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This month marks the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions – a timely reminder to all parties in the Syrian conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, which must be adhered to in both letter and spirit. It is deplorable that civilians continue to be killed and injured almost daily in Syria and across the region.

TOR WENNESLAND
UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

22 August 2024

[As Delivered]

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

I address you today with grave concern about the trajectory of the situation in the Middle East.

The war in Gaza with all of its human tragedy, the serious risk of regional escalation, and the unresolved Israeli – Palestinian conflict and continued occupation are combining to create a combustible situation in the whole of Middle East. Our individual and collective capacities to manage or resolve these crises are stretched beyond their limits. Any spark or miscalculation could set off a series of uncontrollable escalations – embroiling millions more in conflict. We need a ceasefire now.

We must continue all efforts to alleviate human suffering in the region – that means an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza, it means diplomatic steps for de-escalation in the region, and it means irreversible moves toward re-establishing a political framework to end the conflict and establish a two-state solution. If any one of them remains unaddressed then prospects for a more stable, peaceful and secure region will remain elusive.

Mister President,

The war in Gaza continues to take a staggering toll on human life. In the more than ten months of war since the horrific acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, more than 40,000 Palestinians and over 1,600 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed. 109 Israelis are still held in Gaza, and the ones alive denied humanitarian visits. Tens of thousands of people have been injured, the vast majority of them Palestinians, including a staggering number of women and children.

In Gaza, incidents of mass civilian casualties, airstrikes by Israel on schools and mosques sheltering the displaced, and the wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure are fueling suffering and violence, which is reverberating throughout the broader region.

The indiscriminate launching of rockets by Hamas and other groups towards population centers in Israel continues. Civilian objects, including infrastructure, and UN premises, are also reportedly being used to shield fighters and military objectives, endangering the lives of civilians around them. The lives of the remaining hostages are at grave risk.

Many Palestinians in Gaza feel they have nowhere safe left to turn. Over the past month, around 200,000 Palestinians have been affected by evacuation orders. This is merely the latest round of mass displacement in Gaza, where nearly two million people have been forced out of their homes and shelters during the war, most of them multiple times. Eighty-five per cent of the Strip has come under evacuation orders since 7 October.

Mister President,

Despite facing overwhelming challenges, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations continue to deliver life-saving assistance with remarkable courage through all available crossing points. However, their efforts are jeopardized by unsafe conditions on the ground, which are exacerbated by a complete breakdown of law and order.

If these unacceptable conditions are allowed to prevail, humanitarian operations in Gaza will continue to fall short of meeting the massive needs of the population.

Mister President,

The scale of destruction is immense and it will take years, if not decades, to recover. The UN is working to repair and improve almost entirely defunct water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in Gaza. The five wastewater treatment plants have shut down and five out of six solid waste management facilities are damaged. The Palestinian Ministry of Health just confirmed the first cases of polio in 25 years. 1.6 million doses of Polio vaccine have been released for a campaign scheduled to begin on 31 August. The UN estimates nearly 40 million tons of debris have been generated in this conflict. Clearing the debris from key areas alone is estimated to take at least five years.

Mister President,

While the eyes of the international community are focused on Gaza, the occupied West Bank is a tinderbox of violence and tension.

Israeli security forces continue to carry out large-scale operations in Area A, including targeting Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other armed groups in densely populated refugee camps and Palestinian urban centres. These operations often result in lethal exchanges with these groups in addition to the killing or injury of bystanders.

Fatal attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis in the West Bank and Israel have continued, including a failed bombing attack claimed by Hamas and PIJ in Tel Aviv on 19 August.

The Israeli settler rampage in the Palestinian village of Jit near Nablus that killed one Palestinian and critically injured others on 15 August was yet another illustration of the violent consequences of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and the persistent lack of accountability for such crimes.

Inflammatory rhetoric and provocative acts are further enflaming the situation. In recent days we have seen Hamas threaten to launch a new campaign of suicide bombings. We have also seen two Israeli ministers, alongside hundreds of Israelis, visit the holy esplanade on the Jewish holiday, Tisha B'Av.

