Risk of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Threatening Stability of Wider Region Remains High, Senior UN Political Official Warns Security Council
The risk of regional spillover of the Israeli-Palestine conflict remains high, a top United Nations official told the Security Council today, as delegates underscored that a full-blown conflict between Israel and Hizbullah would be catastrophic for Lebanon and the wider region.
Khaled Khiari, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, reported that, since 7 October, 304 Palestinians, including 79 children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank, where settler violence remains a grave concern. Meanwhile, four Israelis, including three members of the Israel Defense Forces, were killed in attacks by Palestinians in the West Bank, and another four Israelis were killed by Palestinians during an attack in West Jerusalem. Moreover, the continued daily fire across the Blue Line poses great risk to regional stability, he said, pointing to several instances of strikes deeper into the territories of Lebanon and Israel which raise the risk of conflict.
Also briefing the Council, Itay Epshtain, Special Advisor and Senior Humanitarian Law and Policy Consultant at the Norwegian Refugee Council, shone a spotlight on Israel’s forcible transfer of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians within Gaza, coupled with armed Israeli settlers’ intensified campaign of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Such violence is often overlooked by Israeli security forces — and even encouraged by certain Government officials. As Israel’s military operations in Gaza drive civilians closer to the southern border, the looming possibility of mass deportation to Egypt grows, he warned. The Council should attribute responsibility to Israel, he said, when members of its armed forces allow for — and participate in — settler violence, and when it directly allocates funds and arms to settlement guard squads who often partake in such attacks.
Marwan Muasher, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, focusing his briefing on the prospects for a political settlement, said future solutions must address the root cause of the problem: the Israeli occupation. “The big prison that Gaza practically was, coupled with the lack of any political horizon in the last 10 years to end the occupation, are factors that cannot be ignored.” However, given that the United States is approaching an election year, the Israeli Government has declared it has no intention of ending the occupation and no side can claim to represent the Palestinians without elections, “the stars are not aligned for a political process that is going to be serious”, he said. He warned that, without a bold decision to effect a viable two-State solution now, the world will have to deal not only with the occupation, but the more difficult question of Apartheid. “The choice is ours,” he said.
When the floor opened for discussion, delegates underscored the need to tame tensions in the West Bank, calling on Israel to stop settler violence immediately and hold the perpetrators accountable. Many cited an immediate ceasefire as “imperative” to vital humanitarian access, spotlighting the conflict’s spillover potential.
The observer for the State of Palestine said that, for over 80 days, Palestinians — besieged, bombarded, displaced and starved — have been fighting for their lives. “Why are they getting away with murder at this unprecedented scale?”, he asked, noting that Israel has never been held accountable. He underscored that the “killing of Palestinian civilians is not a collateral effect of the war, as it relies by design on mass and indiscriminate killing of civilians.” In the same vein, he cited the famine under way as “a method of war” and the collapse of the health system as “the result of premeditated attacks against hospitals and medical personnel”. Israel’s aim of “voluntary migration” has led to the death of 21,000 Palestinians who are faced with two options: death or forced displacement, he said, adding that the past three months have been the deadliest the West Bank has witnessed in decades, including for children.
The representative of Israel, stressing that “genocidal terrorists are seeking to murder Israeli citizens every single day”, said this Council “is quick to show solidarity with civilians across the Middle East so long as they are not Israelis”. The body has not condemned the rocket fire from Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, he continued, noting that 50,000 Israeli civilians have been displaced along the northern border because of Iranian-backed attacks by Hizbullah from Lebanon. “If these attacks continue […] the situation will escalate and may lead to a full-scale war,” he warned, adding that “Israel will defend itself”. While the Council focuses on the disgraceful act of a handful of Israeli extremists, rockets are raining down on Israel’s north and south, and entire families have been burned alive by Hamas-ISIS, he said, expressing shock at the Council’s “willingness to waste its time on such a marginal, extremist phenomenon while the whole region is on fire”.
The speaker for the United Arab Emirates underlined that, without bold decisions of the countries present, “the alternative is the hellscape of Gaza, expanded into the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East”. Faced with the carnage in Gaza, a reawakened sense of historic and moral responsibility must manifest in decisive action, she said, calling for “an alternative vision of hope against the nihilistic extremism”.
