Why Can't The UN Security Come To A Common Answer In The Middle East

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Thank you for listening to Pictures MediaRadio. I now give the floor to

(01:15):
mister Philippi Lazardini, mister President,Member of the Council. The last three
weeks have been horrific. Almost everyonein Israel, the Occupied Palestine territory and
the broader region is in mourning.The horrific attacks by Hamas in Israel on

(01:38):
October seventh were shocking. The relentlesscompartment by the Israeli forces of the Gaza
Strip are shocking. The level ofdestruction is unprecedented. The human tragedy of
folding on the awards is unbread Onemillion people. How the population of Gaza

(02:00):
were pushed from the north of theGaza Strip towards the south in three weeks.
The south, however, has notbeen spared from bombardment, with significant
number killed. I have said manytimes and I will say it again,
no place is safe in Gaza now. Civilian remaining in the Norse are receiving

(02:24):
evacuation notices from the Israeli forces,urging themselves to receive scarce to main turn
assistance, but many, including pregnantwomen, people with disabilities, the sick
and the wounded, are unable tomove. What happened and continues to happen

(02:44):
is forced displacement. Over six hundredand seventy thousand faced people are now in
overcrowded on was spools and buildings.They live in a holding unsanitary condition with
limited food and water, sleeping onthe floor without mattresses, or outside in
the open. Hunger and the sellerare turning into anger against the international community

(03:10):
and in Gaza, the international communityis better known as UNWA. Mister President.
Nearly seventy percent of those reported killedour children and women, said the
Children reported yesterday that nearly three thousand, two hundred children were killed in Gaza
in just three weeks. This shouldpass the number of children killed annually across

(03:35):
the world's conflict zones since twenty nineteen. This cannot be collateral damage. Churches,
most hospital and on what facilities,including those shattering displaced people, have
not been spurred. Too many peoplehave been killed and injured when seeking safety

(03:57):
in places protected by international a manturnlaw. The current siege important Gaza is
collective punishment. Two weeks of fullsiege followed by the trickle of aid last
week, means that basic services arecrumbling. Medicine is running out. Food

(04:17):
and water are running out, fuelis running out. The streets of Gaza
have started overflowing with sewage, whichwill cause the massive health hazard very soon.
In the latest law, the communicationbackout over the weekend has aggravated the
panic and distress of people. Theblackout meant that people could not communicate with

(04:43):
their love once inside Gaza, toknow who is dead or who is alive.
They no longer knew whether they wouldreceive breadth from one They felt abundant
and cut off from the rest ofthe world. The communication backount has accelerated
the breaking down of civil order,panic for thousands of desperate people. To

(05:08):
add to the UNWA warehouses and distributioncenter where we stave the food and other
supply we started receiving via Egypt lastweek, a further breakdown in civil order
will make it extremely difficult, ifnot impossible, for the largest un agents
in Gaza to continue operating. Itwill also make it impossible to bring in

(05:33):
convoys. I say this while beingfully aware that on War is the last
remaining lifeline for the Palestinian people inGaza. Member of the Council on WHI
calling on you for support. Ilost sixty four colleagues in just over three

(05:56):
weeks. The last tragic passing confirmedwas too hours ago. Same year,
head of Secretary and Safety in theMiddle Region was killed with his wife and
eight children. This is the highestnumber of YOU and aid worker kills in
the conflict in such a short time. But thirteen thousand colleagues in Gaza are

(06:18):
from a community of one point sevenmillion Palestine refugees out of two point two
million resident in the Gaza stare.Those who are alive have for the most
part lost relative French neighbors and aredisplaced like the majority of Gazen. Many

(06:40):
of my own colleagues now live,sleep and walk in unwash shelters, and
yet they are showing exceptional dedication toyou and value. No more can do
justice to thousands of on WHAT staffwho continue to work trdlessly to support the
communities. These are teachers, doctors, social workers, engineer and support staff,

(07:05):
their mother and father. If theywere not in Gather, they could
have been your neighbor, your friends, and they are operating one hundred and
fifty on h shelter. They arekeeping one third of our health center open
and run eighty mobile health teams.They support the entry of humanitarian convoys and

(07:28):
the storage and distribution of aid.They distribute the little fuel we have left
to hospital, bakeries and shelters.My own wacolleagues are the only glimmer of
hope for the entire Gaza street,a ray of light as humanity sinks into
its darkest hour. But they arerunning out of fuel, out of water,

(07:51):
out of food and medicine, andwill soon be unable to operate.
Let me be near the A handfulof convoys being allowed through halfa is nothing
compared to the needs of over twomillion people trapped in Gaza. The system
in place to allow aid into Gatheris geared to fail unless there is political

(08:16):
will to make the flow of suppliesmeaningful, matching the unprecedented. To many
atturnees, mister President, Gaza hasover two million people, half of them
children. Gasens are vibrant, educatedpeople who aspire to have normal lives,
families, children, education, anddreams of a better future. Today,

(08:43):
Garsens films that they are not treatedas other civilian. Most of them feel
trapped in a world they have nothingto do with. They feel the world
is equating all of them to amassThis is dangerous and we know all this
too well from previous conflicts and crisis. An entire population is being dehumanized.

(09:07):
The atrocities of Hamas do not absolvethe State of Israel from its obligation on
the international event gen law. Everyonehas rules and this one is no exception.
Hannah Areen said. The deaths ofhuman empathy is one of the first
and most revealing signs of a culturethat is about to fall into barbarity.

(09:31):
More than ever, doesn't deserve ourempathy. Its absence will deepend the polarization
in the region and further push awayany prospect of peace. Mister President,
when a lot of the focus ison Gaza, I want to wish to
reiteriate that another crisis is unfolding inthe West Bank, including its Jerusalem.

(09:56):
The United Nations has been sounding thealarm for months on the increased islands es.
Senian fatalities this year are the highestsince the UN started to keep report
in two thousand and five. Atleast one hundred and fifteen Palestinia that have
been killed since October seventh, includingthirty three children. The movement restriction imposed

(10:16):
across the West Bank are impacting ourservices including schools and health center. Meanwhile,
the situation on the Israeli Lebanese borderis getting worse, with regular exchanges
of fires and civilian casualties reported.In conclusion, I'm very worried about the

(10:37):
potential speed over of this conflict beyondGaza unless the following is enforced. First,
there must be strict adherance to internationalmainten law. This means civilian and
civilian infrastructure, including un premises,school hospital, places of worship and shelter
hosting civilian must be protected all overthe Gaza Strip, north and south and

(11:01):
at all times. This is notan option, it is an obligation.
Second, we need a safe,unimpeded, substanti and continuous flow of umanitarian
aid, including fuel, into theGather Strip and across it. For this
we need an immediate Umnitrancis fire.Third, on what still needs forms,

(11:26):
we have the necessary and largest presenceon the ground. We can deliver if
we have the means and the resources, including the finances to pay staff on
the front lines. ONOA has receivedgenerous contribution towards its initial flash appeal,
but without a fully funded con budget, we cannot pay salaries and deliver Finally,

(11:52):
in these dark times, we mustnot lose sight of our humanity.
Our emperty should apply to all Palestinian, Issueli, Jewish, Christians and muslim
The rules of law of war mustbe followed by all parties at all times,
in all places. Civilian must beprotected, hostages released and a genuine

(12:15):
Euminian response facilitated. An immediate eventranCisfire has become a matter of life and
death for millions. The present andfuture of Pardestinian and Israeli depend on it.
I urged all members State to changethe trajectory of this crisis and walk
towards a genuine political solution before it'sto date. Frankly, the nine thousand,

