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Warned of Imminent Famine in Norther Gaza, Speakers in Security Council Urge Immediate Ceasefire, Sustained Aid

10 Non-Permanent Members Leading New Draft Resolution on Gaza Crisis

Speakers urged the Security Council today to prevent northern Gaza’s descent into famine amid relentless death and destruction, as the 15-member body convened an emergency meeting in response to experts’ warnings that immediate action is required within “days, not weeks” to avert the scourge.

“The humanitarian and human rights situation for Palestinian civilians across Gaza is catastrophic,” underscored Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, highlighting the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’s recent alert that “there is a strong likelihood that famine is imminent” in the Strip’s northern areas.

In this regard, she appealed to the Council to take all steps within its powers to influence the parties to end violations, facilitate impartial humanitarian access and protect civilians.  Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure “contributes directly to the famine risk being discussed today”, she noted, stressing that “the use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law”.

Noting the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ recent report on the human rights situation in Gaza, she highlighted that:  “The manner in which the Israeli military is conducting operations in northern Gaza suggests not only that Israel’s actions are seeking to empty northern Gaza of Palestinians, by displacing survivors to the south, but points to further grave risks of atrocities of the most serious nature.”  Palestinian armed groups must also comply with international humanitarian law, but their failure to do so does not remove or reduce the obligation of Israeli forces to comply, she stressed. 

Further, “there must be accountability” for serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial authorities. “In line with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion and General Assembly resolution ES-10/24, Israel must end its continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible, allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination,” she said.

Gaza 'largely self-sufficient' before 7 October 2023

"Men, women, boys and girls are effectively starving as the conflict rages,” underscored Rein Paulsen, Director, Office for Emergencies and Resilience, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), via videoconference.  Prior to 7 October 2023, Gaza was largely self-sufficient in vegetables, eggs, fresh milk, poultry and fish, and local agriculture also produced much of the red meat and fruits consumed inside Gaza, he said.  Today, nearly 70 per cent of Gaza’s cropland has been damaged or destroyed, and almost 95 per cent of cattle, and more than half of sheep and goat herds, are now dead. 

“The window of opportunity to deliver this assistance is now, today, not tomorrow,” he stressed, renewing FAO’s calls for urgent diplomatic efforts from across the international community to address conflict-induced food insecurity.  He further urged Council members to remind all parties to the conflict of their responsibility to protect civilian infrastructure, critical to the delivery of humanitarian aid, and to ensure the proper functioning of agrifood systems and markets in situations of armed conflict.  Peace is a prerequisite for food security, and the right to food is a fundamental human right, he stressed.

Also briefing the Council was Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, who declared:  “As I brief you, Israeli authorities are blocking humanitarian assistance from entering North Gaza, where fighting continues, and around 75,000 people remain with dwindling water and food supplies.”  Citing violent armed lootings of UN convoys, the closure of food assistance kitchens and the diminishing daily food distribution, she warned that, if implemented, the Israeli Knesset legislation to ban activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), starting in January, will be “another devastating blow to efforts to provide life-saving aid and avert the threat of famine”.

Parties must ensure that the essential needs of civilians are met wherever they are, she said, emphasizing:  “Now is the time for Member States to use their leverage to prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law — through diplomatic and economic pressure, responsible arms transfers and combating impunity.  Now is the time for the Security Council to use its powers under the UN Charter to ensure compliance with international law and full implementation of its resolutions.”

In the ensuing debate, Council members deplored the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly the risk of famine.  Several speakers underscored conflict parties’ international humanitarian law obligations to protect civilians and meet their basic needs, while others called out Israel for its obstruction of aid or forced policy of starvation.

That international aid cannot travel to reach civilians “is completely unacceptable”, stressed Ray Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, Council President for November, who spoke in his national capacity.  Israel must heed and act on the “shocking and urgent” warning that a worst-case scenario is now playing out in areas of northern Gaza, he said, urging that country to flood Gaza with aid, protect civilians, meet all legal obligations as the occupying Power and avoid undermining UNRWA’s role.

