Statement by Ambassador at UN General Assembly on
the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question.
President, the civilian suffering in Gaza cannot continue.
Hunger has reached devastating levels.
Disease is on the rise.
People are crammed into ever smaller slivers of land, with
nowhere left to go.
Last week, the UK and Jordan air-dropped four tonnes of
life-saving aid to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern
Gaza.
We also announced an additional $5.4 million in aid to ensure
UNFPA can continue to provide life-saving support to more than
100,000 vulnerable women and girls in Gaza.
As my Prime Minister has told Prime Minister Netanyahu and
regional leaders, we are deeply concerned about the prospect of a
military offensive in Rafah.
Over half of Gaza’s population are sheltering in the area, and
the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people
who so desperately need it.
The deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy last week
were horrific.
There must be an urgent investigation and accountability.
This must not happen again.
And we cannot separate what happened from the inadequate aid
supplies.
In February, only half the number of trucks crossed into Gaza
that crossed in January.
This is simply unconscionable.
President, Israel has an obligation to ensure that significantly
more humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza.
We have identified a series of bottlenecks that need addressing:
Israel must urgently open more crossings into Gaza; eliminate
bureaucratic obstacles; enable aid operations in Gaza; and ensure
there is a robust de-confliction mechanism in place to protect
ordinary Palestinians, NGOs, medical staff and others providing
aid.
This latest tragedy serves only to underscore the importance of
securing an immediate end in fighting, leading to a permanent and
sustainable ceasefire.
The negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the US are the only way
to get lifesaving aid in at the scale needed and to free the
hostages currently held by Hamas.
Such a deal would offer the basis from which to achieve a
sustainable ceasefire and lasting peace.
The elements essential to achieving this are: first, the release
of all hostages.
Second, the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the
West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support
package.
Third, removing Hamas’s capability to launch attacks against
Israel.
Fourth, Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza.
Fifth, and finally, a political horizon which provides a credible
and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution, with a
clear commitment to grant Palestine recognition, including at the
United Nations.
