{"id":294745,"date":"2024-03-26T10:56:14","date_gmt":"2024-03-26T14:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=294745"},"modified":"2024-03-27T11:50:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T15:50:29","slug":"amid-worsening-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza-security-council-meeting-coverage-26mar24","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/amid-worsening-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza-security-council-meeting-coverage-26mar24\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid Worsening Humanitarian Situation in Gaza, \u2018Settlement Activities Have Continued, Intensified\u2019, Special Coordinator Warns Security Council – Press release"},"content":{"rendered":"
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26 March 2024<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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9588TH MEETING (AM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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SC\/15643<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Delegates Raise Concern Over Non-compliance with Organ\u2019s Demand for Ceasefire<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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While the humanitarian impact of the hostilities in Gaza has been cataclysmic and is worsening daily, violence and the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continue at alarming levels, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the Middle East told the Security Council today, as delegates raised concern over non-compliance with the organ\u2019s demand for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need a ceasefire now, we need the release of all hostages now, the suffering must end,\u201d stated Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, commending yesterday\u2019s adoption of resolution 2728 (2024).\u00a0 Presenting the Secretary-General\u2019s report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016) \u2014 which covers the period from 8\u00a0December to 18\u00a0March \u2014 he stressed that \u201csettlement activities have continued and intensified\u201d.\u00a0 In total, some 4,780 housing units were advanced or approved in settlements in Area\u00a0C across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. \u00a0Citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, Israeli authorities demolished, seized, or forced people to demolish 300 structures, displacing 314 people, including 137 children.<\/p>\n

He reported that numerous Israeli officials called for the \u201cvoluntary migration\u201d of Palestinians from Gaza and the re-establishment of settlements there, with a minister posting on social media that Israel should \u201ccontinue to pressure them, using force, starvation, [and] difficult conditions\u201d. \u00a0An Israeli member of the Knesset called on his country \u201cto occupy, to annex, to destroy all the houses [in Gaza], to build [\u2026] large settlements.\u201d\u00a0 On 1\u00a0February, the United States issued an Executive Order imposing sanctions on \u201cpersons undermining peace, security and stability in the West Bank\u201d. \u00a0In total, seven Israeli settlers have been sanctioned under the order. \u00a0The United Kingdom, France and New Zealand also subsequently announced sanctions against settlers, he added.<\/p>\n

Alongside daily violence in the occupied West Bank, the devastating conflict in Gaza has continued, he observed.\u00a0 According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, from 8\u00a0December to 18\u00a0March, at least 14,549 Palestinians were killed, including approximately 4,200 women and 6,000 children, and at least 27,792 were injured. \u00a0This brings the total number, since 7\u00a0October, to more than 31,790 Palestinians killed, a majority of whom are reportedly women and children.\u00a0 According to Israeli sources, 134 hostages are still being held captive, of at least 250 taken, while over 1,461 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed by Hamas or other Palestinian armed groups, including at least 338 women, 37 children and 633 members of the security forces, since 7\u00a0October, inclusive.<\/p>\n

Hostilities remained intense across Gaza, with Israel conducting strikes from air, land and sea, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties, massive displacement of civilians and widespread destruction, he continued. \u00a0On 15\u00a0March, the Prime Minister\u2019s Office announced approval of plans for an Israeli military operation in Rafah, including steps to evacuate civilians from combat zones.\u00a0 \u201cMore than 1\u00a0million people in Gaza are projected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity by the end of May, and famine in the northern part of Gaza is imminent,\u201d he warned, adding that starvation-related fatalities have already been reported. \u00a0Amid a decimated health system, most people lack access to adequate food, clean drinking water, or effective sanitation services.\u00a0 Despite some progress made on a maritime corridor from Cyprus, alongside the opening of an access point in the north of Gaza, the inadequate levels of humanitarian access and safety of humanitarian workers remain alarming.\u00a0Accordingly, he called on Israel to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access into and throughout Gaza.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing discussion, numerous Council members \u2014 among them, the representatives of the Republic of Korea, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Switzerland<\/strong> \u2014 condemned all attacks against civilian populations and objects as well as any forcible displacement of Palestinians.\u00a0 Many recalled that resolution 2728 (2024) demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza along with the unconditional release of hostages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our eyes on Gaza, we must not forget about the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,\u201d said Slovenia\u2019s<\/strong> delegate. \u00a0Expressing concern that the practices and policies of the current Government of Israel appear to be unprecedently aligned with the goals of the Israeli settler movement, he pointed to the alarming acceleration in settler and State violence and the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.<\/p>\n

In the same vein, the speaker for Ecuador<\/strong> \u2014 while he observed that it is natural to focus on Gaza following the \u201cexplosion of violence\u201d \u2014 urged those present not to forget what is happening in the West Bank, where violence and settlement activity continue.\u00a0 Recalling Israel\u2019s recent decision to declare 800\u00a0hectares in the Jordan Valley as \u201cState land\u201d, he opposed all unilateral measures that hamper peace.\u00a0 These include the construction and expansion of settlements, the confiscation of land, the \u201clegalization\u201d of outposts, the demolition of homes and the displacement of civilians.<\/p>\n