Let me be clear, if we are to prevent yet another spiraling escalation, the violence must end – there are no justifications for acts of terror, civilians must be protected, and the incitement must stop. Any violation of the status quo at the holy sites must also be firmly rejected.

Mr. President,

The war in Gaza and the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank are continuing in the context of wider regional tensions and the threat of even more serious escalation.

Across the Blue Line and beyond, exchanges between Israel and Hizbullah continue to intensify, particularly following the recent strike in Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan, which resulted in the killing of 12 children, followed by a subsequent strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed a senior Hizbullah commander.

In the wider region, several fatal events exacerbated tensions: Aerial attacks toward Israel from various locations across the region that Israel has attributed to Iran-backed forces, including a Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv; Israel’s strike that targeted Hudaydah port infrastructure in response; and the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ politburo in Tehran.

Mr. President,

With all of these negative trends, and after more than 300 days of war in Gaza, we are at an inflection point in the Middle East.

A ceasefire and hostages release deal in Gaza is imperative now for regional peace and security.

I have continued to emphasize that message in support of regional de-escalation in discussions with the relevant parties and Member States in the region, including Lebanon, Egypt and Qatar.

I commend the mediators – Egypt, Qatar and the United States - for their continued relentless efforts in Doha and Cairo this week. I urge the parties to reach a deal in the coming days. There is simply no time to lose.

The UN remains committed and ready to scale up humanitarian assistance during a ceasefire and supporting implementation of a deal. Only a sustained ceasefire can enable a full-scale humanitarian and early recovery response in Gaza.

Mister President,

The profound social, economic and political fallout from this devastation is yet to be seen and comprehended.

We must work to put in place as soon as possible the political and security frameworks necessary to more ably address the humanitarian crisis, start early recovery and eventually rebuild Gaza, as well as change the negative dynamic in the West Bank

These political and security frameworks – even ones that are considered transitional - cannot be divorced from the context of the ongoing Israeli occupation and unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are no short cuts and no quick fixes.

Security and governance are intrinsically linked and must be addressed in tandem to achieve a lasting peace in Gaza and address the West Bank situation. It is imperative that we establish a comprehensive political framework that is accepted by the Palestinian population and addresses their legitimate aspirations and grievances, while also addressing Israel’s legitimate security concerns. The UN will strongly support this work.

This framework must facilitate a Palestinian government that can effectively govern both Gaza and the occupied West Bank and ensure stability and security across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Palestinian Authority must be at the center of governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. There is simply no credible alternative.

However, to achieve this and to promote a more durable and credible model of governance to ensure stability and security for Palestinians and Israelis, steps must be taken by all parties and by the international community to strengthen and support the PA.

Violence in the occupied West Bank needs to be significantly reduced, including violence taking place in the context of scaled-up Israeli security operations. Palestinian security forces need to be supported and empowered to carry out their responsibilities fully.

Israeli measures that weaken the PA need to be urgently addressed – including IDF operations in Area A, settlement expansion, settler violence and extreme financial pressures.

The international community must work together to address the PA’s persistent financial crisis, strengthen its capacity and enable its return to Gaza. Recent commitments from the World Bank and the European Union offer the promise of relief, but will not resolve the precarity of the PA’s fiscal situation. We must work together to strengthen the ability of the PA to meet the needs of their people.

Most importantly, for any of these efforts to be credible or durable, a political horizon must be re-established. Security fixes alone will not lead to a more stable future for anyone in the region.

But let us not be naïve about what is required. It will take concerted effort from committed leaders, from the region and the international community. It may also require us to rethink how we get there. The steps I have outlined above – which are informed by the principles I outlined to you in May - are a start.

Mister President,

Ultimately, the only path out of these vicious cycles of despair is a political horizon that will end the occupation and achieve a two-State solution Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both. The United Nations will continue to support all efforts towards that goal.

I have four key messages for you today. My first message is a reminder that Syria remains in a state of profound conflict, complexity and division. Syria is riddled with armed actors, listed terrorist groups, foreign armies and front-lines. Civilians are still victims of violence and subject to extensive human rights abuses, a protracted state of displacement and dire humanitarian conditions. We have seen further indications of the monumental scale of the crisis this month.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

REMARKS TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE MIDDLE EAST

New York, 17 July 2024

[as delivered by Mr. Courtenay Rattray, Chef de Cabinet]

Mr. President, Excellencies,

I am pleased to deliver the Secretary-General’s briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

His remarks are as follows:

Last December, the hostilities in Gaza and Israel -- that have created appalling human suffering, physical destruction, and collective trauma -- led to my exceptional invocation of Article 99 of the United Nations Charter.