The delegate for the United States, meanwhile, emphasized that the continued control of Gaza by Hamas — “a group that has dedicated its entire existence to the elimination of Israel” — precludes a pathway to a viable two-State solution. He stressed that the conflict must move to a lower-intensity phase, with a focus on dealing with the leadership of Hamas and the tunnel network.
For his part, the representative of the Russian Federation, noting that 2023 was the bloodiest year for the inhabitants of the West Bank, warned against a regional spillover of the conflict. Lebanon and Syria find themselves under threat, he said, also pointing to increasing tensions in Iraq and Yemen, and unprecedented risks of massive exodus of Palestinians faced by Egypt and Jordan. Faced with the urgent need to stop the bloodshed, he said “the Council has only adopted two resolutions emasculated by Washington” which lack any direct demands for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Brazil’s delegate, also speaking for Switzerland as informal co-focal points on conflict and hunger, highlighted that 90 per cent of Gaza’s population is experiencing crisis-level food insecurity, with 500,000 people facing catastrophic hunger conditions. “Virtually all households are skipping meals every day,” he pointed out, stating that the risk of Gaza experiencing famine increases each day, with hostilities as the main driver. Accordingly, only the resumption of commercial cargo moving into Gaza can ensure the scale-up needed to provide relief to those in need.
The speaker for Ghana, noting that the demolition and seizure of Palestinian-owned structures diminish the prospects for sustainable peace in the Middle East, urged Israel to enhance its investigations against nationalist crimes and abate access of Israeli settlers. Voicing equal concern about the actions of Palestinian armed groups that are threatening Israel’s security, he said the opening of new front lines by Hamas, as well as cross-border incidents from Lebanon and the wider region, must stop immediately.
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION
Briefings
KHALED KHIARI, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, detailing the “alarming” situation in the Middle East, said that fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza continues. Israel continues its intense ground operations, while Hamas continues to fire rockets from Gaza into Israel. “Civilians from both sides — particularly the Gaza Strip — continue to bear the brunt of this conflict,” he said. Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, he called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire therein. “Further, the risk of regional spillover of this conflict remains high, given the multitude of actors involved,” he said. The continued daily fire across the Blue Line poses great risk to regional stability. There have been several instances of strikes deeper into the territories of Lebanon and Israel, raising the risk of conflict with potentially devastating consequences for the people of both countries. With the risk of miscalculation increasing, it is crucial that all actors immediately de-escalate and return to the cessation of hostilities.
Further, he said attacks on United States bases in Iraq in Syria take place on a daily basis, with Washington, D.C., conducting operations against groups suspected of these actions. There are also reported Israeli air strikes inside Syria, he added. The continued Houthi threats to maritime navigation in the Red Sea are of growing concern, risking further escalation, he observed, adding that the UN continues to encourage de-escalation so that traffic through the Red Sea can return to its normal state.
Across the occupied West Bank, heightened tensions between Israeli security forces and Palestinians, intensive violence and widespread movement restrictions have continued, he said. Since 7 October, 304 Palestinians, including 79 children, have been killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, four Israelis, including three members of the Israel Defence Forces, have been killed in attacks by Palestinians in the West Bank. Another four Israelis have been killed by Palestinians during an attack in West Jerusalem. Despite the reduction in settler attacks throughout November and December since the spike in violent settler attacks against Palestinians following 7 October, settler violence remains a grave concern. He further spotlighted the deteriorating human rights situation in East Jerusalem. To prevent the endless cycle of violence, he emphasized that the current hostilities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory must end with a plan to meaningfully advance the parties towards a two-State solution, with Gaza as an integral part of an independent Palestinian State, living side by side with Israel.
MARWAN MUASHER, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and former Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, said he wanted to focus on the first day after the war and the prospects for a political settlement. Before that, however, he pointed out that the immediate priority must be ending the war on Gaza. “The Palestinians have suffered enough,” he said, adding that there is no international or humanitarian law that condones the carpet-bombing of civilians the world is witnessing today. He noted that the question that is being asked repeatedly by the international community is “Who is going to rule Gaza after Hamas?” It is the wrong question to pose, if the implication is that this is the endgame as any policy based on this will lead to disastrous results. “The repeated killings of civilians on both Israeli and Palestinian sides, the destruction of Gaza once again, the creation of another potential 1.5 million Palestinian refugees, and the looming danger of mass transfer should teach us that we cannot solve the problems by sticking to old paradigms that did not work,” he said.