Also condemning Israel\u2019s recent declaration of 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank as \u201cState lands\u201d, Malta\u2019s<\/strong> delegate said that illegal settlements threaten the viability of the two-State solution.\u00a0 On the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, she observed:\u00a0\u201cThere could not be a stronger indictment of our failure to put an end to this tragedy than the harrowing images of Gazan children suffering starvation.\u201d\u00a0 Only a ceasefire will permit the conditions necessary to properly alleviate these conditions, and she called on Israel to lift all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale.<\/p>\n

While recognizing Israel\u2019s right to self-defence, the speaker for the United Kingdom<\/strong> painted an alarming picture of \u201cunfathomable suffering\u201d in Gaza and urged Israel to open Ashdod port and Kerem Shalom in full and issue visas to aid workers. \u00a0Underscoring that Hamas must no longer be in charge of Gaza, she called for the formation of a new Palestinian Government for West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package.<\/p>\n

The delegate for the United States<\/strong> reported that his country is engaged in an \u201con-the-ground effort\u201d with Egypt and Qatar to secure the release of hostages in the context of a ceasefire.\u00a0 Further, Washington, D.C., is working to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza and, while a ceasefire would be the best, most immediate way to achieve that surge, it is not the only way.\u00a0 The United States continues to coordinate international efforts to establish a maritime corridor for the delivery of aid and to air drop humanitarian assistance into Gaza.\u00a0 While emphasizing that his country shares Israel\u2019s goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring long-term security, he stressed:\u00a0 \u201cA major military ground operation in Rafah is not the way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The representative of Japan<\/strong>, Council President for March, speaking in his national capacity, added that a military offensive into Rafah would be catastrophic not only for Gaza, but across the region.<\/p>\n

The representative of France<\/strong> emphasized that his country will never recognize the illegal annexation of territory nor the legalization of outposts. \u00a0To this end, France and the European Union have initiated measures against some settlers and do not recognize Israeli sovereignty over territory that has come under Israel\u2019s administration after 5\u00a0June\u00a01967. \u00a0He also urged Israel to immediately and unconditionally open all land crossing points, stressing that \u201cresolution 2728 (2024) must be applied by everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n

Algeria\u2019s<\/strong> delegate echoed that Council resolutions are binding \u2014 \u201cnot almost, not partly, not maybe\u201d.\u00a0 The killing must stop now, and urgent action is needed to expedite humanitarian relief efforts before the spectre of famine materializes. \u00a0Condemning the occupying Power\u2019s refusal to allow United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) convoys to enter northern Gaza, he observed that \u201cwe have the tool to avoid this catastrophe \u2014 it is UNRWA, which is the backbone of humanitarian action in Gaza\u201d.\u00a0 Emphasizing that the settler community has quadrupled since the 1990s, he said:\u00a0\u201cThis expansionist agenda is a clear blueprint aimed at altering the demographic landscape and character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Acknowledging that the United States finally decided, on 25\u00a0March, not to single-handedly veto the Council resolution, the speaker for China<\/strong> pointed out that statements issued by that country\u2019s authorities after the vote raise questions about its political will and sincerity.\u00a0 Council resolutions are binding beyond any doubt, he stressed, adding that every Member State must implement them.<\/p>\n

However, stressed Guyana\u2019s<\/strong> delegate, from all indications, the Council\u2019s demand for a ceasefire is not being adhered to, and accountability remains solely lacking in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n

Echoing her concerns, the representative of the Russian Federation<\/strong> said that Washington, D.C., referred to resolution 2728 (2024) as \u201cnon-binding\u201d, in other words, \u201cthere is no impact on Israel\u2019s ability to continue to go after Hamas\u201d.\u00a0 After the resolution\u2019s adoption, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel said that his country would not end the military operation and intended to fight \u201cuntil they destroyed the Hamas movement and returned all hostages\u201d.\u00a0 One of the permanent Council members has openly stated that it does not accept the Charter of the United Nations, including this historic resolution on Gaza.\u00a0 With Washington, D.C.,\u2019s blessing, \u201cIsrael \u2014 despite the direct demand from the Council \u2014 has complete carte blanche and is not planning to stop until it razes Gaza to the ground\u201d.<\/p>\n

At the outset of the meeting, the representative of the Russian Federation asked for a procedural vote on convening this meeting, since the representative of France had requested one the day before. \u00a0For additional details, please see\u00a0SC\/15641<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

26 March 2024 9588TH MEETING (AM) SC\/15643 Delegates Raise Concern Over Non-compliance with Organ\u2019s Demand for Ceasefire While the humanitarian impact of the hostilities in Gaza has been cataclysmic and is worsening daily, violence and the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continue at alarming levels, the head […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[660,807,834,867,906,969,5248,1065,1074,5836,1119,1152,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[1362,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,1769,1829,2265,2005,1626,2137,6866,6251],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-294745","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-algeria","country-ecuador","country-france","country-guyana","country-japan","country-malta","country-mozambique","country-republic-of-korea","country-russian-federation","country-sierra-leone","country-slovenia","country-switzerland","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-casualties","document-subject-ceasefire","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-security-council-briefings","document-subject-settlements","document-subject-settler-violence","document-subject-west-bank","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/294745","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":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/294745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":294751,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/294745\/revisions\/294751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=294745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=294745"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=294745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}