(12:58):
four, one hundred and sixtieth Meetingof the Security Council is called to
order. The provisional agenda for thismeeting is the Situation concerning Western Sahara.
The agenda is adopted, the SecurityCouncil will now begin its consideration of iland
two of the agenda. I wishto draw the attention of Council members to

(13:24):
document s Slash twenty twenty three Slashseventy nine, the Report of the Secretary
General on the situation concerning Western Sahara. Members of the Council have before them
document s Slash twenty twenty three Slasheight O two, the text of a

(13:46):
draft resolution submitted by the United Statesof America. The Council is ready to
proceed to the vote on the draftresolution before it. I shall put the
draft resolution to the vote. Now, will those in favor of the draft
resolution contained in document as Slash twentytwenty three slash eight h two please raise

(14:11):
their hand? Those against abstentions.The result of the voting is as follows,

(14:37):
thirteen votes in favor, no votesagainst, two abstentions. The draft
resolution has been adopted as Resolution twentyseven three, twenty twenty three. And

(15:03):
I'll give the floor to those membersof the Council who wish to make statements
after the vote, and I givethe floor to the Representative of the United
States. Thank you, mister President. The United States is pleased to see
the Council reaffirm its support for PersonalEnvoy Demistera and for Munuso led by srsg

(15:28):
Ivonco. With the adoption of thisresolution today, this Council sent a clear
message that we must intensify efforts toadvance and enduring and dignified resolution for Western
Sahara without further delay. Although thisresolution received widespread support, we regret that

(15:50):
this Council was not unanimous, andrenewing this mandate as unity greatly enhances you
in efforts to achieve peace. Colleagues, the United States strongly supports Personal Envoid
Demostura and his efforts to advance thepolitical process. In adopting this resolution,

(16:11):
members of the Council underscore the urgentneed for a successful political process. We
again call on all parties to engagewith the Personal Envoy in good faith and
to work toward a sustainable political solution. A political solution is critical to promoting

(16:32):
a peaceful and prosperous future for thepeople of Western Sahara and the region,
and the United States continues to viewMorocco's autonomy plan as serious, credible,
realistic, and one potential approach tosatisfying these aspirations. By renewing this mandate,
this Council has also affirmed the criticalrole of MANUSO, which works to

(16:59):
de escalation tensions, monitor and reporton the situation on the ground, and
foster the conditions for the political processto advance. We welcome the progress made
by MANUSO in the resupply of itsteam sites to sustain these crucial operations.
The continuation of safe and regular resupplyoperations and continued respect for manusso's freedom of

(17:25):
movement are vital. Colleagues, weremain deeply concerned by the humanitarian conditions in
Tinduf. The poor living standards,threats to food security, and lack of
access to basic services require a collectiveresponse. The United States is the largest
donor to this humanitarian response. Iscommitted to doing our part, but we

(17:49):
must all step up. People acrossWestern Sahara and the region are counting on
us. Today was a positive step, but we must continue to put progress
forward. Thank you, mister President. Thank the Representative of the United States
for their statement, and I nowgive the floor to the Representative of Mozambique.

(18:14):
Mister President Mozambique, thanks depending forthe efforts. We wish to express
our strong support for the work ofthe personal employee of the Secretary General for
Western Siarra, Mister Stephen mis Tuda. In the same ven, we reter

(18:37):
it our support for the work ofthe United Nations Mission for Referendum in West
Sierra MINUSMA minus MINUSU, Mister PresidentMozambique, is approached the consultation process leading
to the drafting of this resolution inan open and constructive manner, Fully conscious

(19:06):
and the aware of the mandate ofMINUSU as adopted by this Council, we
retreat. We therefore express our readinessto engage the negotiating process in good faith
with the legitimate purpose of assisting MINURSUto return to it is core objectives of

(19:30):
implementing a referendum for self out ofdeterminations of the people of Western Sarah as
provided by Resolution sixty ninety zero nineteenninety one and subsequent decisions by this Verd
Chamber. It is our conviction thatthe resolution just adopted it is a current

(19:57):
form, will not assisted the partiesin achieving a just, lasting and mutually
accepted political solutions as originally intent.To the contrary, it helds a graduate

(20:18):
shift away from demanded. It onlypostpones addressing core issues that need to be
deal with. We support all effortsaimed at yasty, lasting and mutually acceptable
political solutions that will provide for theself determinations of people of Western Sada in

(20:47):
accordance with security Council Resolutions sixty nine, seventeen fifty four, twenty four to
fourteen, twenty four, sixty eight, twenty four, ninety four, twenty
five, forty eight, twenty sixtyzero two and twenty sixty fifty four.

(21:10):
Our position is anchored in the Chamberin the Charter of the United Nations,
which all this that all peoples shallhave a UNI should have unchistionable and inalienable
right to self determination. In thisprinciple was further esponsed by General Assembly Resolution

(21:38):
fifteen fourteen of nineteen sixty. Asa country that was born from the hard
exercising of his very right for ourayourselves, we order this to be not
only moral right, but also aright policy with a strong lego basis.

(22:03):
We reafirm our commitment to making effort, every effort to help the parties to
find a jaz lasting and mutual acceptof political solution based on compromise. But
this is to be based on genuineefforts and with respect to every member constructive

(22:25):
proposal proposal. We retterate our callto the parts to engage in a good
faith with the Secretary General's Personal enfryto achieve the long delay exercise of its
right to self determination by the peopleof Western Sarah. I thank you,

(22:48):
I thank the Representative of Mozambique fortheir statement, and I now give the
floor to the representative of the RussianFederation specific expense, Thank you, mister
Presidents. The Russian Federation abstained onthe draft resolution of the Security Council prepared
by the USA extending the mandate ofthe UN Mission for the referendum in Western

(23:11):
Sahara because not a single one ofour principled and properly substantiated comments, including
those of a compromised nature which wehave expressed to the American authors of several
years now, were taken into accounts. None of them were taken into account.
For that reason, the resolution presentedtoday does not reflect the real situation

(23:32):
on the ground that has taken shapein the Western Sahara settlement process, and
will hardly do anything to support theefforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary
General Staff under Mistruda to resume directand negotiating process between Morocco and the Polisario
Front in order to achieve a mutuallyacceptable solution. Mister Presidents, since twenty

(23:52):
eighteen, resolutions extending Minoso's mandate havebeen amended in ways that, as we
see it, too harm to theimpartial and unbiased approach to the problem of
Western Sahara. There is vague wordingemerging which raises questions, wording that determines

(24:18):
the direct parties to the conflict andthe Western Sahara settlement process. The many
references to the no longer relevant roundtable format are inappropriate. As we see
it, this format limits the mediatingwork of the Personal Envoy. We did
not agree with this approach in thepast and we cannot support it today.

(24:41):
Therefore, we would once again liketo confirm our consistent position on the Western
Sahara settlement process. We are infavor of a balanced and unbiased stance.
We support the efforts of the PersonalEnvoid to organize direct negotiations between Morocca and
the Polisaria front that way. Includingas a permanent member of the Security Council

(25:03):
and a member of the Group ofFriends of Western Sahara, we continue our
active contacts with all those interested parties. We are working with the Moroccans,
the Polisario, the Algerians and theMauritanians. We call on all parties to
refrain from unilateral actions which could complicatecomplicate a resumption of a focused political dialogue.