The scenarios presented so far are unrealistic because they focus on the day-after Gaza rather than present solutions that address the root cause of the problem: the Israeli occupation. “This is the context in which 7 October took place,” he said. “As abhorrent as targeting of civilians is on both sides, the big prison that Gaza practically was, coupled with the lack of any political horizon in the last 10 years to end the occupation, are factors that cannot be ignored.” He said it was important to acknowledge that the elements necessary for a serious political process are not there since the three parties needed do not seem to be ready. The United States is approaching an election year. The Israeli Government has repeatedly and publicly declared it has no intention of ending the occupation. And no side can claim to represent the Palestinians without elections. “For all these reasons, the stars are not aligned for a political process that is going to be serious,” he said.
He encouraged Council members to engage at least hypnotically in imagining the elements of a process that would learn from the past and would be seen as serious, outlining an eight-point plan that, among other things, included the United States leading a political plan with the clearly defined objective to end the occupation; that settlement activity would be completely frozen, and fresh elections in both Israel, Gaza and the West Bank would be held. “If the international community decides that this is too unrealistic, let us look at what the alternatives might look like,” he said, noting that, by ignoring the root cause of the problem — the occupation — the international community is partly to blame for the situation today. He argued that either a bold decision is taken to end the conflict now and effect a viable two-State solution or the world will have to deal not only with the occupation but the more difficult question of Apartheid. “The choice is ours,” he said.
ITAY EPSHTAIN, Special Advisor and Senior Humanitarian Law and Policy Consultant at the Norwegian Refugee Council, underscored that all parties have shown a reckless disregard for the peremptory norms of international law. This includes the basic rules of international humanitarian law — “the very rules they must comply with in all circumstances, breached” — he added. He condemned Hamas’ atrocious violence against Israeli civilians, also calling for the immediate release of all hostages held ultra vires and the humane treatment of Palestinian detainees in keeping with international law. This same legal certainty must also mean a halt to the Israeli offensive, from which ordinary Gazans have no refuge, and indiscriminate Israeli attacks affecting civilians or infrastructure — or causing excessive loss of life, injury or damage — must be condemned. Further, reversing capricious and unlawful limitations on humanitarian relief imposed by Israel — the occupying Power — “remains a normative and operational challenge that must be addressed”, he said.
He went on to point out that, as Israel’s military operations in Gaza drive civilians closer to the southern border, the looming possibility of mass deportation to Egypt grows. This concern follows Israel’s forcible transfer of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians within Gaza, as well as explicit statements by Israeli officials endorsing such deportation without reasonable justification, proper accommodation or services in place or a guarantee of return once hostilities end. He also underscored that, as the international community mobilizes to respond to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, armed Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have intensified their campaign of violence against Palestinians. In recent months, whole communities have been forcibly displaced by such violence, and he stressed: “Israeli authorities are doing next to nothing to prevent these attacks.” Further, such violence is often overlooked by Israeli security forces — and even encouraged by certain Government officials.
The Council should attribute responsibility to Israel, he said, when members of its armed forces allow for — and participate in — settler violence, and when it directly allocates funds and arms to settlement guard squads who often partake in such attacks. As an occupying Power, Israel is responsible for public life, order and safety in occupied territory, and the Council must demand that Israeli authorities respect and protect the rights of Palestinians; abide by the law governing occupation and applicable rules on the use of lethal force; and work to deescalate ongoing violence in the West Bank. “Peace is the only viable solution for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel,” he stressed, stating that a mutually agreed-upon armistice is a necessary stepping stone to resolving the question of Palestine. Ending the occupation of Palestinian territory is essential to ending the suffering and enabling aid workers to deliver critical relief to those in need, he added.
Statements
MAJED S. F. BAMYA, observer for the State of Palestine, said the killing of Palestinian civilians is not a collateral effect of the war, as it relies by design on mass and indiscriminate killing of civilians. Relatedly, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is not the consequence of the war, but a tool employed by Israel to force the Palestinians out. The famine under way is a method of war and the collapse of the health system is the result of premeditated attacks against hospitals and medical personnel. The mass arrest, filmed humiliation and enforced disappearance and summary executions aim at terrorizing the Palestinian people as a whole. For over 80 days, Palestinians — besieged, bombarded, displaced and starved — have been fighting for their lives.
