Statement by Fergus Eckersley, UK Minister Counsellor, at the
Security Council meeting on the Middle East Peace Process.
"Let me start by underlining that the ceasefire between Israel
and Iran offers a much-needed moment of hope for the region.
This hope must extend to Gaza. We need a ceasefire now.
This remains the most credible path to end the terrible suffering
of hostages and their families, to end Hamas' control of Gaza and
to allow Palestinians to rebuild.
We also need a ceasefire because the suffering in Gaza is
appalling and cannot continue.
Israel's aid delivery measures are inhumane.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's operations which are supposed
to be saving lives, are themselves leading to mass
casualties.
Starving people who are desperate to feed their families are told
food awaits them.
But over 500 have reportedly been killed trying to access it.
And meanwhile, UNICEF reports that more than 5000 children
between the age of six months and five years old were admitted
for acute malnutrition in May alone.
It is truly appalling.
We are also deeply concerned by reports that Hamas has targeted
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation staff and by reports of widespread
looting by criminal gangs, which are undermining security around
aid distribution.
This is unacceptable.
The more desperate people become, the more disorder becomes
inevitable. The UN can deliver aid at scale without endangering
civilians.
Israel must let the UN save lives, open all access routes and
allow fuel into Gaza.
In addition, humanitarian workers need to operate in
safety.
Just last week, another ICRC staff member was killed, a tragic
reminder of the risks they face.
We have repeatedly called for credible Israeli investigations
into Israel's killing of aid workers, including World Central
Kitchen, the Palestinian Red Crescent, and the UNOPS
strike.
Israel must provide accountability for these terrible actions and
ensure they are not repeated, in line with its obligations under
international law.
Finally, amidst the bloodshed in Gaza, the situation in the West
Bank is also deteriorating.
Israel's withholding of tax revenues appears a deliberate effort
to leave the Palestinian Authority crippled and unable to pay
salaries.
Military operations have displaced over 40,000 people.
Just last week, an attack by violent settlers on Kafr Malik led
to the killing of three Palestinians.
We condemn settlement expansion and settler violence and we
demand that the Israeli government puts an immediate end to these
unlawful acts.
We cannot stand by while the foundations of a two-state solution
are systematically dismantled.
Madam President, it is time to bring the war in Gaza to an end,
and to get the hostages home.
And more than that, we must renew our collective efforts toward a
just and lasting two-state solution, in which Israelis and
Palestinians can both live side by side in peace and security.
It is beyond time to come together behind a sustainable end to
this conflict, which has blighted so many generations on both
sides."