(25:25):
The ultimate Formula four settlement must bebased on mutually acceptable solutions which would
facilitate a just political settlement of thesituation surrounding Western Sahara that suits the Moroccans
and also the Polisaria and which stipulatesself determinations for the people of Western Sahara
within procedures that correspond to the principlesand purposes of the UN Charter. In

(25:48):
conclusion, we would like to underscorethat our position today reflects exclusively our assessment
of the unscrupulous work of the Pennholeson the draft that was presented today.
Once again, our various serious doubtsover the impartial action of the penholders of

(26:11):
the country subjects and the Security Councilthe fulfilling of those obligations our serious doubt
are being born out. At thesame time, we consistently support the UN
mission in Western Sahara, which playsa key stabilizing role to create conducive conditions
on the ground for the resumption ofdialogue between Morocco and the Polisario Front and

(26:32):
for advancing the peace process. Andalso the head of the Mission, Alexander
Ivanko, thank you for your attention. I thank the Representative of the Russian
Federation for their statement, and I'llgive the fourth to the Representative of China.
Thank you, mister President. MisterPresident. Over the years, MINOSO

(26:57):
has diligentally fulfilled its councilmen and madepositive contributions to maintain stability in Western Sahara
and promoting a political settlement. Thatresolution just adopted shows the Council's detimination to
support Mission in the performance of itsduties and to resolve politically the question of
Western Sahara. Chinese pleased to seethe positive progress made on minisi's logistical support

(27:23):
and hopes that, rather than partieswill continue to strengthen communication and cooperation with
the Mission in accordance with Council resolutionsto enable the Mission to deliver on its
mandate. Chinese position on question WesternSahara is consistent and clear. Chinese supports
a just and lasting solution acceptable toall parties, reached through consultations among parties

(27:48):
as equals on the basis of therelevant Council resolutions. Chinese supports the Personal
Envoy of SG in continuing their permediation efforts to further progress in a political
process on the basis of an indepth understanding of the concerns of the parties.

(28:10):
It is China's hope that future Councildiscussions on the resolutions O Miners or
mandate can reflect the latest changes ofthe situation. We also hope that a
penholder can facilitate a full consultation overthe Council to garner broader consensus. Thank
you, mister President. I thankthe Representative of China for their statement,

(28:34):
and then I'll give the floor tothe representative of France. We should,
mister President. France welcomes the adoptionof the resolution which we use the mandate
of MINOSO for one year. Firstand foremost, I wish to reiterate France's
full support for the efforts of thePersonal Envoy of the Secretary General, his

(28:56):
recent visit to the region and theconsultations that he led positive development. I
also hail the work MINOSO that playsa key role in stabilizing the region and
contributes to creating the conditions necessary fora resumption of the political process. We
also welcome the resumption of resupply operationsof MINUSO monastering sites to the east of

(29:17):
the Burm in September. A lastingresumption, however, remains necessary in order
to guarantee regular resupply. It's alsoessential to guarantee the freedom of movement of
Minoso. France calls its concern regardingceasefire violations. We call for the there
was responsible for these violations to fullyimplement the ceasefire agreement in order to facilitate

(29:38):
the continuation of the political process.Mister President, France defense a just,
lasting and mutually acceptable political solution inaccordance with Security Council resolutions. I recall
the historic, clear and constant supportof France for the Moroccan autonomy plan.
That plan has been on the tablesince two thousand and seven. It is

(30:00):
now time to move forward with it. In this vein, France encourages all
parties to commit to finding a practicable, realistic, enduring solution based on compromise.
We support the efforts of the PersonalEnvoy in order to ensure a resumption
of the round tables. I thankyou, mister President, thank the representative
of France for their statement, andI'll give the floor to the Representative of
Gabon. Thank you, mister President. We voted in favor of the one

(30:26):
year renewal of the Minnoso mandate.This vote expresses my country's support for the
political process, aiming to achieve apolitical solution which is practicable and realistic,
feasible and lasting based on compromise,a solution that is to the situation in
the Western Sahara. As we indicatedduring negotiations, this is a balanced resolution

(30:49):
which takes account of the expectations ofall parties. It will make it possible
to support the efforts of the PersonalENVOYE Stefan Jimmy Stura in order to allow
the resumption of the political process betweenthe various parties. This diplomatic momentum ushered
in by the Personal Envoy must bebuilt upon because the resumption of the roundtable

(31:10):
process with all key players is important. We also support the Moroccan Autonomy Plan,
which presents credible horizons, reassuring perspectiveswhich will make it possible not only
to put an end to the currentstate of quidlock, but all to reach
age political solution which is just,lasting and mutually acceptable. Finally, we

(31:30):
encourage the Kingdom of Morocco to continueits efforts in order to preserve the ceasefire
and to strengthen its cooperation with MINUSO. We call upon all other parties to
do the same thing in the interestsof security instability throughout the region. I
thank you, I thank the Representativeof Gabon for their statement. Then now

(31:51):
give the floor to the Representative ofthe United Arab Emirates is Mister President.
At the outset, we welcome theadoption of today's resolution that renews the mandate
of MANUSO for an additional year.We thank the United States, the penholder,

(32:12):
and the members of the Security Councilfor positively engaging during the consultation process.
The UAE voted in favor of thisresolution because it has a balanced,
comprehensive text and it takes into accountthe important developments that took place since last
year, including the informal consultations thattook place between the Personal Envoy Mister Stephan

(32:39):
Dimstura. Today's resolution shows the supportof the Council to MANUSO and the efforts
of the Special Envoy in order tomake progress in the political process that is
facilitated by the UN. As thisis the last meeting scheduled for this issue

(33:04):
during our mandate, at the SecurityCouncil, I would like to reaffirm the
following three points. One, wemust continue to support the efforts of the
Special Envoy in order to pave theway for a relaunch of negotiations. We
believe that the roundtable format, withthe participation of all parties, will help

(33:28):
break the political impass. We stressin this regard that the autonomy initiative provided
by the Kingdom of Morocco and thatwas described or mentioned by UN Security Council
resolutions as serious and legitimate. Thisis the only way to reach a last,

(33:50):
durable and pragmatic political solution that ismutually acceptable. Second, enabling MUNUSO
to resupply its sights in a sustainablemanner and not just on an exceptional basis.
This is necessary to allow MANUSO tocarry out its mandate in an effective

(34:12):
manner. In this regard, wecommend the cooperation between MANUSO and the Kingdom
of Morocco and their support for theceasefire. We believe that the Polisario Front
should cooperate fully with MINUSO and shouldremove all obstacles that could impact the work
of the mission and to commit tothe ceasefire. In conclusion, we reaffirm

(34:40):
our support to the Kingdom of Moroccoand its sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara.
We look forward for the UN tocontinue its constructive efforts in order to reach
a solution for this issue that lastedfor them case and this will help strengths

(35:01):
strengthen security and stability in the region, a region that is facing many challenges.
I think you, mister President.I thank the Representative of the United
ARABEMA rates for their statements. Thereare no more names inscribed on the list
of speakers. The meeting is adjourned. The nine thousand, four hundred and

(36:16):
sixty first Meeting of the Security Councilis called to order. The provisional agenda
for this meeting is identical letters datednineteenth January twenty sixteen from the Permanent Representative
of Columbia to the United Nations,addressed to the Secretary General and the President

(36:37):
of the Security Council s Slash twentysixteen Slash fifty three. The agenda is
adopted. The Security Council will nowbegin its consideration of Item two of the
agenda. I wish to draw theattention of Council members to document s Slash
twenty twenty three slash seven oh onethe report of the Secretary General on the

(37:00):
United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.Members of the Council have before them document
s slash twenty twenty three slash eightor zero eight o eight, the text
of a draft resolution submitted by theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(37:21):
The Council is ready to proceed tothe vote on the draft resolution before
it. I shall put the draftresolution to the vote. Now, will
those in favor of the draft resolutioncontained in document s Slash twenty twenty three
slash eight h eight please raise theirhand. The draft resolution has been adopted

(37:54):
unanimously as Resolution twenty seven four twentytwenty three. And now give the floor
to those members of the Council whowish to make statements after the vote.
I give the floor to the Representativeof the United Kingdom. Thank you,