Seven months later, the war rages on.

Over 38,000 Palestinians have been reported killed according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza -- with some 87,000 injured and thousands missing -- many of whom are women and children.

Over 1,500 Israelis and foreign nationals have been reported killed according to Israeli sources -- with more than 7,000 injured and 125 hostages still held in Gaza.

The humanitarian support system in Gaza is close to total collapse.

There is a complete breakdown of public order.

And the spectre of further regional spillover is increasing by the day, as exchanges of fire across the Blue Line between Hizbullah and Israel continue.

Nothing can justify the horrific acts of terror committed by Hamas and other armed groups in Israel on 7 October.

And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

Mr. President,

In recent weeks, Israeli military operations and fighting intensified across Gaza. Rockets continue to be launched by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza towards Israeli population centres.

Rafah is in ruins – and the Rafah crossing remains closed, further hampering humanitarian operations.

Almost two million people have been displaced– nearly the entire population of Gaza – and many of them multiple times

Nowhere in Gaza is safe.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification partnership reports that almost half a million people face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

Communicable diseases are on the rise.

Chokeholds on the fuel-supply have severely reduced access to water, sanitation, hygiene and health services.

The United Nations remains committed to delivering lifesaving aid in Gaza. But we face severe challenges and deadly risks.

Humanitarian convoys are frequently unable to collect and distribute lifesaving goods in safety – including from the crucial Karem Abu Salem/Kerem Shalom crossing.

Attacks on humanitarian aid workers and shelters, as well as strikes on or near health and humanitarian facilities, continue.

Lawlessness and criminality are rampant.

The parties must fundamentally and urgently change their conduct to address these challenges.

The humanitarian notification system and other coordination mechanisms are not effective, resulting in delayed and aborted aid missions and the exposure of humanitarians to mortal risk.

The UN still does not have the necessary security equipment in Gaza to manage the extreme risks that our personnel face.

Despite ongoing dialogue with Israeli authorities and some improvements, much more is needed.

The entry of humanitarian aid at scale, and its delivery to all parts of Gaza, are essential to the survival and wellbeing of civilians.

We need consistent access through all crossing points and better access to those in need, wherever they are.

It is long past time for a safe enabling environment for effective humanitarian operations in Gaza, in line with international humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

As much of the world’s attention is focused on Gaza, the occupied West Bank -- including East Jerusalem -- faces perilous conditions.

High levels of violence persist – including by Israeli security forces, settlers, and Palestinian armed groups.

Between 7 October 2023 and 17 July 2024, 557 Palestinians – including 138 children – were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem; the vast majority were killed in the context of Israeli security operations, including during subsequent exchanges with Palestinian armed groups; these include 540 killed by Israeli forces, 10 by Israeli settlers, and seven where it remains unknown whether the perpetrators were Israeli forces or settlers.

During the same period, 22 Israelis, including nine members of Israeli forces, were killed by Palestinians in Israel and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Israeli measures are undermining the Palestinian Authority, crippling the Palestinian economy and driving instability.

This month, the Israeli security cabinet approved a series of punitive steps against the Palestinian Authority.

The steps reportedly include the legalization, under Israeli law, of five Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank, the advancement of thousands of settlement housing units, and demolitions in parts of Area B in the occupied West Bank.

At the same time, the Israeli Finance Minister lifted the suspension of the transfer to the Palestinian Authority of partial clearance revenues. These revenues are collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinians.

He also renewed, for four months, the letter of indemnity for Israeli correspondent banking with Palestinian banks.

Both of these measures are critical for Palestinian fiscal stability.

But, once again, much more is required.

Mr. President,

Recent developments are driving a stake through the heart of any prospect for a two-State solution.

The geography of the occupied West Bank is steadily being altered through Israeli administrative and legal steps.

