E5 statement delivered by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé
d'Affaires to the UN, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece,
Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
"I'm delivering this statement on behalf of Denmark, France,
Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
We welcome the important progress that has been made in recent
months to end the bloodshed in Gaza, secure the release of the
hostages and turn the page on two tragic years of conflict.
We welcome the efforts of the US, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye to
achieve a ceasefire and set out a 20-Point Plan for Gaza's
future.
We call on all parties to fully implement Security Council
resolution 2803, in a manner consistent with international law,
including international humanitarian law.
This must include respecting the ceasefire, facilitating the
rapid, massive, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to
all civilians in desperate need throughout the whole of Gaza, and
through relevant organisations, including the United Nations, the
International Committee of the Red Cross, and their NGO partners.
As well as ensuring the remains of the final deceased hostage,
Ran Gvili, are located and handed over swiftly. We also call upon
Hamas to disarm and renounce violence in line with the 20 Point
Plan.
We reiterate our unwavering commitment to the Two-State solution
and stress the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the
West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the Palestinian
Authority.
In line with the New York Declaration, we underline the need for
a time-bound process to achieve the conclusion and implementation
of a just and comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and
Palestine.
While the international community is focused on building a
peaceful and prosperous future for Gaza, we must not forget what
is happening in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Today, the Council will meet to discuss resolution 2334, which
explicitly condemns settlement activities and calls on Israel to
respect its obligations under international law.
Yet the government of Israel continues to implement policies
which contravene this resolution and contribute to rising
instability in the West Bank.
This risks undermining the implementation of the 20-Point Plan
for Gaza and the prospects for a Two-State Solution, as well as
long-term peace and security across the region.
We strongly condemn the unprecedented rise in settler violence
against Palestinian civilians of all faiths and denominations in
the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with 2025 the most violent year
on record.
According to UN OCHA, there were over 260 attacks on Palestinians
and their property in October alone. This is deeply alarming.
These attacks terrorise civilians, obstruct peace efforts, and
threaten the security of Israel itself.
We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations
under international law and protect the Palestinian population of
the occupied territories.
We reiterate our call for the preservation of and respect for the
status quo of Jerusalem's Holy Sites.
We take note of recent condemnations of settler violence by
President Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. This must be
translated into concrete action that addresses the root causes of
this violence, restores stability, and holds those responsible to
account.
We reiterate our firm opposition to any form of annexation and to
the Government of Israel's settlement policies that violate
international law.
The allocation of 2.7 billion shekels of funding for settlements,
evictions of Palestinian families from Silwan in East Jerusalem,
plans to initiate land registration in the Area C of the West
Bank, approval of the E1 settlement and thousands of new housing
units all risk destabilisation and undermine the viability of a
Two-State Solution.
UNRWA must also be able to continue its vital work, and we
welcome the renewal of its mandate and UNRWA's commitment and
ongoing efforts to implement the recommendations of the Colonna
report.
We are shocked by Israeli authorities entering UNRWA's compound
in East Jerusalem on 8 December without prior authorisation. UN
premises are inviolable under international law. Such actions
undermine respect for international norms and the ability of UN
agencies to deliver essential services to Palestinians. We
welcome the ICJ Advisory Opinion of October 2025, and call on
Israel to act fully in line with its obligations under
international law.
Finally, the economic situation in the West Bank remains
precarious.
The continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues, threats to
withdraw correspondent banking relationships, and limits on
Shekel transfers are wholly unjustifiable.
These measures risk financial collapse in the West Bank and a
fiscal crisis for the Palestinian Authority, weakening its
ability to deliver services, reform, and assume responsibilities
in Gaza as envisaged in Security Council resolution 2803.
The Government of Israel must urgently release withheld revenues,
remove or significantly increase Shekel transfer limits, and
confirm a longer-term extension for correspondent banking
relationships to avert economic collapse and uphold prospects for
peace and stability.
We are deeply concerned by the movement restrictions, forced
displacement, and the conduct of operations by Israeli security
forces in the West Bank, aggravating the humanitarian situation,
and call for their immediate end.
In closing, we now stand at a historic crossroads with a chance
to secure a better future and deliver long-term peace for
Israelis, Palestinians and the region.
We remain fully committed to this vision and reaffirm our
commitment to achieving a just and comprehensive resolution of
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a Two-State Solution."
