President, the UK supported the call for this meeting today,
to discuss the urgent steps needed to address an ever-growing
humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.
The situation in northern Gaza is harrowing. Approximately
400,000 Gazans have been ordered to evacuate the north and move
southwards to the IDF designated humanitarian zone. Many of these
people will already have been displaced, some many times over,
and are desperately searching for refuge.
But there are no safe places in Gaza. Just this week we saw
horrifying images following the Israeli strike on Al-Aqsa
hospital, inside the IDF designated humanitarian zone.
Those who decide to move face intimidation, active fighting zones
and the threat of continued airstrikes. Those who stay face
extreme hunger and appalling conditions, without access to basic
services or healthcare.
In the first half of October, no food aid was delivered to
northern Gaza, with Israeli authorities denying or impeding the
vast majority of humanitarian movements between north and south.
We expect October to see the least aid enter Gaza since the
beginning of the conflict, lower even more than September.
Families in Gaza are facing a second winter with even less
resilience and fewer resources. This is unconscionable.
Israel must comply fully with international humanitarian law and
ensure sufficient aid reaches all parts of Gaza. We also
reiterate our concern at legislative proposals seeking to
undermine UNRWA, which is vital to the humanitarian response in
Gaza.
Let me be clear. Northern Gaza must not be cut off from the
south. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from
northern Gaza, must be permitted to return to their communities
and rebuild. There must be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or
within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza
Strip.
We need to see an immediate ceasefire, to bring this devastating
conflict to an end.
President, we must also hold in the front of our minds, the
unthinkable suffering of the 101 hostages who remain in captivity
in Gaza. Their ordeal has gone on for far too long. Once again,
we call on Hamas to release the hostages immediately and
unconditionally.
And as we know, the suffering in the region goes beyond Gaza. We
reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire between Hezbollah
and Israel. All parties must take measures to avoid civilian
casualties, and ensure the safety and security of UNIFIL
personnel.
And in the West Bank, as my Foreign Secretary has said, we urge
the Israeli Government to take action to crack down on settler
violence and to stop settler expansion on Palestinian land.
That is why yesterday, my Government announced further sanctions
against three illegal settler outposts
and four organisations in order to bring accountability
to those who perpetrate such heinous human rights abuses against
Palestinians.
President, the Palestinian people, the Israeli people, and the
region as a whole, deserve a better reality than the daily cycle
of violence and fear to which they have become accustomed. But
there is a path to peace. One which would see a safe and secure
Palestinian state, beside a safe and secure Israel.
We urge the parties to be courageous and to take the path towards
peace and a better future for their people.