The seizure of large land parcels in strategic areas and changes to planning, land management and governance are expected to significantly accelerate settlement expansion.

These changes include the issuance of two military orders at the end of May. These orders transferred powers to, and appointed, a civilian deputy in Israel’s Civil Administration, which is alarming.

This move is another significant advance in the ongoing transfer of authority over many aspects of daily life in the occupied West Bank, and a further step towards extending Israeli sovereignty over this occupied territory.

If left unaddressed, these measures risk causing irreparable damage.

Mr. President,

We must change course.

All settlement activity must cease immediately. Israeli settlements are a flagrant violation of international law and a key obstacle to peace.

The violence must end, and the perpetrators of the violence must be swiftly brought to justice.

Israel must ensure the safety and security of the Palestinian population.

Mr. President,

The United Nations is sparing no effort to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and to secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups. Those being held hostage have been suffering along with their families for far too long.

We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

With the tireless efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, negotiations to formulate a deal for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire continue with some reported progress.

The parties must reach such a deal now.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a moral stain on us all.

International humanitarian law must be respected – at all times and by all parties.

We must intensify efforts to increase humanitarian aid delivery. International support to these efforts is critical, particularly for the essential work of UNRWA.

Amid continued reports of serious abuses against Palestinians in Israeli custody, I reiterate that all detainees must be treated humanely and those held without lawful cause must be released.

And this terrible war must end.

We must refocus on finding a political solution that will end the occupation and resolve the conflict in line with international law, and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Ensuring that governance is restored in Gaza under a single, legitimate Palestinian government is essential to that effort.

Support to the Palestinian Authority is critical. Its institutions must be strengthened so that it is prepared to govern and lead recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

All those with influence must take the urgent steps needed to enable the parties to re-engage on the long-delayed political path towards ending the occupation and resolving the conflict. This must occur in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.

The United Nations will continue to support all such efforts.

Mr. President, this concludes the remarks of the Secretary-General.

Thank you.

[END]

TOR WENNESLAND

SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, REPORTING ON UNSCR 2334 (2016)

25 June 2024

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

Before turning to my regular briefing, allow me to express my serious concerns about the risk of escalation in the region, particularly between Israel and Hezbollah along the Blue Line. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s concerns that further military escalation will only guarantee more suffering, more devastation to communities in Lebanon and Israel, and more potentially catastrophic consequences for the region. In complement to the efforts of UNSCOL and UNIFIL, I am encouraging all sides to immediately take urgent steps to de-escalate the situation.

The ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fueling regional instability. There must be an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire – there is a deal on the table and it should be agreed – and fast. I welcome the efforts, including by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach such a deal. The UN stands ready to support its implementation.

I will now turn to my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East devoted to the thirtieth report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016). The Secretary-General’s written report covers the period between 19 March and 10 June 2024.

Since the submission of the written report, intensive hostilities between Hamas and Israel Defense Forces in Gaza have continued, resulting in hundreds of fatalities.

The devastating impact of the hostilities on the civilian population in Gaza, and the unprecedented humanitarian crisis remain deeply alarming. I have witnessed the deterioration of the security situation on each of my visits. Ongoing military operations and a near total breakdown of civil order have resulted in multiple reported incidents of theft of relief supplies and shootings that posed significant risks to the population and humanitarian workers. A shooting incident on 15 June that resulted in the killing of two Palestinians while an aid convoy was on the road prompted the cancellation of convoys to Kerem Shalom between 16 and 18 June to mitigate risks.

Effective mechanisms for humanitarian notification, safe conditions for humanitarian operations, and sufficient access to humanitarian needs remain sorely lacking and must be put in place without delay. Following another series of serious security incidents this last weekend impacting humanitarian actors in Gaza, the UN welcomes the opportunity to clarify with the IDF on how the current situation can be clearly improved.

Hunger and food insecurity persist. While projections of imminent famine in the northern governates have been averted through an increase in food deliveries, food insecurity has worsened in the south. Nearly all of Gaza’s population continues to face high levels of food insecurity, with nearly half a million people facing “catastrophic” insecurity.

