS EST\u00caV\u00c3O FERNANDES (Mozambique<\/u><\/strong>) noted the increasingly dire situation in Gaza since the resumption of hostilities on 1\u00a0December, after a week of the humanitarian pause, and its potential long-term effects on the Palestinian people and regional security.\u00a0 Pointing to the possibility of a collapse in the humanitarian system, he echoed the Secretary-General\u2019s appeal for an immediate ceasefire to prevent a humanitarian crisis.\u00a0 The repeated warnings from UN agencies, humanitarian organizations and other players of the monumental humanitarian crisis that is impending should prompt the Council to take immediate action.\u00a0 Given the scale of the loss of life in Gaza, he said, the Council must fully leverage its influence to ensure the cessation of hostilities and restoration of dialogue.\u00a0 Urging Israeli authorities to implement Council resolution 2712 (2023) and enable the delivery of life-saving supplies for civilians, he said all parties involved must demonstrate leadership and courage.<\/p>\n

BARBARA WOODWARD (United Kingdom<\/strong><\/u>) said \u201cthese are dark days\u201d, citing the horror of the 7\u00a0October attacks, and the heart-wrenching suffering of innocent Palestinians, including many women and young children \u2014 \u201ca humanitarian tragedy unfolding before our eyes\u201d.\u00a0 Voicing support for the Secretary-General, she noted the shocking scale of civilians killed \u2014 and while supporting Israel\u2019s right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism, she called for it to be \u201ctargeted and precise in achieving that goal\u201d.\u00a0 Stressing that the sanitation and shelter picture together with the lack of medical provision in Gaza is dire, she urged Israel to go further and fully open Kerem Shalom to allow goods to cross, including at minimum the 200,000\u00a0litres of fuel per day for which the UN has called.\u00a0 She further stressed that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

MICHEL XAVIER BIANG (Gabon<\/u><\/strong>), highlighting the fundamental need to achieve an immediate ceasefire to end the tragedy in Gaza, condemned all attacks targeting civilian populations and called on all parties to exercise restraint and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.\u00a0 He called on the Council to pursue efforts to save human lives, particularly those of children, women and civilian populations in Gaza and the region.\u00a0 He also stressed that humanitarian assistance must be delivered without hindrance and that the unconditional release of the hostages must take place.\u00a0 The Council should ensure accountability for grave violations of international law, he said, adding that for Gabon, the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is dependent on the resumption of dialogue and the peace process to reach a two-State solution.\u00a0 \u201cTo achieve this, dialogue and negotiation are key with the central role of the United Nations,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n

ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan<\/u><\/strong>) said that he unequivocally condemns the terror attacks by Hamas and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.\u00a0 Turning to the Secretary-General’s invocation of Article\u00a099 of the UN Charter, he called for a humanitarian ceasefire, given the grave human loss in such a short period of time.\u00a0 He expressed regret that no significant humanitarian aid has been delivered since the breakdown of the humanitarian pause last week.\u00a0 The delivery of essential supplies solely through the Rafah crossing is utterly insufficient.\u00a0 More access points, including Kerem Shalom, should be seriously considered, along with the establishment of a monitoring mechanism under the UN authority.\u00a0 \u201cIt is our responsibility to address this grave humanitarian situation immediately.\u201d\u00a0Emphasizing the growing risk of a spillover into the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and the Red Sea, he said that the situation could all too easily engulf an already volatile region.<\/p>\n

CAROLYN ABENA ANIMA OPPONG-NTIRI (Ghana<\/u><\/strong>), welcoming the Secretary-General\u2019s decision to invoke Article\u00a099, said that the Israel-Hamas conflict has created a serious crisis not only in Gaza, but also in Israel and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0Expressing concern over the decision of Israel\u2019s Government to expand its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, she called on Israel\u2019s security forces and Hamas to make the protection of civilians on both sides a priority.\u00a0 Underscoring the importance of international cooperation and direct diplomatic negotiations, she said that frank dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is essential for achieving peace.\u00a0 In that regard, she called on the Council members with a moderating influence on both Israel and Hamas to use all means possible to heed the international community\u2019s calls for steps leading to peace and an eventual settlement of the conflict.<\/p>\n

S\u00c9RGIO FRAN\u00c7A DANESE (Brazil<\/u><\/strong>), emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire, recalled that a draft resolution calling for immediate humanitarian pauses \u2014 put forward by Brazil when it was Council President \u2014 was supported by a majority of Council members, but vetoed by a permanent one.\u00a0\u201cIf adopted on that occasion, thousands of lives would have been saved.\u201d\u00a0 Today, the dramatic situation in Gaza leaves the Council with no alternative, he said, calling for an immediate halt in hostilities \u2014 for as long as necessary \u2014 to allow proper humanitarian action.\u00a0 Council members have a moral imperative to do whatever possible to stop this humanitarian catastrophe, he said, warning that a failure to do so would likely further erode the Council\u2019s authority and legitimacy and prove its inability to discharge its duties under the Charter.<\/p>\n

JOS\u00c9 JAVIER DE LA GASCA LOPEZ DOM\u00cdNGUEZ (Ecuador<\/u><\/strong>), Council President for December, speaking in his national capacity, expressed its solidarity with Israel and Palestine \u201cbecause every life is valuable (and) because all death hurts us\u201d.\u00a0 There is no justification for causing pain and death to innocent civilians.\u00a0 He highlighted Israel\u2019s right to self-defence as well as the unavoidable obligation to respect international law and international humanitarian law.\u00a0Rejecting Hamas\u2019s use of civilians as human shields, he said that Ecuador\u2019s position is guided by international law and the defence of human life and dignity.\u00a0 A humanitarian ceasefire is essential to alleviate the terrible situation in Gaza and to reduce the risk of violence expanding across the region, and in that regard, the Council can aim to avoid more suffering, more pain and more death, he said.<\/p>\n

