Even as War Rages in Gaza, ‘Our Work Must Continue’ for Middle East Peace, Special Coordinator Says, Briefing Security Council on UN Efforts
All Sides Must Re-Engage on Path to Two-State Solution, Wennesland Affirms
Even with war raging in Gaza, it is critical at this important juncture to enable parties to re-engage on the long-delayed political path to a two-State solution, the United Nations’ point man for Middle East peace told the Security Council today, as he urged Israelis, Palestinians, States in the region and the broader international community to work together towards that goal.
“The UN’s efforts to support this objective has already begun through active consultations in the region. Our work must continue,” said Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as he presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), through which the Council demanded the Israel halt all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of a two-State solution, he said.
This year is ending as one of the deadliest in the history of the Middle East conflict, he said, adding: “The toll on civilians, including women and children, remains unbearable.” In Gaza, limited steps by Israel, including allowing entry of more fuel, food and cooking gas, are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe. Meanwhile, the West Bank continues to suffer mounting pressures from settlement activity, settler violence, a rapidly deteriorating economic situation and a Palestinian Authority struggling to face these challenges, he said.
“I strongly condemn the abhorrent armed attacks by Hamas and others in Israel” on 7 October, he said, adding that he is appalled by reports of sexual violence during the attacks, which must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. Expressing concern over wider regional spillover, he said that it is imperative that Lebanon not be dragged into a regional conflagration and that the parties return to a cessation of hostilities.
Patrick Gauchat, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), said that UNTSO’s military observers, which constitute Observer Group Lebanon and Observer Group Golan, under the operational control of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), respectively, have taken appropriate security measures in recent weeks. For example, in the Golan since 8 October, the military crossing points which UNTSO uses between Israel and Lebanon, as well as between the Israeli-occupied Golan and the Syrian-controlled Golan, have been closed.
UNTSO’s regional liaison mandate allows it to analyse and address complex issues, especially those not covered by other missions in the region. It also allows the Organization to directly contact the five Parties, to passing messages and to establish tactical confidence-building measures. In each of the capitals of the five host countries in which UNTSO operates, authorities have shared their views on the regional situation as well as on the ceasefires in which UNTSO is involved, he said. “During these exchanges, I systematically try to diffuse potentially dangerous situations, clarify positions and ensure my interlocutors that I would pass their messages,” he explained.
In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed strong views on the situation in the Middle East, with many expressing deep alarm over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
“There is an urgent need to scale up and improve humanitarian access into Gaza. Lives are at stake, and we have a duty to help the most vulnerable, including children and women,” Mozambique’s representative said. Echoing the sentiment of many others, he said that only an immediate suspension of hostilities can allow for safe, unhindered humanitarian access.
The United States’ representative said that all civilians must be protected, and humanitarian aid must reach those in desperate need. For the sake of Israeli and Palestinian safety alike, Hamas must not be allowed to control Gaza. Justice must also be pursued for the victims of horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas, he stressed.
China’s delegate, noting that the international community has repeatedly and overwhelmingly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, said that Israel must immediately reverse course and stop its indiscriminate military attacks and collective punishment against the people of Gaza. Causing more civilian casualties in Gaza is not the solution for rescuing hostages, he added.
Several Council members turned their attention to the West Bank, condemning violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians and stressing that the perpetrators must be held accountable.
Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents and properties in the West Bank are inexcusable, Malta’s delegate said. Urgent steps must be taken to prevent a regional escalation and to relaunch credible negotiations between both parties.
“Just because those with extremist voices shout the loudest does not mean that they should decide the fate of the region,” said the speaker from the United Arab Emirates. Expressing concern about reports of Israel approving a new illegal settlement in East Jerusalem, including 1,700 units, he condemned any attempt to exploit the ongoing war in Gaza to expand settlements.
Ghana’s representative said that the Council must do everything within its means to bring the hostilities to an end and help resume the stalled peace process. This would promote confidence-building measures and provide for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the question of Palestine based on the principles of international law and relevant UN resolutions, he added.
THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION
Briefings
TOR WENNESLAND, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, focusing his remarks on the Secretary-General’s twenty-eighth report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), covering the period between 19 September and 7 December, said that this year is ending as one of the deadliest in the history of the conflict, with the situation deteriorating on nearly all fronts. Since the end of the reporting period, intensive Israeli air strikes have continued across the Gaza Strip and more than 1,000 more fatalities, overwhelmingly Palestinian, have occurred. “The toll on civilians, including women and children, remains unbearable.” With more than 100 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, the Israeli army announced it had retrieved the bodies of three hostages — two from a tunnel in the Jabalia refugee camp and one woman. Hamas and other militant factions have meanwhile continued to indiscriminately fire rockets at areas in southern and central Israel, including a barrage aimed at Jerusalem on 15 December.
Limited steps by Israel, including allowing entry of more fuel, food, and cooking gas, and opening Kerem Shalom for the entry of humanitarian supplies, are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe, he said. The northern part of Gaza remains mostly inaccessible to humanitarian actors due to insecurity and restrictions on access imposed by Israel. Meanwhile, the West Bank continues to suffer mounting pressures from settlement activity, settler violence, a rapidly deteriorating fiscal and economic situation, and a Palestinian Authority struggling to face these challenges, he said.
Expressing concern over wider regional spillover, he said that it is imperative that Lebanon not be dragged into a regional conflagration and that the parties return to a cessation of hostilities. In the Red Sea, the Houthis in Yemen have targeted numerous vessels by boarding parties, as well as by armed drones and missiles. Four major shipping companies have reportedly directed their vessels not to transit through the Red Sea, while Israel’s Eilat port has reported an 80 per cent drop in revenues since attacks began, he said.
“I strongly condemn the abhorrent armed attacks by Hamas and others in Israel,” he said. Nothing can justify the acts of terror that were committed and the deliberate killing, maiming and abduction of civilians and other protected persons. Accounts of the attacks reveal acts of brutality that are impossible to accept or comprehend. “I am appalled by the reports of sexual violence during the attacks; these must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” he added. The indiscriminate firing of rockets towards Israeli population centres, which continues to this day, is a violation of international humanitarian law and must cease completely. All remaining hostages must be immediately released. He unequivocally condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza — including women and children. Security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life, he said.
Leaders have an obligation to clearly and explicitly condemn acts of terror and violence directed against civilians, he emphasized. “I reiterate that Israeli settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law and call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately.” He concluded by saying that the war in Gaza is a devastating and tragic reminder that there is no substitute for a legitimate political process to resolve core issues driving the conflict. “It is critical at this important junction to enable the parties to re-engage on the long-delayed political path to a two-State solution,” he said, urging Israelis, Palestinians, the States of the region and the broader international community to work together towards that goal. “The UN’s efforts to support this objective has already begun through active consultations in the region,” he added. “Our work must continue.” The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements in pursuit of a two- State solution, he emphasized.
PATRICK GAUCHAT, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), said that as UNTSO has no presence in or around Gaza or southern Israel, its personnel did not observe the events of 7 October. However, those events impacted both UNTSO’s operations and regional dynamics, he said, citing ceasefire violations from 8 October across the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon and on the Golan between Israel and Syria. UNTSO’s military observers, which constitute Observer Group Lebanon and Observer Group Golan, under the operational control of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), respectively, took appropriate and adapted security measures. They continue to fulfil the critical role of assuring accurate military observations, investigating ceasefire violations, inspections on the Golan, and reporting to enable liaison with the parties, including with the aim of de-escalating tensions, he said.
During the last few weeks, the adaptations were mainly security, logistic, rotation and deployment of personnel, he said. For example, in the Golan since 8 October, the military crossing points which UNTSO uses between Israel and Lebanon, as well as between the Israeli-occupied Golan and the Syrian-controlled Golan, have been closed. Similarly, access points to the Closed Observation Posts, located just after the Israel Defense Forces technical fence on the Golan, were sealed, impeding rotations and logistical support. Through dialogue with the parties, UNTSO was able to put in place the minimum required support and security for the deployed military observers. In southern Lebanon, where a clear escalatory pattern is observed, UNTSO military observers still conduct Blue Line patrols, taking calculated risks as they do so. The Organization’s female military observers, which make up 22 per cent of the Mission, are key in connecting with local women and children across the area where UNTSO is deployed, he said.