I welcome the high-level conference convened on 11 June in Jordan, by Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations, which urged all parties to do their part to ensure we can fully address the urgent needs of the population in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal situation remains very precarious amidst broader economic and security concerns across the occupied West Bank. Announcements by Israel’s Finance Minister that he intends to continue blocking the transfer of all clearance revenues to the PA, and to take measures that would end correspondent banking relations between Israeli and Palestinian banks at the end of this month threaten to plunge the Palestinian fiscal situation into an even greater crisis, potentially upending the entire Palestinian financial system.

I take note of the recent appointment by the Head of the Israeli military's Civil Administration of a civilian deputy and the delegation of authority to that position for oversight of many areas of land management and development, planning, and day-to-day life in Area C of the occupied West Bank. That the appointment and delegation of authority is expected to expedite Israeli settlement expansion and regularization under Israeli law of illegal outposts is concerning and undermines the prospects for a two-State solution.

Mister President,

Allow me to reiterate several observations of the Secretary-General regarding the implementation of the provisions of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) during this reporting period.

I once again strongly condemn the horrific armed attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Israel on 7 October 2023 and the continued holding of hostages in Gaza. Nothing can justify these acts of terror. All remaining hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. The use of human shields and the firing of indiscriminate rockets towards Israeli population centers are violations of international humanitarian law and must cease completely.

The scope of death and destruction in Gaza has been catastrophic and horrifying. Israel’s use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas has destroyed entire neighborhoods and damaged hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, schools, mosques, and United Nations premises. I unequivocally condemn the killing and maiming of civilians in Gaza, including women and children.

The protection of civilians is paramount in any armed conflict. International humanitarian law applies to all parties to a conflict at all times.

The impact of the ongoing hostilities on the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deeply concerning. The life-threatening conditions facing the more than 1.7 million internally displaced people in Gaza, where nowhere is safe, must be addressed immediately.

The level of essential goods, including humanitarian assistance, that has been allowed into Gaza continues to fall short of meeting the needs of the population. While it is positive that Israel has opened additional entry points for humanitarian aid, others have been closed, and it is imperative that all necessary access points be opened, and made operational, and humanitarian access be sustained. All parties must protect humanitarian workers at all times. Attacks on humanitarian aid workers and facilities are unacceptable, must cease immediately and should all be investigated.

The financial contributions of donors to UNRWA are welcome and further financial support is needed to meet needs in Gaza and throughout the region, however, attacks on the Agency’s facilities and activities are deeply concerning.

I remain deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I reiterate that all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. I urge the Government of Israel to cease all settlement activity immediately.

The escalating violence and tensions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are deeply worrying. Intensified armed exchanges between Palestinians and Israeli security forces alongside lethal attacks by Palestinians against Israelis and by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, have also exacerbated tensions and led to exceedingly high levels of casualties and detentions. All perpetrators of violence must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. I urge Israel to ensure the safety and security of the Palestinian population.

I reiterate that security forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.

I am encouraged by the PA’s reform plan. The United Nations will continue to support the PA to implement critical reforms and urges the international community to provide immediate support to address the PA’s financial challenges, strengthen its governance capacity and prepare it to reassume its responsibilities in Gaza.

Mister President,

Palestinians and Israelis can no longer wait to establish a viable political horizon. Efforts to address security and humanitarian challenges that ignore or sidestep fundamental political questions are doomed to fail. All stakeholders must urgently take steps that will lead towards a two-State reality. The UN will continue to support all such efforts.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting steps towards ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.

I thank you.

It is an honour to brief the Security Council again. Over the past months I have met hundreds of Syrians – men and women of all backgrounds, who differ on many things, but who share a common concern for the future of their country. Their suffering is increasing, not decreasing. They fear Syria is in danger of being forgotten. And so today, on behalf of Special Envoy Pedersen, my message to you is simple: Syria is in grave crisis and none of its myriad problems can be sustainably addressed without a political solution. The voices of Syrians inside and outside need not only to be heard but heeded.

The Syrian people remain trapped in a profound crisis, which is becoming more entrenched with time, with no clear political path to implement resolution 2254 emerging, and threatening prolonged division and despair. This is not just tragic – it is dangerous. In the absence of a comprehensive political process, all kinds of negative trends are festering, presenting terrible risks for Syrians and the broader international community.

