The UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an open debate on
the ongoing crisis in Gaza, which continues to be marked by
immense suffering - compounded now by a complete breakdown of law
and order - and a humanitarian system on the brink of collapse.
Addressing ambassadors on behalf of UN Secretary-General António
Guterres, Chef-de-Cabinet Courtenay Rattray warned that on
top of the dire situation in the war-ravaged enclave, the spectre
of further regional spillover is increasing by the day.
End collective punishment
Reiterating his strong condemnation of the brutal attacks by
Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October last year, Mr. Rattray
stressed that nothing can justify the collective punishment of
the Palestinian people.
He noted that in recent weeks, Israeli military operations and
fighting has intensified across Gaza, while rockets continue to
be launched by Palestinian armed groups from the enclave towards
Israeli towns and cities.
“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,” he said.
“Nowhere in Gaza is safe,” he stressed.
Palestine: End the Israeli occupation now
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the observer State
of Palestine, said Israel has, for months, manufactured
a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine at its core as it wields
starvation, dehydration and the spread of diseases as “the
ultimate weapons”.
“Two million people who were subjected to a 17-year-old blockade
are now confronted with a hermetic siege, dying of hunger and
disease while food and medicine are available only meters away,”
he said, adding that until now, Israel “pretended” the blockade,
its walls and military rule were about security.
Underscoring that there is a reason Israel behaves this way, he
said “everything in its history tells it it will get away with
it. It is betting this time will be no exception. But, this time
must be the exception, and change must start right now.”
Global consensus has emerged
While the Security Council adopted
resolution 2735 in June to
achieve an immediate ceasefire leading to a permanent cessation
of hostilities, he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
“does not care about Palestinian civilian lives or even the
hostages' life” nor about international law or human decency, and
only cares about his own political survival.
However, in recent weeks, there is a global consensus in support
of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the
two-State solution - in line with UN resolutions and
international law, he said, citing the International Court of
Justice (ICJ) cases against Israel.
“There is more convergence on the Palestine question than on any
other matter on the international agenda,” he added.