The United States’ representative said her Government has called on Israel to address the humanitarian crisis, and, thanks to its intervention, that country has taken important steps, including restoring aid deliveries to the north.  However, Israel must ensure that improvements are sustained over time.  “There must be no forcible displacement or policy of starvation, which would have grave implications under United States and international law,” she warned.  She then joined delegates of Malta, Sierra Leone and Slovenia in underscoring UNRWA’s vital role in humanitarian response, calling on Israel to pause the implementation of its legislation targeting the Agency, and on the Secretary-General to address allegations that UNRWA personnel were involved in the 7 October 2023 attack.

Occupying Power's responsibility to ensure food and medical supplies

“One party’s non-observance, even if it is deemed to be a terrorist group, does not provide any legitimate ground for another party’s failure to comply with international law for 13 months straight,” stressed the Republic of Korea’s delegate.  As Gaza is entirely controlled by the Israel Defense Forces, it is “undoubtedly” the obligation of Israel — not the UN or the “remnants of the de facto regime in Gaza” — to ensure necessary food and medical goods for the Palestinians — a point echoed by the representatives of Switzerland and France.

“This is a clear use of starvation as a method of war, which constitutes a war crime,” stressed Algeria’s representative.  Denial of civilians’ right to food in Gaza constitutes part of systematic collective punishment of the Palestinian population, stressed China’s speaker, urging Israel to remove obstacles to humanitarian access throughout Gaza and any restriction placed on UNRWA.

Several delegates highlighted an initiative by 10 non-permanent Council members to table a draft resolution on Gaza, with the Russian Federation’s representative noting that adopting this document will be a “belated but proper step”.

Lebanon’s representative, speaking for the Arab Group, declared:  “We call upon your august Council to stop the genocidal war immediately” and to condemn the policy of collective punishment.  Spotlighting the Humanitarian Response Conference that will be held in Cairo on 2 December, he urged the international donors to fund humanitarian work.

Echoing other speakers’ assessment of a “man-made catastrophe”, Guyana’s representative said the situation should spur the Council to immediate action “to halt this systematic and calculated annihilation of innocent Palestinian civilians by starvation”.  Mozambique’s representative called for coordinated international diplomatic pressure to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law to prevent the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Japan’s representative, stressing that additional urgent efforts are imperative to improve humanitarian access to Gaza, said his country has provided $130 million in humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians since 7 October 2023.  Echoing other delegations, including Ecuador, he stressed:  “Only an immediate ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages can end this.”

Israel rejects claims of famine

Israel’s representative said that “today’s IPC report is a […] true masterclass in misinformation, bias and dishonest reporting”. Disputing its various claims, he detailed Israel’s humanitarian efforts, noting that it has facilitated, since October, the entry of over 713 aid trucks to northern Gaza alone, with the goal of sustaining a steady flow of 50 trucks daily.  Moreover, the Kissufim crossing reopened this morning with new inspection facilities and roads to ensure safe passage.  In addition, the report ignores the critical role of Hamas, who have hijacked aid trucks, diverted resources and used civilians as cover for its terror activities, and whom Gazans know are to blame for their suffering.  The Council must focus its energy on defeating Hamas terrorists — the true oppressor.  Israel will continue its work to protect civilian lives and fulfil humanitarian obligations despite biased reports and manipulated narratives.

“The very survival of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians is at stake,” said the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, reporting that people in northern Gaza are “being killed and starved to death, moved around like cattle from one place to another, from one death to another”. Israel has decided and implemented famine as a method of war for ethnic cleansing and to advance its colonial objectives, he said, adding:  “Israel tells us trucks are entering and crossings are open and markets are flourishing, or blames others for the siege it is imposing, while the UN, humanitarian non-governmental organizations and States around the world are saying the opposite.”  He called for an unconditional ceasefire, the immediate entry of life-saving assistance and the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.  “Enough bloodshed, enough suffering, enough horrors,” he stressed, adding:  “Save lives now, or we will all have to live with the terrifying consequences.”

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For information media. Not an official record.