TOR WENNESLAND

UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

BRIEFING TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

29 May 2024

[As delivered]

Mister President,

Members of the Security Council,

Over seven months have now passed since 7 October. The horrific terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups and the ensuing Israeli military campaign and relentless hostilities in Gaza have caused widespread suffering on every scale imaginable.

There are reports more than 36,000 Palestinians and over 1,500 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed, 125 hostages are still held in Gaza and tens of thousands of people injured, the vast majority Palestinian.

Nearly two million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes in the Gaza Strip many of them multiple times, and some one hundred thousand Israelis have been displaced from communities in Israel’s north and south.

Agreement on a deal to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages is blocked and as Israel rolls out a significant ground operation in and around Rafah, the devastation is only intensifying.

The appalling incident on Sunday when a reported 45 Palestinians were killing and 200 injured as the tents they were sheltering in burned around them does not stand alone amid shocking numbers of civilian casualties. I remind all parties of their obligations to protect civilians.

At the same time, the occupied West Bank remains a pressure-cooker of negative trends. The risk of a regional conflagration is constant and is mounting every day this war continues.

This trajectory must change if we are to avoid further catastrophe.

I urge all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and in good faith. I reiterate my and the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Mr. President,

Palestinians in Gaza face another round of mass displacement, with one million fleeing from Rafah, many being displaced multiples times. Overcrowded conditions and acute shortages of food, water and medicine have led to misery and the spread of disease. The humanitarian response is woefully inadequate to address these needs.

On 24 May, the International Court of Justice delivered its Order on the Request of South Africa for the modification of the Order of 28 March in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip, reaffirming its previous provisional measures and indicating new measures.

Humanitarians are heroically continuing to deliver life-saving assistance in an incredibly difficult environment. Unsafe conditions resulting from a dangerously deficient humanitarian notification mechanism are compounded by overcrowding, desperation and a breakdown of law and order, imperiling humanitarian operations and costing the lives of humanitarian workers – including some 200 UN staff. Just hours ago, this breakdown of law and order has resulted in a well-organized looting of the UNRWA Rafah log base, making it more or less inoperative. This a key center for our operations. While we are investigating the circumstances, I condemn any violations of UN premises.

As I briefed this Council a little over a week ago, the opening of two crossings in Gaza’s north, alongside the entry of humanitarian goods arriving from Ashdod and from Jordan, as well as through the U.S. built floating pier via Cyprus – which is now under repair - are positive developments, but not sufficient. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s calls for an immediate re-opening of the Rafah crossing and for unimpeded humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip.

Mr. President,

Let me also focus on the occupied West Bank, where violence and other negative trends continue at an alarming rate. Large-scale Israeli operations persist, which are often met by lethal exchanges with armed Palestinians, as well as a spike in settler violence and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. Friction points around settlements are getting worse as the settlement enterprise expands in a very well-planned manner.

I am particularly concerned by Israel’s lifting of the military order banning Israelis from entering three evacuated settlements in the northern West Bank, a policy in effect since the 2005 disengagement law was put in place, and I do take note of the subsequent military order declaring the area a closed military zone, effectively preventing the entry of Israelis and Palestinians.

Around the region, the threat of a serious escalation has intensified. Exchanges of fire across the Blue Line between Israel and Hizbullah and other non-state armed groups in Lebanon continued. In addition to the deeply concerning escalation between Israel and Iran witnessed last month, aerial attacks toward Israel from militants in the region and Houthi attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea persisted. This is a combustible mix.

Mister President,

It is clear that all sides must urgently change course.

It is right that we are all focused on preventing a further deterioration or looking for solutions to the most pressing needs, yet without linking these urgent efforts to a longer-term political strategy, any solution will be short-lived or even counterproductive.

No attempt to address the humanitarian and security challenges will be sustainable unless it is part of a broader approach that addresses Gaza’s political future. That future is as an integral part of a single, unified Palestinian state, which is a crucial foundation for realizing a two-state solution.

This has been and will continue to be a key focus of my own efforts.

Throughout the past months, the Secretary-General and I have engaged extensively with the parties, the region and international actors to encourage a common approach to addressing the complex humanitarian, security and political crises affecting not only Gaza, but the whole of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Israel and the region.