Highlighting undeniable evidence of the criminal nature of this assault, he asked: “What do you say on behalf of a people enduring genocide?” The killers demand apologies from those criticizing them for their crimes and recognition from the world that they are “the most moral army in the world”. Despite the Council calling for protection of civilians, immediate safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access, the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip and respect for the laws of war, Israel has reacted with disregard. “Why are they getting away with murder at this unprecedented scale?”, he asked, noting that Israel has never been held accountable. “That is why they steal our lives, our land, our resources, our money, our past, present and future in broad daylight,” he added.
One day the massacres will stop, he said, adding: “But how will we get over the mass graves, the inability to bury our loved ones? […] Seeing them in plastic bags […] how will we get over 1,000 Palestinian children amputated without anaesthesia? Can you hear their screams? Can you hear their pain? Can you imagine if they were your own children?” One day the massacres will stop and Palestinians will be asked to move on, to be peaceful and grateful that this horrible chapter is over, until the next one begins. This is the ultimate expression of double standards, the ultimate expression of racism and dehumanization of Palestinians, he asserted, noting that the other side is never asked to move on and be peaceful if Israelis are killed.
The world is discovering the true Gaza while Israel is destroying it, he said, noting that Palestinians — despite repeated assaults and a decade and a half of blockade — somehow preserved hope, built homes only to see them destroyed, and built them once more. “That is what Israel is attacking — hope, the ability of our people to resurrect — they want to make sure that Palestinians in Gaza have no homes to return to, they want to make sure they have no life to return to, they want to make sure that life in Gaza is no longer possible,” he said. Israel’s aim of “voluntary migration” has led to the death of 21,000 Palestinians who are faced with two options: death or forced displacement. He further underscored that the past three months have been the deadliest the West Bank has witnessed in decades, including for children. “Our suffering is […] man-made, occupation-made,” he said, noting that the powerlessness of some world Powers is not inevitable.
GILAD ERDAN (Israel) said he was shocked to be sitting in the Council Chamber today, shocked by the focus of this briefing, by the blatant lies being spread and the utter dissonance from the reality on the ground. But, most of all, he said, he was “shocked by this Council’s willingness to waste its time focusing on such a marginal, extremist phenomenon while the whole region is on fire”. The true reason for this raging fire is ignored, he said, noting that rockets are continually being fired at Israel. Yet, these brazen attacks on civilians do not warrant an urgent briefing here in this Council. “Is this violence occurring magically on its own?”, he asked. “Is it not clear that genocidal terrorists are seeking to murder Israeli citizens every single day? This Council is quick to show solidarity with civilians across the Middle East so long as they are not Israelis.”
When it comes to innocent Israeli civilians being targeted every day, why is this Council silent and why has it not condemned the rocket fire from Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, he asked. The situation is reaching a point of no return and if these attacks persist, Israel will ensure these acts of terror stop. “Why have you not spoken up?”, he asked. “Why is it that the UN remains silent in the face of terror only when it is directed against Israel?” He noted that 50,000 Israeli civilians have been displaced along the northern border because of Iranian-backed attacks by Hizbullah from Lebanon — attacks that are a flagrant violation of Israeli’s sovereignty and international law and Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 1701 (2006). “If these attacks continue […] the situation will escalate and may lead to a full-scale war,” he said, adding that Lebanon must be held accountable. “Israel will defend itself,” he said.
Israel is currently fighting a war for its very future against genocidal Hamas terrorists, he said. Eighty-four days after 1,300 Israelis were butchered and with 129 people still being held hostage in Hamas’ terror tunnels, this Council has not even condemned the Hamas Nazi attacks. “Does this Council truly believe that the disgraceful act of a handful of extremists — Israeli extremists —are the true roadblock to a solution? Is this the topic that the Council should be focused on today?”, he asked. He said Israel’s police force is cracking down on acts of violence which are mostly damage to property. Meanwhile, rockets are raining down on Israel’s north and south, and entire families have been burned alive by Hamas-ISIS.
There were no Israelis in the West Bank in 1948 nor in 1967, yet the Palestinians and Arab countries still sought to annihilate Israel. “Do you not see the absurdity? When will you address the true obstacle to peace in our region?”, he asked, adding that, last week, there were four instances of extremist violence against Palestinians. “If you look at the numbers over the past three months, it is clear that extremist violence is de-escalating, contrary to the focus of this briefing,” he said. Israel condemns every act of violence. And severe action is being taken to combat it. Arrests have been made and Israel makes every effort to bring perpetrators to justice. But, it is marginal issue — and it is in decline, he said.