(38:19):
President, and I'd like to thankcolleagues for the constructive engagement during negotiations.
The United Kingdom welcomes this consensus adoption, which sends a strong signal of support
for the peace process in Columbia andas Women Peace and Security High Level Week
draws to a close. It isfitting that this Council has recognized the efforts

(38:45):
of the UN Verification Mission to incorporategender as a cross cutting issue in implementing
its mandate and ensuring adequate gender expertise. Thank you, I thank the Representative
of the United Kingdom for their statement, and I now give the floor to

(39:07):
the Representative of Ghana. As apresident, the three welcomes the unanimous adoption
of the Resolution on the Expansion ofthe Mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission
in Colombia, presented by the UnitedKingdom, to whom we thank for the
dedicated effort in conducting the negotiations toreach a consensual text. The vote in

(39:29):
favor of this resolution reiterates our commitmentto supporting the government and the Colombian people
towards building the stable and lasting peace, guided by the trust that Colombia has
placed in the United Nations to verifythe implementation of the Peace Agreement in the
country, and given the remarkable achievementsregistered so far in the negotiations with the

(39:51):
National Liberation Army e L and weare committed to supporting the Mission and its
continued monitorin and verification of the ceasefireAgreement between the Government of Colombia and the
Estado Mayo Central Contingent, under necessaryconditions set forth by the Secretary General.
Will continue to monitor and encourage furtheradvancement of the Ethnic Chapter of the Peace

(40:14):
Agreement, an important component of theagreement route which will go far and re
establishing justice and equality for all Colombianpeople, including Afro Colombians and indigenous people.
In concluding the A three will continueto offer its unwavering support to the
Verification Mission and a Special Representative asthey diligently monitor the end enforce compliants with

(40:39):
the commitments of the Colombian Peace Agreement. The exemplary performance in this role deserves
acknowledgment and reinforces our commitment to theirongoing efforts. I thank you, I
thank the Representative of Ghana for theirstatement, and I now give the floor
to the Representative of Japan. Well, thank you, mister President. We

(40:59):
please. The Council came together todayto unanimously extend the mandate of the UN
Verification Mission in Columbia for another twelvemonths. We are particularly delighted that our
reference to the importance of including usein the peace process was reflected as the
driving force of the future. Thevoices and the active participation of use should

(41:20):
be protected, respected, unpromoted forthe peace process to be sustainable. Protection
for young community members and leaders isneeded to ensure their full and effective participation
in peace building efforts. The needto provide protection of young community members and
leaders to ensure the full and effectiveparticipation in peace building efforts was also part

(41:44):
of the advice from the Peace BuildingCommission to the Security Council, and this
practice will strengthen relation between the PBCand the Council, which Japan believes is
important. We hope that such goodpractices will be enhanced. We also welcome
them. Peress is on the effortsto the UNI Verification Mission to continue to
integrate to a gender perspective as across cutting issue into its work, among

(42:07):
other perspectives. To conclude, theJapan reaforms its firm support for the work
of the UN Verification Mission and willremain committed to supporting the peace process and
the peace building efforts in Columbia.I thank you. I thank the Representative
of Japan for their statement. Ishall now make a statement in my capacity
as the Representative Representative of Brazil.I'll speak in Spanish, distinguished colleagues.

(42:35):
Brazil congratulates the members of the SecurityCouncil on the unanimous adoption of the mandate
renewal for the United Nations Verification Missionin Columbia. Brazil thanks the United Kingdom
for its sterling work as penholder.The work of the Security Council in Colombia
is in line with and must alwaysbe in line with the needs and priorities

(42:57):
of Columbia, as expressed by itgovernment. In this connection, we are
delighted to note that the resolution adoptedtoday fully reflects the sovereign will of that
country. Brazil supports the strategy ofthe Petro government to achieve a total peace.
We recognize the importance of and theyneed for the additional dialogues that are

(43:20):
underway to spread the dividends of peacethroughout the country in its entirety. We
continue to follow with interest and optimism. The dialogue of the government with the
self proclaimed group is that of myold Central EMC, as in the case
with the ALN We hope that theCouncil will be able to authorize the mission
to verify the implementation of the ceasefireagreement with the EMC. When the necessary

(43:45):
degree of maturity has been reached onthis front, it is important to optimize
the contribution that the Council makes toprogress across the various negotiation processes underway in
Columbia, with the ultimate goal ofencouraging ceasefires both with the government and between
the groups that continue to be engagedin territorial disputes. The peace process in

(44:07):
Colombia is an example for the worldof how to prioritize and incorporate the perspective
of women, peace and security into work. The verification mission in Columbia
must also reflect that reality. Guaranteeingthe integration of a gender perspective in each
facet of the work underway to buildand consolidate peace is vital to achieve broader

(44:34):
and sustainable solutions. We're not addingwork to a mandate, but what we're
doing is strengthening the quality of ourapproach, the approach that is that we
adopt for the peace processes tackling issuescrucial to peace in Columbia, from rural
reform to the reincorporation of former combatants. Using a gender sensitive approach enriches our

(44:57):
work and strengthens the foundation for alasting peace in the country. Once again,
we congratulate the people and government forColumbia on their tireless efforts to seek,
achieve and consolidate total peace across itsterritory. Peace is the only path
possible to guarantee the prosperity and thepeaceful civic coexistence of all Columbia's people.

(45:22):
The renewal of the verification missions mandateby the Security Council is an invaluable contribution
to the lasting success of this vital, crucial journey that Columbia has embarked upon.
I thank you. I resume myfunction as President of the Council.
There are no more names inscribed onthe list of speakers. The meeting is

(45:45):
adjoint Boom. The Neighborhood hundred andsixty second Meeting of the SEC Security Council

(48:27):
is called to order. The provisionalagenda for this meeting is the situation in
the Middle East, including the Palestinianquestion. The agenda is adopted in accordance
with Rule thirty seven of the Council'sProvisional Rules of Procedure. I invite the

(48:50):
representatives of Israel and Jordan to participatein this meeting. It's so decided,
I proposed that the Council invite thePermanent Observer of the Observer State of Palestine
to the United Nations to participate inthis meeting, in accordance with the provisional

(49:13):
Rules of Procedure and the previous practicein this regard. There being no objection,
it is so decided, in accordancewith Rule thirty nine of the Council's
Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invitedthe following briefers to participate in this meeting.

(49:36):
Mister Philippi Lazzardini, commission Commissioner Generalof the United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the NearEast. Miss Katherine Russell, Executive Director
of the United Nations Children's Funds,and Miss Liza Dotan, Director of the
Humanitarian Financing and Resourcing Mobilityization Division ofthe Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

(50:06):
It's so decided. The Security Councilwill now begin its consideration of Item two
of the agenda. I now givethe floor to mister Philippi Lazardini, Mister

(50:27):
President, Member of the Council.The last three weeks have been horrific.
Almost everyone in Israel the occupied Palestineterritory and the broader region is in mourning.
The horrific attacks by Hamas in Israelon October seventh were shocking. The
relentless compartment that the Israeli forces ofthe Gaza Strip are shocking. The level

(50:52):
of destruction is unprecedented. The humantragedy unfolding on the awards is honorable.
One million people, how the populationof Gaza were pushed from the north of
the Gaza Strip towards the south inthree weeks. The south, however,
has not been spared from bombardment,with significant number killed. I have said

(51:19):
many times and I will say itagain, no place is safe in Gaza.
Now. Civilian remaining in the Norseare receiving evacuation notices from the Israeli
forces, urging themselves to receive scarceto main turn assistance, but many,
including pregnant women, people with disabilities, the sick and the bounded, are

(51:43):
unable to move. What happened andcontinues to happen is forced displacement. Over
six hundred and seventy thousand displaced peopleare now in overcrowded on was schools and
buildings. Believe in that wholding unsanitarycondition with limited food and water, sleeping
on the floor without mattresses or outsidein the open. Hunger and deserve are