We must reach an agreement to release the hostages and put in place an immediate ceasefire.

There is absolutely no time to lose.

The UN remains in regular contact with the mediators and parties, and we are committed to support the implementation of an agreement. A sustained ceasefire will be critical to a full-scale humanitarian and early recovery response to meet the immense needs in Gaza.

At the same time, we should be putting in place the framework for Gaza’s recovery and doing so in a way that tangible for moves forward, rather than away from a long-term political resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I have previously outlined some of the key principles that should guide us in that work - allow me to reiterate and expand on several of them here:

There should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza, while at the same time Israel's legitimate security concerns, particularly in the wake of the acts of terror committed on 7 October, must be addressed.

Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State – with no reductions in its territory.

Gaza and the West Bank must be unified politically, economically, administratively. They must be governed by a Palestinian Government that is recognized and supported by the Palestinian people and the international community. If transitional arrangements are required, they must be designed to achieve a unified Palestinian Government within a precise and limited timeframe.

There can be no long-term solution in Gaza that is not fundamentally political.

Mr. President,

My message in Brussels at the International Partners Meeting on Palestine was as follows, and it is the same message I am giving you here today:

– we must strengthen and preserve the institutions of the Palestinian Authority (PA) before it is too late, while rejecting any steps that seek to systematically undermine its viability, such as Israel’s withholding of the PA’s clearance revenues.

The fiscal situation for the PA is very serious, Mr. President.

I warned over a year ago that thirty years of state-building in Palestine were at grave risk. That is even more true today and the consequences are even more serious.

Affirming a path to the two-State solution means preserving and safeguarding the very institutions that are meant to govern such a state. Moreover, these institutions will be vital to the essential objective of ensuring Palestinian-led governance in Gaza.

The new technocratic Palestinian Government under Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, with eight ministers from Gaza - represents an important opportunity for us all to support tangible steps in the right direction, and in line with the principles for Gaza’s future as I just outlined.

The international community should provide support to, and work with, the new Government to address the PA’s dire fiscal crisis, strengthen its governance capacity and prepare it to reassume its responsibilities in Gaza and, ultimately, govern the whole of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Political, institutional and economic reforms will be needed – but they must be achievable, credible and financed. We should ensure that the Palestinian Authority is an integral part of planning for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.

I urge all actors to recognize the critical role of the PA and how that should play out in Gaza and work toward enabling its return because there is actually no other credible alternative.

We already know the scale of damage is immense - the World Bank and the United Nations, with support from the EU, conducted an Interim Damage Assessment of the impact of the first four months of conflict in Gaza - quantifying the cost of the physical damages to critical infrastructure like hospitals, housing and roads to be at around US$ 18.5 billion. The final cost will likely be multiples of this figure.

The massive scale of this effort will clearly require mobilization of the widest possible coalition of donors, private sector sources of financing, and significant improvements in how the necessary reconstruction materials should be able to enter Gaza.

We know already that donors and investors will not be forthcoming without concrete steps by the parties to find a political solution and ensure that Gaza is not rebuilt only to be destroyed yet again.

Let me be clear: The political framework and structures we establish now will play a significant role in the success or failure of what follows. This requires us to plan and act deliberately and thoughtfully, knowing that today’s decisions will not only shape the future of governance in Gaza, but also determine the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more broadly.

Mister President,

I am aware of the many challenges in trying to achieve these objectives while war rages in Gaza and while our attention is rightly focused on urgent needs on the ground.

But it is a time for making difficult political choices. If we neglect to lay the foundations of a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and end the occupation, the price of failure will reverberate for generations.

These foundations will not only be laid in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank; and they must be set in place not just by donors and the international community, but by committed leaders on all sides of this conflict. The drivers of the conflict must be addressed, including violence, settlement advancements and militant activity. Israeli measures that undermine the PA must halt now. Without progress on each of these, we will begin the process of undermining what we have not yet even started.

After the horrors of the past seven months, and past days, Palestinians and Israelis desperately need a political horizon. Without it, there is no sustainable path out of the suffering and misery we are witnessing now.

Thank you.