OSAMA MAHMOUD ABDELKHALEK MAHMOUD (Egypt<\/u><\/strong>), speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Arab Group<\/u><\/strong>, said the Muslim and Arab worlds and all people with a conscience are looking to the Council to act in response to this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.\u00a0 They also feel rage over the Council\u2019s failure to agree on a ceasefire.\u00a0 Civilian fatalities lay bare the lie that the war is against an armed group.\u00a0 Rather, it is a collective punishment and genocide against the Palestinian people, he said.\u00a0 Citing the extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure and the targeting of UN staff members, he said that the forcible displacement of 85\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Gaza\u2019s people, living in dire circumstances, represents the worst of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as an effort to eliminate the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n

More than 250\u00a0people have been killed amid escalating settler crimes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, he said, adding that Syria and Lebanon have also been targeted with attacks.\u00a0 The Council must uphold its duties and demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, as per the draft resolution before it.\u00a0 A ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian crossings is not an act of pity or sympathy, but a right of civilians, as well as a political, legal and moral obligation.\u00a0 Arab States were the ones that initiated peace with Israel, as they understand that violence will not lead to peace and genocide, nor will it end the cause of a nation.\u00a0 He went on to call for resumption of a peace process leading to a Palestinian State based on 1967\u00a0borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n

ALYA AHMED SAIF AL-THANI (Qatar<\/u><\/strong>), speaking on behalf of the\u00a0Gulf Cooperation Council<\/u><\/strong>, said that Israel\u2019s aggression cannot be considered to be self-defence.\u00a0 \u201cWe invite the international community to provide protection to brotherly Palestinian people.\u201d\u00a0 She welcomed the mediation of the United States, Egypt and others in achieving a humanitarian truce which led to the exchange of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.\u00a0 However, it is regrettable that the end of the truce and increasing Israeli attacks have led to the displacement of millions of people.\u00a0 She called on the Council to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the international community to step up humanitarian assistance.\u00a0She also reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian question, the need to put an end to the Israeli occupation and the creation of the Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.<\/p>\n

ARRMANATHA CHRISTIAWAN NASIR (Indonesia<\/u><\/strong>), speaking for a group of likeminded countries, said:\u00a0 \u201cIn one autumn season, the world stood by and watched over 16,000\u00a0people killed in Gaza \u2014 whole families and generations wiped out.\u201d\u00a0 Pointing to \u201capocalyptic conditions\u201d of civilians, he added:\u00a0 \u201cIf we fail to act, history will judge us as accomplices to crimes against humanity.\u201d\u00a0 Expressing support for a humanitarian ceasefire, he said that Indonesia co-sponsored the draft resolution.\u00a0 Calling on the Council to adopt this declaration, he warned those present of the global spillover effect of the crisis.\u00a0 The situation in Gaza is being broadcasted around the clock, uncensored, via social media and electronic channels, he noted, stressing that Council members cannot afford to let radical elements take up arms in different parts of the world.\u00a0 Underscoring that there must be no double standards on humanity, he called on Member States to \u201cdo the right thing\u201d.<\/p>\n

HEDDA SAMSON, representative of the\u00a0European Union<\/u><\/strong>, in its capacity as observer, expressed support for the Secretary-General\u2019s call on the Council to act to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.\u00a0 Deploring the high number of civilian casualties, the majority of which are women and children, she highlighted the deaths of a record number of United Nations staff members and other humanitarian workers.\u00a0 Calling for urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors throughout the Gaza Strip for a sufficient number of days to enable unhindered humanitarian access, she said the civilian population is in desperate need of more food, water, fuel, electricity and medical care, as well as safe shelter.\u00a0 The Union has already increased its humanitarian aid to more than \u20ac100\u00a0million and will continue to work closely with international partners, she said.<\/p>\n

Condemning Hamas\u2019s brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel, she added that Israel has the right to defend itself in line with international law.\u00a0 All hostages must be immediately released, and the International Committee of the Red Cross\u00a0(ICRC) must be granted access to them.\u00a0 Also calling on regional actors to refrain from any aggravating actions, she added that the Palestinian Authority must be reinvigorated to ultimately return to govern Gaza as the legitimate governance body in charge of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0 Also condemning the increased extremist settler violence in the West Bank, as well as Israel\u2019s settlement policy, she said the Union is ready to contribute to reviving a political process on the basis of the two-State solution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

8 December 2023 9498TH MEETING (AM) SC\/15518 \u2018Nowhere in Gaza Is Safe,\u2019 Council Told Ahead of Key Vote Later Today The Secretary-General went before the Security Council today to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to avert a humanitarian catastrophe that could have ramifications for peace and security in the region and beyond, two […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[657,723,759,807,810,6723,834,5615,5533,885,897,906,969,5248,1593,1062,1074,1152,1197,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[4868,2881,5352,1362],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,2265,2033,2005,6848,1741,1961,6866,2117,6251],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-292250","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-albania","country-brazil","country-china","country-ecuador","country-egypt","country-european-union","country-france","country-gabon","country-ghana","country-indonesia","country-israel","country-japan","country-malta","country-mozambique","country-palestine-state-of","country-qatar","country-russian-federation","country-switzerland","country-united-arab-emirates","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-source-arab-group-the","document-source-gulf-cooperation-council","document-source-secretary-general","document-source-security-council","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-children","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-hostages","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-jerusalem","document-subject-settler-violence","document-subject-terrorism","document-subject-west-bank","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/292250","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\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/292250\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":292257,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/292250\/revisions\/292257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=292250"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=292250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}