(52:09):
turning into anger against the international communityand in Gaza. The international community is
better known as UNWA. Mister President. Nearly seventy percent of those reported killed
our children and women, said theChildren reported yesterday that nearly three thousand,

(52:31):
two hundred children were killed in Gazain just three weeks. This surpasses the
number of children killed annually across theworld's conflict zones since twenty nineteen. This
cannot be collateral damage. Churches,most hospital and on what facilities, including
those shattering dispaced people have not beenspurred. Too many people have been killed

(52:57):
and injured when seeking safe in placesprotected by international Mediteran law. The current
siege import on Gaza is collective punishment. Two weeks of full siege followed by
the trickle of aid last week,means that basic services are crumbling. Medicine

(53:20):
is running out, food and waterare running out, fuel is running out.
The streets of Gaza have started overflowingwith sewage, which will cause the
massive health az are very soon.In the latest law, the communication blackout
over the weekend has aggravated the panicand distress of people. The blackout meant

(53:44):
that people could not communicate with theirloved ones inside Gaza to know who is
dead or who is alive. Theyno longer knew whether they would receive breadth
from on One. They felt abundantand cut off from the rest of the
ward. The communications backount has acceleratedthe breaking down of civil order. Panic

(54:08):
pushed thousands of desperate people to addto the UNWA warehouses and distribution center where
we stall the food and other supplywe started receiving via Egypt last week.
A further breakdown in civil order willmake it extremely difficult, if not impossible,

(54:29):
for the largest UN agency in Gaza, to continue operating. It will
also make it impossible to bring inconvoys. I say this while being fully
aware that ONWA is the last remaininglifeline for the Palestinian people in Gaza.

(54:49):
Member of the Council on why callingon you for support. I lost sixty
four colleagues in just over three weeks. The last tragic passing confirmed was two
hours ago. Samyear, head ofSecretary and Safety in the Middle Region,
was killed with his wife and eightchildren. This is the highest number of

(55:14):
you and aid worker kills in theconflict in such a short time. My
thirteen thousand colleagues in Gaza are froma community of one point seven million Palestine
refugees out of two point two millionresident in the Gaza strip. Those who
are alive have for the most partlost relative French neighbors and are displaced like

(55:39):
the majority of Gazen. Many ofmy own colleagues now live, sleep,
and work in unwash shelters, andyet they are showing exceptional dedication to you
and value. No more can dojustice to thousands of onward staff continue to

(56:00):
walk trdlessly to support the communities.These are teachers, doctors, social workers,
engineer and support staff, their motherand father. If they were not
in Gather, they could have beenyour neighbor, your friends. And they
are operating one hundred and fifty onwhat shelter. They are keeping one third

(56:22):
of our health center open and runeighty mobile health teams. They support the
entry of humanitarian convoys and the storageand distribution of aid. They distribute the
little fuel we have left to hospitalbakeries and shelters. My own what colleagues

(56:43):
are the only glimmer of hope forthe entire Gaza street, a ray of
light as humanity sinks into its darkestpower. But they are running out of
fuel, out of water, outof food and medicine, and will soon
be unable to operate. Let mebe hear the a handful of convoys being

(57:05):
allowed through halfa is nothing compared tothe needs of over two million people trapped
in Gaza. The system in placeto allow aid into gather is geared to
fail unless there is political will tomake the flow of supplies meaningful, matching
the unprecedented to many turndeeds. MisterPresident, Gaz has over two million people,

(57:31):
half of them children. Gadens arevibrant, educated people who aspire to
have normal lives, families, children, education, and dreams of a better
future. Today, gardens films thatthey are not treated as other civilian Most
of them feel trapped in a worldthey have nothing to do with. The

(57:55):
film. The world is equating allof them to amass. This is dangerous
and we know this too well fromprevious conflicts and crisis. An entire population
is being dehumanized. The actrocities ofHamas do not absolve the state of Israel.

(58:15):
From its obligation on the international eventg law. Everyone has rules and
this one is no exception. HannahAreen said, the deaths of human empathy
is one of the first and mostrevealing signs of a culture that is about
to fall into barbarity. More thanever, doesn't deserve our empathy. Its

(58:38):
absence will deepend the polarization in theregion and further push away any prospect of
peace. Mister President, when alot of the focus is on Gaza,
I want to wish to reiteriate thatanother crisis is unfolding in the West Bank,
including its Jerusalem. At Nation hasbeen sounding the alarm for months on

(59:01):
the increased violence at the Senior fatalitiesthis year are the highest since the UN
started to keep report in two thousandand five. At least one hundred and
fifteen Palestine that have been killed sinceOctober seventh, including thirty three children.
The movement restriction imposed across the WestBank are impacting our services, including schools

(59:23):
and health center. Meanwhile, thesituation on the Israeli Lebanese border is getting
worse, with regular exchanges of firesand civilian casualties reported. In conclusion,
I'm very worried about the potential speedover of this conflict beyond Gaza unless the

(59:44):
following is enforced. First, theremust be strict adherance to international mentor and
law. This means civilian and civilianinfrastructure, including un premises, school,
hospital, places of worship and shelterhouse. Civilian must be protected all over
the Gather Strip, north and southand at all times. This is not

(01:00:07):
an option, it is an obligation. Second, we need a safe,
unimpeded, substanti and continuous flow ofUmanitarian aid, including fuel, into the
Gather Strip and across it. Forthis we need an immediate umnitran ceasfire.

(01:00:27):
Third, on what still needs forms, we have the necessary and largest presence
on the ground. We can deliverif we have the means and the resources,
including the finances to pay staff onthe front lines. UNOA has received
generous contribution towards its initial flash appeal, but without a fully funded con budget,

(01:00:50):
we cannot pay salaries and deliver.Finally, in these dark times,
we must not lose sight of ourhumanity. Empathy should apply to all Palestinian
Israeli, Jewish, Christians and muslimThe rules of law of war must be
followed by all parties at all times, in all places, civilian must be

(01:01:15):
protected, hostage is released, anda genuine umentian response facilitated. An immediate
entran cisfire has become a matter oflife and death for millions. The present
and future of Palestinian and Israeli dependon it. I urge all members state

(01:01:35):
to change the trajectory of this crisisand walk towards a genuine political solution before
it's too late. Thank you.I thank mister Zardini for his briefing.
I now give the floor to MissCatherine Russell. Thank you to Ambassador Nisebe

(01:01:59):
and Ambassador france A Denesi for conveningthis meeting, and to members of the
Security Council for this opportunity to speakabout the humanitarian situation in the State of
Palestine and Israel. At UNICEF,we firmly believe that the true cost of
this latest escalation will be measured inchildren's lives, those lost to the violence
and those forever changed by it.After little more than three weeks, the

(01:02:23):
devastating tally is quickly adding up,with rampant grave violations being committed against children.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. More than eight thousand, three
hundred Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including over three thousand, four hundred
children, with over six thousand,three hundred children injured. This means that

(01:02:44):
more than four hundred twenty children arebeing killed or injured in Gaza every day,
a number that should shake each ofus to our core. Of course,
the violence being perpetrated against children extendsbeyond the Gaza Strip. In the
West Bank, including East russ atleast thirty seven children have reportedly been killed,
and of course, more than thirtyIsraeli children have reportedly been killed,

(01:03:07):
while at least twenty children remain hostagein the Gaza Strip, their fates unknown.
Civilian infrastructure has also come under fierceattack. According to the World Health
Organization, in Gaza, thirty fourattacks have been reported against health care facilities,
including twenty one hospitals. Twelve ofGaza's thirty five hospitals, which are