The everyday liaison function of UNTSO’s military observers includes engaging with the local population, leaders and military commanders. “I want to add that their presence during the current tensions in South Lebanon is reassuring for the local population.” UNTSO’s regional liaison mandate allows it to analyse and address complex issues, especially those not covered by other missions in the region. It also allows the Organization to directly contact the five Parties, to passing messages and to establish tactical confidence-building measures. In each of the capitals of the five host countries in which UNTSO operates, authorities have shared their views on the regional situation as well as on the ceasefires in which UNTSO is involved, he said. “During these exchanges I systematically try to diffuse potentially dangerous situations, clarify positions and ensure my interlocutors that I would pass their messages” he explained. “This was always well-received by the parties.”
UNTSO continues to perform its regional mandate, he continued. “You can rest assured that UNTSO is a vibrant mission of women and men, national and international, military and civilian, true to the concept of an unarmed military observer mission operating with the consent of the five parties.” As the regional situation evolves, UNTSO will continue to contribute towards the comprehensive, just and peaceful resolution of the situation in the Middle East, consistent with the Council’s mandate, he stated.
Statements
ROBERT A. WOOD (United States), noting that his delegation will have more to say later today, reiterated that the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October must be condemned. Justice must be pursued for the victims of horrific sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas. Civilians must be protected and humanitarian aid must reach those in desperate need. For the sake of Israel and Palestinian safety alike, Hamas must not be allowed to control Gaza. Israel has the right to protect its people from terrorism, and regional actors including the Houthis must not exploit and widen the conflict. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) must be supported and everyone must work towards a two-State solution. Underscoring the impact of events on the West Bank this year, he condemned violence by extremist settlers against Palestinians, adding that the perpetrators must be held accountable. Moreover, Israeli officials must not fan the flames with incendiary dehumanizing rhetoric, he said, pointing to a global surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia, even in New York. He went on to call for better protection for journalists and for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
SHINO MITSUKO (Japan) said that the amount of assistance crossing through Rafah is nowhere near enough. Beyond Gaza, there remains a serious risk of regional spillover. Continued clashes on Israel’s northern border could easily escalate with a single miscalculation. Moreover, missile launches and attacks on vessels by the Houthis are causing a considerable interruption to global shipping and threatening maritime security in the region. Of particular concern for Japan is the Galaxy Leader, a ship operated by a Japanese company that has been held, along with its multinational crew, by the Houthis for nearly a month. “We can no longer ignore the root causes of the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” she went on to say, adding that Israel and an independent Palestinian State must live side by side in peace and security.
SÉRGIO FRANÇA DANESE (Brazil) said that as the world watches the human toll of the war in Gaza with astonishment and powerlessness, settler violence is growing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Unprecedented levels of violence and destruction — in a region already marked by serious instability — have produced the deadliest year on record for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Council’s failure to respond to calls for help through a ceasefire and an upscaling of humanitarian assistance has only contributed to lives lost. With its slow action, the Council has condoned a never-ending cycle of violence and lawlessness that undermines the two-State solution. The international community has a duty to advance peace in the Middle East by ensuring all parties respect international law, including the protection of civilians and the release of hostages, while ending the occupation, he said.
PASCALE CHRISTINE BAERISWYL (Switzerland) said that the risk of the conflict’s regionalization remains real, as shown by growing tensions on both sides of the Blue Line as well as the situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel must respect its obligations under international law, using force in line with the criteria of necessity and proportionality while protecting every individual’s right to life and security. She condemned settler violence against Palestinian civilians, saying that it reinforces a coercive environment in the West Bank. The occupying Power must also refrain from taking any steps that would introduce permanent changes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. She called for more humanitarian assistance — and improved conditions for its distribution — in Gaza and hoped that the Council will speak out in support of Gaza’s civilian populations.