LANA ZAKI NUSSEIBEH (United Arab Emirates) pointed out that there has not been a Council meeting on the subject where it has not collectively demanded the urgent release of all hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Underscoring that many of the countries present — hers included — must make bold, and perhaps uncomfortable, decisions, she observed: “The alternative is the hellscape of Gaza, expanded into the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.” In the face of the carnage in Gaza, a reawakened sense of historic and moral responsibility must manifest in decisive action. When leaders proudly claim that their life’s work was preventing the two-State solution, openly call for Palestinians to be expelled from their land and routinely threaten other countries with a fate similar to Gaza’s, the international community must recognize the need for a fundamental reset. Adding that nothing about the conflict or where it goes from here was or is inevitable, she called on those present to “give an alternative vision of hope against the nihilistic extremism”.
JOHN KELLEY (United States) expressed concern regarding the sharp increase in settler violence in the West Bank and the unprecedented number of Palestinian fatalities both in the West Bank and Gaza. “The death of any civilian, whether they were one of the individuals killed by Hamas terrorists on 7 October in Israel or one of the Palestinians killed in the West Bank or Gaza, is a tragedy,” he said. The United States continues to stress to the Israeli Government the importance of preventing extremist settler violence. Washington, D.C., will continue to implement visa restrictions targeting individuals believed to undermine peace and stability in the West Bank. A two-State solution, where Israelis and Palestinians live side-by-side, is a path to lasting peace, he stressed.
The continued control of Gaza by Hamas — “a group that has dedicated its entire existence to the elimination of Israel” — precludes a pathway to a viable two-State solution, he continued. And yet, some Council members cannot bring themselves to condemn Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks on 7 October. “It’s outrageous and beneath the dignity of this Council,” he added. It is striking that “we hear very few demands of Hamas to stop hiding behind civilians, lay down its arms and surrender”. The conflict must move to a lower intensity phase, with a focus on dealing with the leadership of Hamas and the tunnel network. Israel would welcome a return to a pause in fighting with the further release of hostages. “Hamas, therefore, remains a problem,” he said, adding that Hamas “reneged” on commitments they made during the first pause for hostage releases. Further, he condemned Iran’s support for proxy groups throughout the region.
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) voiced concern over the tense situation in the West Bank, marked by continued operations by Israeli security forces and violent settlers. Warning against a regional spillover, he said Lebanon and Syria find themselves under threat; additionally, there have been increasing tensions in Iraq and Yemen, whereas Egypt and Jordan are facing unprecedented risks of massive exodus of Palestinians from Gaza. Since 7 October, in the West Bank, the Israeli military and settlers have killed 302 Palestinians, including 79 children. This makes 2023 the bloodiest year for the inhabitants of the West Bank. In the context of violence in the West Bank, multiple security operations by Israel began long before the terrorist attack, which he categorically condemned. The Israelis used the raids as a justification to clear out Gaza, which has led to 21,000 killed, including UN workers, medical personnel and journalists. Stressing the need to stop the bloodshed and create conditions to provide humanitarian assistance, he recalled that, since the beginning of the crisis, “the Council has only adopted two resolutions emasculated by Washington” which lack any direct demands for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
FRANCESCA MARIA GATT (Malta), while reiterating Israel’s right to protect its citizens, stressed that any action must be taken with respect for international law. Further, the full implementation of resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023), and the establishment of an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, are the only ways to avoid further death and destruction. Expressing concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation in the West Bank — including the scale of recent Israeli military operations there — she urged Israel to exercise utmost restraint, abide by international law and prioritize the protection of civilians. The use of military tactics and disproportionate force, along with the imposition of movement restrictions, in the West Bank impact broad segments of the Palestinian population, and Israeli authorities must take clear, effective steps towards ceasing such practices. Adding that escalatory skirmishes along the Blue Line continue to raise tensions, she called on all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate and respect the norms of international law.
NICOLAS DE RIVIÈRE (France) said that his country remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He emphasized that priority must go to an immediate implementation of a lasting ceasefire. He noted the urgency of delivering more humanitarian assistance to the civilian population and called on Israel to facilitate the delivery of aid to the whole of Gaza. The two resolutions adopted by the Council over the last few weeks must be implemented, he said, reiterating that international law must be respected. He welcomed the appointment of the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza pursuant to Security Council resolution 2720 (2023), Sigrid Kaag. Regarding the attacks of 7 October, all hostages must be released immediately and without conditions and the Council must condemn the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including sexual violence, he said. “It is incomprehensible that this Council has still not been able to do this.”
