Statement by Ambassador at the UN Security Council
meeting on Gaza.
I thank the UAE and China for organising this session and our
moment of silence earlier. I’d also like to thank Dr Tedros
and Dr Jilani, not just for your briefings, but for the life
saving work that you and your teams are doing.
Colleagues, we are in no doubt: there is a humanitarian
crisis in Gaza. And as Dr Tedros set out, that humanitarian
crisis is deteriorating day by day. Of course, we welcome the
opening of the Rafah border, and we thank partners for their work
in allowing foreign nationals to leave. But it is essential and
urgent that more aid flows in the other direction into
Gaza.
Access both through Rafah and other crossing points needs to
improve so that aid can reach the people who so desperately need
it. For this to happen, we must see humanitarian pauses that
allow enough time for aid to be delivered to those who need it
and for hostages to be released. Fuel must be allowed to enter
Gaza so that hospitals and water desalination plants can operate
and for aid to be delivered. The pauses in northern Gaza are a
first step but any pauses in hostilities should allow sufficient
time and security both for civilians to move and for humanitarian
aid to be delivered.
Since the 7th of October, the UK has been firm in its support for
Israel’s right to self-defence following Hamas terrorist attacks
against Israel. In this context, international humanitarian law
is not a nice to have. International humanitarian law is what
keeps humanitarian workers and medical staff safe to assist those
in need and protects civilians and civilian infrastructure,
including hospitals, wherever possible. So we urge all parties to
the conflict to take all possible steps to minimise harm to
civilians, health and humanitarian workers and to protect its
sites. And we express our condolences for each life lost.
Finally, Mr President, we have been clear that Israel must do
more to prevent escalation in the West Bank. We welcome
statements, including that made by Prime Minister Netanyahu,
condemning settler violence. But we must see tangible action to
bring perpetrators to justice. We also condemn attacks against
Israel emanating from armed groups in the region. The UK Foreign
Secretary was in Riyadh yesterday where he discussed preventing
regional escalation with the foreign ministers and
representatives of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Bahrain,
Kuwait, Oman and the Palestinian Authority. The Foreign
Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s unwavering commitment to a
two-state solution.