(01:03:30):
also being used as shelters for displacedpeople, can no longer function. At
least two hundred and twenty one schoolsand more than one hundred and seventy seven
thousand housing units have been damaged ordestroyed. Meanwhile, what little clean water
remains in Gaza is quickly running out, leaving more than two million people in
dire need. We estimate that fiftyfive percent of water supply infrastructure requires repair

(01:03:53):
or rehabilitation. Only one desalination plantis operating at just five percent capacity,
while all six of Gaza's water wastetreatment plants are now non operational due to
a lack of fuel or power.The lack of clean water and sanitation is
on the verge of becoming a catastrophe. Unless access to clean water is urgently

(01:04:15):
restored, more civilians, including children, will fall ill or die from dehydration
or water borne diseases. As ifthis wasn't enough, children in both Israel
and the State of Palestine are experiencingterrible trauma, the consequences of which could
last a lifetime. Studies have shownthat violence and upheople can induce toxic stress
in children that interferes with their physicaland cognitive development and causes mental health problems

(01:04:42):
over both the short and the longterms. We are doing our best to
reach all children in need, butthe delivery of humanitarian aid, especially in
Gaza, is now extremely challenging.This is due to both the current siege
conditions imposed on Gaza and the highlydangerous circumstances under which are our staff are
operating. Some of our staff havelost close family members, including spouses and

(01:05:04):
children, and of course we aregrieving with UNRAH for their staff members who
have been killed. Two days ago, we lost contact with our colleagues and
GAZO and telecommunications were disrupted. Thisleft them at even greater risk and it
made their work to help children evenharder to accomplish. Excellencies, UNICEF and
our partners are committed to staying onthe ground to deliver for children, but

(01:05:28):
make no mistake, the situation growsworse by the hour, and with an
out an urgent end to the hostilities, I am deeply afraid for the fate
of the region's children, but weand you have the power to help lift
children out of this spiral of violence. I implore the Security Council to immediately
adopt a resolution that reminds parties oftheir obligations under international law. It calls

(01:05:54):
for a cease fire, that demandsthe parties allow safe and unimpeded humanitarian access,
that demands the immediate and safe releaseof all abducted children, and that
urges parties to afford children the specialprotection to which they are entitled. The
Security Council should prioritize what is nowa worsening displacement crisis, with more than

(01:06:14):
one point four million people in Gaza, the majority of whom are children now
displaced. As a Secretary General hassaid, the order for one point one
million Palestinian civilians to leave northern Gazashould be rescinded. Demands for hospital evacuations
should also cease, given their protectedstatus under international humanitarian law. All parties

(01:06:35):
must stop violence and prevent any graveviolations committed against children. We must have
humanitarian access through all crossing points intothe Gaza Strip through safe and efficient supply
routes, and parties must ensure thesafe and unimpeded movement of humanitarian supplies and
personnel throughout the Gaza Strip for thedelivery of humanitarian assistance, including but not

(01:06:57):
limited to food, water, medicine, views on electricity. Finally, measures
to prevent electricity, food, waterand fuel from entering Gaza from Israel must
be immediately reversed so that civilians haveaccess to the services they need to survive.
Excellency is UNISEF was created almost seventyseven years ago out of the ashes

(01:07:18):
of World War II. Since then, our commitment to our mission has never
wavered. We advocate for the rightsof every child. On behalf of all
the children caught in this nightmare.We call on the world to do better.
Whether they are young people attending amusic festival or children going about their
daily lives in Gaza, they alldeserve peace. Children do not start conflicts

(01:07:43):
and they are powerless to stop them. They need all of us to put
their safety and security at the forefrontof our efforts and to imagine a future
where children are healthy, safe andeducated. No child deserves any less.
Thank you. I thank Missus Russofor her briefing. I now give the

(01:08:05):
floor to Missus Liza Dufton. Thankyou, mister President. I'm delivering the
statement on behalf of Emergency Relief Coordinatorand Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs,
mister Martin Griffiths, who's currently onmission in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

(01:08:26):
The events that have unfolded since seventhOctober have been nothing short of devastating
and heartbreaking. We do not forgetthe fourteen hundred people killed in thousands more
injured and taken in the brutal Hamasattack. Indiscriminate rocket fire continues from Gaza
into populated areas of Israel, causingmore civilian casualties and displacement and trauma.

(01:08:46):
We deplore that two hundred and thirtypeople held hostage in Gaza. All hostages
must be released immediately and unconditionally.We welcome all diplomatic efforts to secure their
release and demand that in the interimthey be treated humanely and be allowed to
receive visits from the International Committee ofthe Red Cross. As you've just heard

(01:09:09):
from Commissioner General Lazzarini, the situationfor the more than two million people trapped
in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic.They've now endured a siege and continues bombardment
for twenty three days. According tothe Ministry of Health and Gaza, more
than eight thousand people have been killed, sixty six percent of whom are said
to be women and children. Tensof thousands more have been injured. The

(01:09:32):
scale of the horror people are experiencingGaza is really hard to convey. People
are becoming increasingly desperate as they searchfor food, water, and shelter.
Amid the relentless bombing campaign that's wipingout whole families and entire neighborhoods. In
their desperation, people have resorted tobreaking into u and warehouses in search of

(01:09:55):
food and water. Dehydration is anincreasing concern, as is a possibility of
the spread of disease and other healthconcerns due to unsafe water and break down
in sewage treatment services. More thanone point four million people are internally displaced
in Gaza, and hundreds of thousandsof children, women and men are crammed
into overcrowded shelters and hospitals. Manyof these people have moved south in search

(01:10:19):
of safety, but the reality isthat nowhere is safe and we simply don't
have enough essential supplies to provide forthe survival of internally displace people at this
scale. As we heard from ExecutiveDirector Russell, the health care system is
in tetters. Patients lie on thefloors and in corridors. Surgeons are operating

(01:10:41):
without anesthesia. Out of an estimatedfifty thousand pregnant women, five thousand,
five hundred are due to deliver withinthe next thirty days. For the one
thousand patients dependent on dialysis, andthe one hundred and thirty premature babies and
incubators life hangs by a thread ashospital backup generators run on fumes. Some

(01:11:03):
nine thousand cancer patients are not receivingadequate care. We're deeply concerned by allegations
of military installations in the close vicinityof hospitals and the request by Israeli authorities
for hospitals including Al Kuds and Shifa, to be evacuated. There's nowhere say
for these patients to go, andfor those on life support and babies and

(01:11:25):
incubators, moving would almost certainly bea death sentence. Mister President, The
provision of humanitarian relief is extremely complexand challenging due to the bombardment, the
destruction of infrastructure, and as we'vesaid repeatedly, the lack of fuel.
We mourn the loss of sixty fourunrecolleagues another humanitarian staff who've been tragically killed,

(01:11:47):
and we extend our deepest condolences tothe families and colleagues. We have
the utmost admiration for the bravery,selflessness and commitment of humanitarian workers who are
delivering aid to those need in thisperilous environment. Mister President, we welcome
the agreement that has allowed us toget some relief into Gaza via the Rafa

(01:12:08):
border crossing, but these deliveries aredrop in the motion compared to the vast
scale of needs. It's imperative thatwe're able to get humanitarian supplies and relief
into Gaza safely, reliably, withoutimpediment, and at the scale required.
In particularly urgent for us to replenishfuel supplies, which are vital for powering
most essential services, including hospitals andwater desalination plants, and to transport humanitarian

(01:12:33):
relief inside Gaza, and more thanone entry point into Gaza is indispensable if
we are to make a difference.Karim Shalom between Israel and Gaza is the
only crossing equipped to rapidly process asufficient sufficiently large number of trucks. Meanwhile,
in the West Bank, scores ofcivilians have been killed and incidents of

(01:12:56):
settler violence have increased, causing hundredsof civilians to be displaced. Likewise,
the violence and enclosure of checkpoints hasimpeded access to essential services and food distribution.
The permits of some one hundred andfifty thousand to one hundred and seventy
five thousand Palestinians from the West Bankworking in Israel and settlements are now suspended.

