29 April 2025
Mr. President,
We would like to thank Mr. Secretary-General for his review of the situation in the region.
For a year and a half now, there has been ongoing collective punishment of the entire Palestinian people in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. With the resumption on March 2 of massive hostilities by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the enclave, the daily toll of Palestinians killed and wounded has once again reached the thousands. About half a million Gazans have become internally displaced (IDPs) over the past month. The overall number of those who have died since the beginning of the escalation in the area of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has exceeded 52 thousand, almost 118 thousand people have been injured. Most of those killed in Gaza are women and children, and there are regular attacks on schools, medical and civilian facilities.
Particularly egregious was the cold-blooded murder by IDF soldiers in late March of 15 aid workers, including a UN staff member and eight medics of the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli investigation revealed that it was allegedly a matter of operational misunderstanding between the soldiers. Attempting to justify the actions of the soldiers, the Israeli leadership initially assured the international community that the flashing lights of the ambulances had been turned off, which turned out to be untrue, as was proved by a video recording from the phone of one of the killed doctors.
Well, what is the cost of the lives of 15 humanitarians? – the dismissal of the deputy unit commander and disciplinary measures for the other officer. It is hardly surprising that with such lenient punishments and, in fact, lack of due accountability, Gaza has long broken all grim records as regards the number of killed children, humanitarian workers, UN staff (including UNRWA), and journalists. We would like to recall that the protection of humanitarian personnel is an unconditional imperative and an obligation under international humanitarian law.
Mr. President,
The catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip is exacerbating due to the nearly 60-day blockade of food and medical supplies, which has led to stockpiles running out. And this is despite the fact that three thousand UNRWA trucks carrying humanitarian supplies are ready to enter the Strip. Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm about an impending famine, especially among children. We should also bear in mind that those actions by Israel directly impact the conditions of the Israeli hostages remaining in the enclave. It is totally unacceptable to use humanitarian aid as a bargaining chip in negotiations.
The situation is artificially aggravated by Israel’s ban on the work of UNRWA. This Agency plays a key and irreplaceable role in carrying out humanitarian operations “on the ground” and providing comprehensive assistance to the Palestinians. Disrupting UNRWA’s work will do nothing but exacerbate the already dire situation of the residents of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We urge Israel to reconsider its decision to cease cooperation with UNRWA. We would also like to remind you that the Agency’s mission is to assist the Palestinians until a Palestinian State is established.
What doesn’t hold water is the attempts by West Jerusalem to justify its drive to annex part of the Strip by Hamas’ refusal to unconditionally release hostages. In the same vein is the recent statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wherein he declared his intention to maintain military control over Gaza and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian administration there. Basically, this all is about de facto rejecting the two-State model for the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and dismantling the international legal basis for the Middle-East settlement, which is something that the Secretary-General has pointed out today.
What also fits into this logic is the ongoing military operation “Iron Wall” in the West Bank, which engulfs Jenin, Tulkarm and a number of other localities. Since October 7, 2023, some 16,000 Palestinians have been detained there. The number of Palestinians who fled their homes in the West Bank is the highest since 1967. Settlement construction is gaining momentum at an unprecedented pace. Between December 2024 and mid-March 2025, 10,600 housing units were erected or approved in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, 13 blocs were retroactively legalized, and 850 new checkpoints were set up. This effectively spells the death of any possibility for a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state to come into existence.
Mr. President,
Against the backdrop of this extremely pessimistic picture, there is a glimmer of hope in the words of Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani regarding some progress made in negotiations between Israel and Hamas on a new ceasefire. A renewed agreement would pave the way to stabilizing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, returning IDPs (whose numbers already run in the millions), and rebuilding the Strip. It is the only chance for the remaining Israeli hostages in the enclave to be reunited with their families. Let us recall that most of them were released precisely during the ceasefire rather than during the hostilities.
We would like to reaffirm our fundamental and unwavering support for a swift and unconditional ceasefire, for the release of all forcibly detained persons and the provision of safe and unfettered humanitarian access, as well as for the relaunch of the peace process on the basis of the two-State solution that would ensure the realization of the legitimate aspirations and rights of the Palestinians. The ultimate goal here is to establish an independent Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting in peace and security with Israel.
A solution to the Palestinian problem is the key to stabilizing the entire Middle East. Banking on force and establishing “buffer zones” – which we’ve seen not only in the OPT but also in the south of Lebanon and Syria – will not bring about a long-term and lasting peace in the region. It will rather freeze the conflict potential for decades to come, guaranteeing outbreaks of the conflict in the future. Only proper consideration and respect for the interests of the countries of the region coupled with diplomatic efforts and negotiations can reverse this dangerous trend and break the vicious cycle of violence.
For our part, we are ready to support any efforts by the UN Security Council to return to a peaceful settlement in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone. A special role here should be played by the Arab group, whose position regarding possible practical steps by the Council is exactly what we have been always guided by. We are willing to work with all parties that share our desire to achieve a just, lasting and sustainable peace in the entire Middle East.
Thank you.