DOMINGOS ESTÊVÃO FERNANDES (Mozambique) said his delegation is deeply troubled by the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Equally important is a demonstration of goodwill by both parties and the immediate release of hostages. He called for the immediate implementation of resolution 2712 (2023) to ensure the timely delivery of vital goods and services for civilians’ well-being and protection, especially children and women. “There is an urgent need to scale up and improve humanitarian access into Gaza. Lives are at stake and we have a duty to help the most vulnerable, including children and women.” Only an immediate suspension of hostilities can allow for safe, unhindered humanitarian access. Mozambique fully supports the Secretary-General’s proposal for a monitoring mechanism to confirm the humanitarian nature of aid going into Gaza. It also continues to believe the two-State solution remains fundamental for achieving lasting peace and harmony in the region, he said.
JAMES KARIUKI (United Kingdom) called on Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel, for all hostages to be released and for aid to flow into Gaza, saying that this is the only way to achieve a sustainable peace based on a two-State solution. The Government of Israel must be precise in addressing the threats posed by Hamas and do more to distinguish between terrorists and civilians. More humanitarian support must flow into Gaza through as many direct routes as possible, he said, urging Israel to immediately increase the range of humanitarian items allowed therein. He condemned settler violence in the West Bank and urged Israel to do more to hold perpetrators to account and to end the demolition and confiscation of Palestinian property.
ZHANG JUN (China) said that only a ceasefire can prevent greater civilian casualties in Gaza and prevent the conflict from spiralling out of control. Noting that the international community has repeatedly and overwhelmingly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, he said that Israel continues to bomb and shell schools, hospitals, mosques, churches and refugee camps. Causing more civilian casualties in Gaza is not the solution for rescuing hostages, he added. Israel must immediately reverse its course of action and stop its indiscriminate military attacks and collective punishment against the people of Gaza. Every effort must be made to prevent the West Bank situation from spiralling out of control. In the West Bank, Israel must cease all settlement activities and effectively curb settler violence. China further calls for greater international and regional diplomatic efforts to reaffirm the parties’ commitment to a two-State solution, he added.
VANESSA FRAZIER (Malta) said that the unprecedented scale of death and destruction in both the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel will no doubt reverberate for years. “This unyielding cycle of violence has pushed us further away from a political horizon than in any point in recent memory.” A significant scale-up of humanitarian aid to Gaza is desperately needed, including the opening of additional crossing points, and the safety of UN and humanitarian workers must be assured. Malta strongly condemns the 7 October attack by Hamas and called on Hamas to release the hostages, in accordance with resolution 2712 (2023). In addition, attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents and properties in the West Bank are inexcusable. Urgent steps must be taken to prevent a regional escalation and to relaunch credible negotiations and engagement between both parties, she said.
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) said the stated goal of eliminating Hamas cannot be implemented. According to Hamas media, Israel dropped 29,000 air bombs on Gaza, which is comparable to what the United States and the United Kingdom dropped in Iraq in 2003. Israel’s attacks on the West Bank were meanwhile occurring even before 7 October, when there was no link with terror threats or security issues. Despite efforts by a majority of Council members in response to the Secretary-General’s invocation of Article 99 of the United Nations Charter, the United States has blocked all submitted drafts and, instead of helping civilians, it is providing Israel with all kinds of weapons used to kill civilians. While the world supports a humanitarian ceasefire, only the United States and Israel oppose this, pitching themselves against the entire international community. He condemned acts of terror and indiscriminate use of force against civilians, reiterated support for an independent State of Palestine and called for the implementation of resolution 2712 (2023) to establish humanitarian pauses.
