Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d'Affaires to
the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Palestine.
"The United Kingdom is clear that a two-state solution remains
the best way to bring lasting peace to the region and end the
cycle of violence that has scarred generations of Palestinians
and Israelis.
As we have said numerous times in this Council, the
implementation of President Trump's comprehensive peace plan,
endorsed by resolution 2803, is an important step forward towards
ending that violence.
Both sides must meet their commitments, with Israel removing
restrictions on humanitarian aid, and Hamas decommissioning
its weapons.
Today, we focus on the West Bank, where Israel's policies are
eroding the prospects for peaceful co-existence.
And I will highlight three areas.
First, settlement expansion continues in violation of resolution
2334, including the E1 project that aims to cut the West Bank in
half and separate East Jerusalem.
This is accompanied by demolitions, evictions, and the
displacement of Palestinian communities.
In early June, we saw the approval of over 2,000 settlement
housing units across the West Bank, bringing the total approved
this year to over 6,000.
On 24 June, Israel declared another 465 dunams of private
Palestinian land as state land to make way for a settlement
outpost.
My Prime Minister has been clear that we categorically oppose
expansion of settlements, which are a violation of international
law.
We join this Council in rejecting any attempt at annexation.
Second, as we've heard today from the briefers, violence and
lawlessness on the ground remain alarming.
According to the UN, there has been an average of six attacks
every day against Palestinians in the West Bank since the start
of 2026.
The Secretary-General's recent report highlighted the staggering
rise in attacks by settlers on Palestinian children, reportedly
often supported by Israeli security forces.
On 17 June, extremist settlers launched arson attacks on two
mosques.
These are not isolated incidents but coordinated attacks on
civilians, livelihoods, and religious sites, facilitated by a
culture of impunity.
The Government of Israel must uphold its obligations under
international law and take urgent steps to halt this violence and
hold those responsible accountable.
The UK, alongside partners, has imposed sanctions on individuals
and entities that finance and enable settler violence.
And as my Foreign Secretary has made clear, we stand ready to
take further action if the Government of Israel does not take
urgent steps to address the situation on the ground.
Third, economic conditions in the West Bank are deteriorating
sharply.
Israel has withheld over 5 billion USD of Palestinian revenues,
placing severe strain on the Palestinian Authority and its
ability to sustain essential services, particularly healthcare
and medical supplies.
The Government of Israel also continues to attack and undermine
Palestinian financial institutions, which risks undermining
economic stability more broadly, with consequences for
livelihoods and regional stability.
So President, to return to where I started, this Council has
given its support to the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza.
We cannot allow progress toward peace to be undermined by this
deeply concerning trajectory in the West Bank.
We must redouble efforts to stabilise the West Bank and inject
renewed momentum into implementation of Resolution 2803 in
Gaza.
Both Israel and Hamas must meet their commitments.
These are essential steps towards a just and lasting peace, in
which Israelis and Palestinians can live in security and
dignity."
