Statement by Ambassador at the
Security Council briefing on the Middle East
Thank you Mr President, and my thanks to Special Coordinator
Wennesland for his briefing.
Let me start by once again reinforcing the need to prevent a
further escalation in violence in Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territories and to restore calm. We share concerns
about the recent tensions in Gaza and call on all parties to take
steps to avoid exacerbating tensions and to maintain the
cessation of hostilities. The United Kingdom condemns
unequivocally Hamas’ indiscriminate attacks against Israel,
including the use of incendiary balloons. We call upon Hamas and
other terrorist groups to permanently end their rocket fire
against Israel.
Our attention must remain on the dire humanitarian situation in
Gaza and the impact on Palestinians living there. It remains
vital that Israel ensures regularised access into and out of
Gaza, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law,
especially for humanitarian actors and goods, reconstruction
materials, and for medical purposes.
In the West Bank, we should all be troubled by the high number of
Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli Forces in recent
weeks. Since our most recent debate on 28 July, 9 Palestinians
have been killed in the West Bank, including two children. We
urge the Israeli authorities to conduct transparent and
comprehensive investigations, and to hold those responsible to
account.
In regards to the handling of recent protests, we call on the
Palestinian Authority to adhere to international standards on
freedom of expression, association and assembly and urge respect
for human rights. The use of violence against peaceful human
rights defenders, activists and protesters, and the mistreatment
of those detained is unacceptable.
In Jerusalem, we remain concerned by the high number of evictions
and demolitions, including in Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan and al
Walaja. Unfortunately, in 2021 we have seen the pace of these
unilateral Israeli actions increase across the West Bank. We urge
Israel to refrain from actions which displace Palestinians from
their homes, act as a driver for conflict and are, in all but the
most exceptional circumstances, illegal under international law.
It is also vital to maintain calm on Al Haram Al Sharif/Temple
Mount and to uphold the historic Status Quo.
Mr President, against this fragile backdrop, we continue to see
signs of hope. We were pleased to see Palestinian and Israeli
firefighters working together to extinguish fires in Jerusalem.
We want to see greater coordination and cooperation between
Israelis and Palestinians, particularly on economic initiatives,
to help pave a pathway toward peace. The first anniversary of the
signing of the Abraham Accords this month is a reminder that the
advancement of peace is possible.
We welcome and urge continued engagement between the new Israeli
Government and the Palestinian leadership and call on both
parties to work together to tackle immediate and long-term
threats to peace and stability. Our collective goal remains a
two-state solution, based on 1967 lines.
The United Kingdom stands ready to support.