HAROLD ADLAI AGYEMAN (Ghana) expressed deep concern that the fate of loved ones still held captive by Hamas remains unknown and that over 20,000 civilians, mainly children and women, have been reported killed in the Gaza Strip. The demolition and seizure of Palestinian-owned structures do not only serve to stoke tensions and deepen mistrust, but diminish the prospects for sustainable peace in the Middle East, he went on to say. For its part, Israel must enhance its investigations against nationalist crimes and make the necessary administrative orders that would abate access of Israeli settlers. “We are equally concerned about the actions of Palestinian armed groups that are threatening the security of Israel, including through the continuous firing of rockets into Israel,” he stressed. The opening of new front lines by Hamas, as well as cross-border incidents from Lebanon and the wider region, must stop immediately. Every voice of moderation that helps de-escalate the conflict and prevent its further spread in the region is crucial at this moment in time, he added.
SÉRGIO FRANÇA DANESE (Brazil), also speaking for Switzerland as informal co-focal points on conflict and hunger, noted that more than 90 per cent of Gaza’s population is currently experiencing crisis-level food insecurity. Over 500,000 people are facing catastrophic hunger conditions, and almost 2 million are either not meeting their daily food needs or are only meeting minimal nourishment requirements by selling their possessions. “Virtually all households are skipping meals every day,” he added, stating that the risk of Gaza experiencing famine increases each day, with hostilities as the main driver. Welcoming the recent delivery of an aid convoy by the World Food Programme (WFP) from Jordan to Gaza, he said this could pave the way for a sustained corridor allowing for expanded humanitarian assistance. However, only the resumption of commercial cargo moving into Gaza can ensure the scale-up needed to provide relief to those in need. Against that backdrop, he called on Council members to do their utmost to prevent conflict-induced famine.
Speaking in his national capacity, he reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire and the continuous provision of essential humanitarian aid to Gaza through all viable channels. Noting that the ramifications of the conflict in Gaza extend well beyond its borders — including rising hostilities on the Lebanon-Israel border and in the Red Sea — he urged all relevant parties and Member States to prevent further escalation. He also expressed concern over the continued disregard of pertinent Council and General Assembly resolutions relating to “this ongoing, tragic chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. This deeply worrisome situation cannot be allowed to continue, and he condemned the displacement of Palestinians from their homes. He expressed further concern over the intensification of settler violence in the West Bank, underscoring that settlements are illegal under international law and must be stopped as a precondition for any agreement that will ensure durable peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.
GENG SHUANG (China) said that the Palestinian people are being subjected to dehumanization. The protractive nature of the war will only cause more casualties on both sides. “There’s no safe place in Gaza,” he said, warning that the situation on the ground is not allowing humanitarian agencies to carry out their work and reach people in need with aid. Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank and its continued escalation of raids have eroded the basis of a two-State solution. Israel must cease all settlement activities and hold perpetrators accountable. The crux of the protracted Palestinian-Israeli issue lies in the failure to implement a two-State solution and the failure to guarantee the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. “We support Palestine’s full membership in the UN, and the early resumption of direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel,” he added.
LILLY STELLA NGYEMA NDONG (Gabon) said the situation remains alarming not just in Gaza but in the West Bank with growing displacement and violence. She said her country is very concerned by the latest developments on the ground, which not only undermine the viability of a two-State solution but also threaten a wider conflagration in the region. “The risk of the spread of the conflict is real,” she said, adding that Gabon supports any initiative aimed at reviving hope and saving lives. Resolution 2720 (2023) adopted by the Council is an opportunity for all parties to achieve those aims, she said and reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip is part and parcel of Palestinian territory. She also welcomed the appointment of Sigrid Kaag as the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. “The solution to the conflict must be political and diplomatic,” she said, adding that all parties’ concerns and considerations must be taken into account.