CAROLYN ABENA ANIMA OPPONG-NTIRI (Ghana) voiced concern about the actions on the ground by both Israelis and Palestinians and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She called for the respect of international humanitarian law and international human rights law as well as the protection of all civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Council must do everything within its means to bring the hostilities to an end and help resume the stalled peace process, which would promote confidence-building measures and provide for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the question of Palestine based on the principles of international law and relevant UN resolutions. Ghana remains committed to supporting a meaningful peace process towards resolving the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ensuring the fulfilment of the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, she said.
NATHALIE BROADHURST ESTIVAL (France) said that, while the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues, Israeli settlements are expanding in the West Bank. France firmly condemns this illegal practice and it will never recognize any illegally annexed territory. Any Government-backed settlement expansion efforts — including the 1,800 new houses in settlements in East Jerusalem authorised on 6 December — jeopardize the possibility to the two-State solution. Moreover, Israel’s inability to protect Palestinians from settler violence creates an unacceptable environment of impunity. She reiterated France’s solidarity with the Israeli people and its firm condemnation of the 7 October attacks by Hamas, as well as its call for a lasting ceasefire and respect for international law. A political process must resume to achieve a Palestinian State, with the Palestinian Authority playing a central role in the West Bank and Gaza. Further inaction is not an option, she said, adding that a regional conflict must be avoided and that Israel and Lebanon must both respect resolution 1701 (2006).
LILLY STELLA NGYEMA NDONG (Gabon) called on the Israeli authorities to exercise the greatest possible restraint and to act responsibly with their military operations, in line with international humanitarian law. “We also demand the immediate release — unconditionally — of all the hostages.” A cessation of hostilities is a prerequisite for the secure delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians, she said. Similarly, the parties are encouraged to have a constructive dialogue to reactivate a peace process to settle the conflict. “We have supported — and will support — any initiative which will give us hope of saving human lives and contributing to improving the fate of civilians.” Expressing concern over attacks by the Houthis in Yemen against vessels in the Red Sea and the simmering situation between Israel and Lebanon, she called on all parties to exercise restraint and to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. “We will continue repeating that the solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has to be a political and diplomatic one,” she added.
FERIT HOXHA (Albania) said this latest war is a tragedy on top of so many others in which civilians pay the highest price. He called for full respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, and deplored the loss of innocent lives, no matter which side of the border they lived. Albania remains worried about the situation of the hostages and calls for their immediate release. He also voiced concern at how the conflict is unfolding on social media as hate speech sows more division. The immense suffering of citizens is being used to strengthen the narrative of Hamas. Describing the situation in Gaza as very dire, he called for the implementation of resolution 2712 (2023). The situation in the West Bank is another area of concern and violence against Palestinians must be stopped. The expansion of the settlements in the West Bank is a violation of the two-State solution, he stated.
MOHAMED ISSA ABUSHAHAB (United Arab Emirate), describing 2023 as the deadliest for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that Israel must allow life-saving assistance into Gaza. To that end, the authorities must ensure the full opening of the border crossing at Kerem Shalom, including to commercial cargo so that aid can enter at scale. He highlighted the rising number of settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank and called for that to stop. “Just because those with extremist voices shout the loudest does not mean that they should decide the fate of the region.” The United Arab Emirates is concerned about reports of Israel approving a new illegal settlement in East Jerusalem, including 1,700 units, and condemns any attempt to exploit the ongoing war in Gaza to expand settlements and displace Palestinians from their land, which is a violation of resolution 2334 (2016), he said.
JOSÉ JAVIER DE LA GASCA (Ecuador), Council President for December, speaking in his national capacity, said that the Secretary-General’s report paints a sombre picture. In addition to the situation in Gaza, it shows an alarming increase in violence in the West Bank, perpetrated by settlers, the continuation of illegal settlement-building and the increase in incendiary rhetoric and acts of provocation. “We must continue our efforts to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza,” he continued. It is critical that there be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow for more aid to be distributed. Leaders have the obligation to condemn all acts of terror and violence clearly and explicitly. He expressed concern at the rise in hate speech, Islamophobia and antisemitism throughout the world. Ecuador reiterates its commitment to peace, its calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and its condemnation of Hamas’s terrorist attacks, he said.
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15539.doc.htm
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