(01:13:19):
The situations causing significant damage to theWest Bank economy and Palestinian institutions.
We have very real fears about whatlies ahead. The current situation may pale
in comparison with what is to come. There's a genuine risk that this work
would escalate further and spill over intowider region. We must take urgent collective

(01:13:43):
action to prevent this, Mister President. In light of all that has been
described today, what we're calling foris for the parties to agree to pause
the fighting on humanitarian grounds. Itwould provide the required calm and safety,
for hostages to be released, andfor the Yuan to replenish the applies,
relieve exhausted personnel, and resume assistancethroughout Gaza wherever civilians are in need.

(01:14:06):
It would also provide much needed respiteto civilians who are living under unimaginably traumatic
conditions. But with or without apause in the fighting, I reiterate that
all parties on all sides must respectinternational humanitarian law. This means allowing relief
in and taking constant care to sparecivilians and civilian objects, including humanitarian and

(01:14:30):
medical workers, facilities and assets.And this applies whether civilians move or they
stay. We are relying on theresponsibility of every member state here and across
the UN to use all of theirinfluence to ensure that the rules of war
are respected and that as far asis possible, civilians are spared fur their
suffering. Thank you Miss President missusDuctin for her briefing, and I shall

(01:14:58):
now make a stance statement in mycapacity as the Minister Foreign Affairs of Brazil.
Distinguished representatives, I thank the briefersfor their extensive information on the humanitarian
situation on the ground and command thework of their teams in Locus and elsewhere.

(01:15:23):
They honor once again the work ofthis organization and everything it stands for.
Following instructions of President Lula, Icome back before you again today with
a profound sense of urgency and dismay. We must always bear in mind the
human faces on both sides of theconflict. Therefore, I extend Brazil's deepest

(01:15:47):
condolences to the families and friends ofall civilians, including the brave and dedicated
United Nations personnel who have lost theirlives in the Onngoi in crisis stemming from
the protracted conflict in Israel and Palestine, tragically reignited by the terrorist actions by

(01:16:10):
Hamas against Israel on October seventh.Nothing justifies such crimes. All hostages must
be immediately and unconditionally released, andaccess to them by the Red Cross must
be immediately granted. At the sametime, the current situation in Gaza is
deeply appalling and indefensible by any humanstandard and under humanitarian international humanitarian law.

(01:16:38):
An aligning humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding beforeour eyes, with thousands of civilians,
including an overwhelming intolerable number of children, being punished by crimes they have not
committed. In three weeks, wehave watched this conflict claim the line of

(01:17:00):
more than eight thousand civilians, ofwhom more than three thousand are children.
Since the last time I spoken thiscouncil, just last week, the count
of children deaths increased by one thousand. Meanwhile, the Security Council holds meetings
and hear speeches without being able totake a fundamental decision to end the human

(01:17:23):
suffering on the ground. As thousandsin Israel and Palestine mourned the loved ones
as Israeli agonized over the fate ofhostages, as Gazans suffer under relentless military
operations that are killing civilians, includingan intolerable number of children. We have

(01:17:45):
the means to get something done,and yet we repeatedly and shamefully failed.
Since October seventh, we have metseveral times and considered four draft resolutions.
However, we remain at impass duringto international during to internal disagreement, particularly

(01:18:06):
among some permanent members, and thanksto the persistent use of the Council to
achieve self oriented purpose instead of puttingthe protection of civilians above all. The
grave and unprecedented human crisis before usrequire that sterial rivalries be relinquished, that

(01:18:28):
the Council is not able to dischargeits responsibility of safeguarden international peace and security
due to old antagon antagonism is morallyunacceptable. Let us not fool ourselves.
The eyes of the world are staringat us and will not move away from
our distressing inability to act. Theyall see that our incapacity to unite in

(01:18:53):
response to the human crisis facing ustoday questions the very resondat of this.
Someone has even written that, inaddition to civilians. This body lies beneath
the rebels in Gaza. The differenceis that we are our own saviors.

(01:19:15):
We just need to do what isright to spare innocent lives from the scourge
of wars. There may still betime to rescue the Council and sustain the
hope that many of us still havein our capacity to be true to our
mandate under the Charter. It ispossible only if it's enough political will,

(01:19:40):
if there is enough political will tocompromise and to be minimally balanced and inclusive
in our diagnosis and way forward.Failure to do so yet another failure.
Failure will add an increasingly higher costin human lives above all, but also
to multilaterally in general, to theUnited States, and to this Council in

(01:20:02):
particular. Last week, whope forconsensus seemed to emerge, echoing the Sector
General's call for humanitarian seas fire,as the tenth Emergency Special Session of the
General Assembly passed a resolution that calledfor humanitarian truths leading to a cessation of

(01:20:24):
hostilities. A light at the endof the tunnel seemed to appear also when
the Sector General, who had personallybeen in the region to assess the situation
on the ground, announced the openingof the Rafa border crossing for some initial
aid deliveries and some hostages were released. The United Nations, through its Secretariat,

(01:20:49):
under the leadership of the UN SectorGeneral Antonio Botererez Umbra and other bodies
and agencies, has been working tirelesslyto address the human crisis facing US.
It rests on Security Council. Theresponsibility to follow through the price of inaction

(01:21:10):
is unacceptably high. The growing urgencyfor the families of the hostages and the
unbearable pain for the civilian population inGaza cannot be understated. The positive first
step taken by the UN bodies andagencies do not go far enough, as
the escalation of the conflict makes thesituation more dire by the hour. The

(01:21:34):
relevance of a resolution of Security Councillies on the need for sustainable, sustained
humanitarian aid and for granting safe workingconditions for those involved in rescreen hostages and
providing humanitarian work. The cessation ofhostilities is therefore to the benefit of the

(01:21:56):
civilian population on both sides. Allthe risks offering state and the obvious I
want to put it bluntly, therecannot be rescuing of hostages and humanitarian aid
undershells. This is why Brazil andfellow ETEN members have been working tirely to

(01:22:18):
try to get this Council to actmore decisively since the last showdown around proposed
resolutions. In Brazil's view, themain goals are clear, the immediate and
unconditional release of all hostages and theend of violence through whatever modalities can be

(01:22:40):
agreed without further delay, so thatrapid, safe and hindred and sufficient humanitarian
aid can be delivered to the strainedpeople of Gaza. Besides the eight thousand
lives lost, many more are aboutto meet their fatal destiny as hospitals have
no means to keep providing basic treatmentfor the patients. Therefore, providing essential

(01:23:05):
resources to those in Gaza, includingwater, food, medical supply, fuel
and electricity is urgent and imperative.Surgeries are being performed without anesthesia. Lives
are being lost at hospitals for lackof energy and the most basic magic supply

(01:23:26):
medical supplies, food and water.Scars and prices have skyrocted, and the
flow of many Italian aid so faramounts to little more than a photo up
Thanks and troops are on the groundin Gaza and time for action is running
out. My questions to you allare, if not now, when,

(01:23:53):
how many more lives will be lostuntil we finally move from rhetoric to action.
It is also critical and urgent toallow for the safe and immediate evacuation
of foreign nationals from Gaza and fromelsewhere in the region if they feel threatened.