YAMAZAKI KAZUYUKI (Japan) said people in Gaza struggle for survival every single day with barely any access to food and water, with 40 per cent of its population at risk of famine. Israel's troops have expanded their ground operations across most of the Gaza Strip, including in the central town of Deir al-Balah. In the Maghazi refugee camp, many people were reportedly killed by air strikes. At the same time, Hamas is continuing to launch indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israel. Noting that the UN and other humanitarian actors face various obstacles in facilitating aid delivery to and throughout Gaza, he strongly urged all parties to act in good faith based on resolutions 2720 (2023) and 2712 (2023). He also warned against the spillover of the conflict, pointing to increased cross-border fighting between Israel and Hizbullah across the Blue Line. The Houthis’ continued attacks on merchant and commercial vessels pose a grave threat to maritime security, he said, strongly demanding the Houthis’ to immediately cease such attacks and release the Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader cargo ship and its crew. Regarding the situation in the occupied West Bank, he strongly condemned mass arbitrary arrests, settler violence and unlawful killings.
BARBARA WOODWARD (United Kingdom), while underlining her country’s commitment to Israel’s security and the need to address the threat posed by Hamas, stated: “But, too many civilians have been killed.” Israel must comply with international humanitarian law and clearly differentiate between terrorists and civilians. Further, as the situation in the occupied West Bank underlines the urgent need to progress towards peace, Israel must stop settler violence immediately and hold the perpetrators accountable. Calling on that country to adhere to its commitments and cease all settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, she stressed that approving further settlements serves only to raise tensions in the West Bank. Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority should demonstrate — through their policies — a genuine commitment to a two-State solution. Also spotlighting the conflict’s spillover potential, she underscored that a full-blown conflict between Israel and Hizbullah would be “catastrophic” for Lebanon and the wider region.
ADRIAN DOMINIK HAURI (Switzerland) voiced great concern over the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as on the northern border with Lebanon. Figures verified by the United Nations make 2023 the deadliest year in almost 20 years both in Israel and Gaza, but also in the West Bank. She condemned the increased intensity of violent acts committed by settlers, which have led to the forced displacement of pastoralist communities. She also condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas and recognized Israel’s right to ensure its own security. However, it is vital that all violations of international law committed in Israel and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory are investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. Sounding alarm over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip — where 90 per cent of the population is in a situation of acute food insecurity — she stressed that humanitarian aid must be delivered unhindered and without preconditions.
FERIT HOXHA (Albania) reiterated condemnation of the attacks of 7 October, “which, let’s not forget, triggered this crisis”. He expressed horror over the emerging stories of the use of sexual violence by Hamas against Israeli civilian women and girls. It is unthinkable that, nearly three months after the savage crimes unleashed against Israel, the Security Council has not been able to condemn these acts. In the Gaza Strip, innocent civilians are being punished twice by the cowardice of Hamas, but also by the “heavy-handedness” of Israel. Terrorists must be killed, but civilians and aid workers must be protected. The situation in the West Bank has further deteriorated. Settlements must be disbanded ‑ not expanded ‑ as they are an impediment to the peace process. He also went on to say that Iran continues to pull the strings of proxy groups in the region, which is causing a threat to international peace and stability.
DOMINGOS FERNANDES (Mozambique) reiterated grave concerns over the exacerbating tensions, including settlements, violence against civilians, provocative rhetoric and clashes between both parties. “All these unlawful and vile activities, in flagrant violations under international law and UN Charter, must cease immediately,” he stressed. An immediate ceasefire is imperative to enable vital humanitarian access. All parties must respect their legal obligations to safeguard civilians and ensure that life-saving assistance reaches the affected innocent civilians in Gaza. He urged all parties to implement these measures given the humanitarian emergency on the ground. The international community must act with courage and moral clarity to alleviate suffering and revitalize the peace process.
JOSÉ JAVIER DE LA GASCA (Ecuador), Council President for December, speaking in his national capacity, thanked the briefers at today’s Council meeting and said his country unequivocally condemns the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October and he demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Since those terrorist attacks, the magnitude of the violence in Gaza has meant that events in other localities have slipped away from the spotlight. Nevertheless, the negative trends since the beginning of October in the West Bank have also increased. The level of violence has grown, as have deaths and detentions. Those responsible for violent attacks must be brought to justice, he said, condemning all terrorist attacks and adding that security forces must always use restraint. He strongly opposed all unilateral measures that make peace more difficult such as construction and expansion of settlements, the confiscation of land from the Palestinians, and the demolition of Palestinian houses and civilian displacement.