Statement by Ambassador at the UN Security Council
meeting on Gaza.
Thank you President and I join others in thanking Under-Secretary
Griffiths for his powerful briefing.
On the 7th of October, Israel suffered the worst terror attack in
its history at the hands of Hamas. The UK wants to see the
hostages taken on that day released as soon as possible.
And an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible. The
humanitarian situation is desperate. We are calling for an
immediate suspension of fighting in order to get vital aid in and
hostages out, that progresses towards a permanent, sustainable
ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting, and loss of
life.
We continue to work intensively with the UN and all partners on
practical solutions to get more aid into Gaza. During his visit
to the region last week, my Foreign Secretary, , again pressed Israel to allow
unhindered humanitarian access. We are supporting the World Food
Programme to deliver a humanitarian land corridor from Jordan
into Gaza. And the UK has trebled our humanitarian aid commitment
to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this year.
The UK continues to engage closely with Israel on the conduct of
their military campaign, including on IHL, and to call for Israel
to take greater care to avoid harming civilians and civilian
infrastructure.
The UK respects the role and independence of the ICJ. We welcome
the ICJ’s call for the immediate release of hostages and the need
to get more aid into Gaza, as well as the Court’s reminder that
all parties to the conflict are bound by international
humanitarian law. It is for the Court, not countries, to
determine genocide.
Nevertheless, we were troubled by the way in which this action
was taken, and we’ve made our views about this very clear. As
said in the Middle East last
week, echoed in the Minister of State Lord Ahmad’s intervention
at the Security Council also last week, we believe the five
following steps are vital.
First, a political horizon which provides a credible and
irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. Second, the
formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and
Gaza, accompanied by an international support package. Third,
removing Hamas’ capacity to launch attacks against Israel.
Fourth, the release of all Israeli hostages, and finally, Hamas
no longer in charge of Gaza.
As my Foreign Secretary has said, it is only when the prize of
peace is more attractive than the potential benefit of continued
conflict that we will have the chance of a better future for
Israelis and Palestinians.
