Israel must lift all barriers to aid without delay and let international NGOs operate freely: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d'Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Palestine.

President, 2025 has been a year of unimaginable suffering – for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, for hostages and their families and for the wider region. Yet there is cause for renewed hope.   

Thanks to the tireless diplomatic efforts of the US, Qatar, Türkiye and Egypt we have a ceasefire, 47 more hostages returned to their families, and we have a 20 Point Plan for Gaza offering the chance of a peaceful future for the region.  

We call on all parties to uphold the ceasefire and fully implement UNSC resolution 2803.  

Israel must lift all barriers to aid without delay and let international NGOs operate freely. At least 14 people are reported to have died since last week due to harsh winter conditions and flooding. 

We need medical supplies, shelter materials delivered into Gaza now. UK-funded tents have entered Gaza to provide urgent shelter for families. This provides a lifeline for 12,000 vulnerable civilians.    

It also vital that the remains of the final deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, are returned to his family. Hamas must disarm and unequivocally renounce violence.  

As we build a better future for Gaza, Palestinians must remain at the heart of transitional governance.  

Amidst progress on Gaza, we must not lose sight of the West Bank. It faces an unprecedented crisis, which risks undermining the 20 Point Plan and regional peace.  

In that context, I would like to make three points:

First, this year has witnessed an unprecedented rise in settler violence against Palestinians, with 260 attacks in October alone. We condemn all such attacks.  

President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu have committed to tackling settler violence - this must translate into concrete actions to protect Palestinian civilians and hold those responsible to account.  

We were shocked by reports of Israeli authorities entering an UNRWA compound on 8 December without authorisation.

UN premises are inviolable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international law. UNRWA plays an indispensable role supporting Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and in the region.

Second, we reiterate our firm opposition to settlement policies that violate international law, and any form of forcible annexation.

The reported approval of 19 new settlements in the West Bank, continued evictions of Palestinian families in Silwan in East Jerusalem, and the expropriation of the entire acropolis of Sebastia and surrounding lands take us further away from peace. 

Third, the economic situation in the West Bank remains on a cliff edge.

We call on Israel urgently to release withheld tax revenues, increase Shekel transfer limits, and confirm a longer-term extension for correspondent banking relationships to avert economic collapse. 

President, the year ahead offers a chance to turn a page on two years of tragedy and chart a course toward peace.  

The UK will work with all our partners to implement resolution 2803, promote West Bank stability and develop an irreversible pathway to a two-state solution.