(01:24:14):
While every state has the right andduty to protected citizens, actions must
be consistent with international law and internationalhumanitarian law, in particular the principles of
distinction, proportionality, precaution, militarynecessity, and humanity. The right and

(01:24:34):
duty to protect the state's population cannotand should not come at the cost of
more deaths of civilians and more destructionsof civilian infrastructure. As the UN Sector
General GUTERS has repeatedly remind us,even words have rules. Any indiscriminate,

(01:24:55):
indiscriminative attack against civilians and critical infrastrutureinfrastructure, as well as depriving civilians of
basic goods and service, are morallyjustifiable and illegal under international humanitarian law.
Brazil strongly condensed actions that blurred theline between civilians and combatants. Today,

(01:25:17):
Andra shed light on the green anddisheartening reality in Gaza, highlighting the objectionable
level of destruction of civilian infrastructure andtragic laws of innocent lives, including those
of women, children, at leastthirty five and at least thirty five of

(01:25:40):
its staff. The World Health Organizationhas been constantly recalling the urgent need for
the cessation of violence and for thehumanitarian action. At times when Gaza's health
infrastructure is on the verge of collapse. Beyond the immediate and very urgent humanitarian

(01:26:00):
durations, a threat to regional stabilitylooms, and any repercussion could be catastrophic.
Brazil urges an united shift towards theescalation and calls on all parties to
act with the utmost restraint. Acessation of hostelitis hostilities is urgently needed to

(01:26:24):
create the conditions for a full,durable and respected ceasefire and the resumption of
a credible peace process. All thisis at stake as we keep our efforts
to get this Council to act witha unified voice, Distinguished Members of the
Council, International humanitarian law provides aclear path to avoid at least great or

(01:26:49):
at least greatly alleviate civilians suffering.The framework for collective action is clear.
Our collective response to this crisis,which we all fear will only worsen if
nothing is done, will be adefining moment for the United Nations. The

(01:27:09):
staggering, staggering fact is that theSecurity Council does not have a reasonable record
when it comes to maintaining international peaceand security in the Middle East. Issues
related to the region in general receivedthirty five of the two hundred and fifty
vitals of the permanent members. Sincetwenty sixteen, the Council has not been

(01:27:32):
able to pass a single resolution onsituation in Palestine. The situation in the
Middle East is therefore, by farone of the most blocked issues in the
Security Council. This speaks of ineffectivenessof governance, of the governance system,
and of the lack of representation ofcertain parts of the world in this body.

(01:27:56):
A decision on the humanitarian aspects ofthe current crisis will certainly not redress
the historic failure of Security Council regardingthe situation in the Middle East. It
will, however, stop further humansuffering. Now, thank you, sorry,

(01:28:21):
I would like for the register toread again another sentence that that that
was misspelled in my in my speechthe sentences on page four. Failure to
do so, yet another failure,will add an increasingly higher cost in human

(01:28:44):
lives above all, but also tomultilateralism in general, and to the United
Nations and this Council in particular.I thank you. I resume now my
function as President of the Council.I now give the floor to the Permanent
Representative of the United Arab Emirates.Mister President, thank you for your presence

(01:29:12):
here with us in New York todayand for the special dedication that Brazil has
given to peace in our region.I also pay special tribute to our briefers
today and to their team's dedicated workin the most unimaginable circumstances on the ground
in the Gaza Strip. Commissioner GeneralLazarini, I was very shaken by your

(01:29:33):
recent words to your staff over theweekend, in which you said I am
constantly hoping that this hell on earthwill soon come to an end. I
want to extend the UA's deep condolencesfor the sixty four unrole workers killed in
this war. They paid the ultimatesacrifice for the life saving work the United

(01:29:55):
Nations does every day around the world, and we have failed to protect them.
Last Friday, one hundred and twentyone countries representing an overwhelming majority of
the world, issued an unambiguous callfor an immediate, durable, and sustained
humanitarian truths in Gaza. They stoodup for the humanitarian imperative, for human

(01:30:18):
rights, for international law, andmost importantly, for the self evident truth
that Palestinian life is precious, equaland deserving of the full protection of the
law. We have heard many saythat the two point two million Palestinians in
Gaza are not Hamas, that thisis not a war against them, and

(01:30:42):
while these are welcome words, itis time that action reflected them. The
more than eight thousand people that havebeen killed in Gaza, and as we've
heard today, seventy percent of whomwere women and children, were surely not
all Hamas. Nearly one thousand andchildren are missing and may be trapped or
dead under the rubble. They arenot Hamas. Will we help them.

(01:31:08):
The number of Palestinian children killed injust three weeks of Israel's bombardment of Gaza
exceeds the total number of children killedin conflicts worldwide in each of the last
four years. As Miss Russell hasso eloquently said, that should stain our
moral conscience if nothing else does.Children do deserve our special protection and are

(01:31:33):
entitled to it today. If welean on the General Assembly's moral authority in
other settings, we must also respectit in this one. Indeed, members
of this Council have repeatedly expressed theirconcerns about the fraying of the international order.
This Council, ignoring the expressed willof the majority of the world,

(01:31:58):
may be what breaks it. Colleagues, we need a ceasefire now, as
Foreign Minister Vieira said, We needto ensure that safe, sustained and at
scale humanitarian aid reaches Gaza now,and that access to electricity, clean water
and fuel is restored now. Theshutdown of cellular and internet services over the

(01:32:21):
weekend as part of the offensive meantthat wounded civilians were searching for help in
the dark. As we have heardtoday, there have been over seventy six
attacks on health care, including twentyhospitals and clinics damaged or destroyed. More
than six hundred and fifty thousand peopleare sheltering in unlaw facilities. Let me

(01:32:46):
be absolutely clear on this point.These sites are protected by international humanitarian law.
Announcements that they are targets or warningsfor them to evacuate do not,
I repeat, do not alter theirprotected status. We need to see the
recission of dangerous, unrealistic evacuation orders. On Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent

(01:33:12):
reported warnings from Israel to immediately evacuateAlcud's Hospital, which hosts hundreds of patients,
including newborn babies in incubators. Aroundtwelve thousand civilians are also seeking refuge
there. Right now, as wesit here in this chamber in New York,
speaking to each other again and againand debating the language of our humanitarian

(01:33:36):
resolution and response, an evacuation orderin these conditions is cruel, It is
reckless, and so is our delayas a security Council, Mister President.
All of Gaza's civilian population is atrisk by the escalating hostilities, as are

(01:33:57):
the Israeli and international hostage taken byHamas wrongly taken by Hamas. While our
eyes have been trained on Gaza,the occupied West Bank has not been spared
from violence either. Israeli settlers areescalating their attacks against Palestinian civilians and forcing
their displacement These attacks must be preventedby the State of Israel. Across the

(01:34:23):
region. There have been several crediblewarnings of a wider escalation. The drums
of war are beating colleagues. Takingthese warnings seriously begins with stopping this war
in Gaza. We do not serveIsrael's security by enabling it to go on.
We cannot reverse the heeneous October seventhattacks by condoning this war, in

(01:34:48):
which civilians are paying the price.Ignoring what could happen day after day will
have devastating consequences, not only forhis and Palestinians, but for the prospects
of peace and stability in our region. Mister President, as we work on
responding to the General Assembly's clear careson this body to live up to its

(01:35:12):
responsibilities under the UN Charter, weshould also keep in mind always the dying
words of the dead, so thattheir memories are a blessing to us.
I'd like to speak today of anArab poet, Heber Abunetta, a Palestinian
woman killed in High Unis several daysago. My friends circle diminishes, turning

(01:35:34):
into little coffins scattered everywhere as missile'slaunch I can't grasp the fleeting moments with
my friends. These aren't just names, they are reflections of us with a
unique face and identity. Colleagues,we may have failed the dead, but
we must channel our sorrow into savingthe living. The time to reverse course

(01:35:59):
is running out. What we andone hundred and twenty one countries are advocating
for may be the harder road,but history warns us of the consequences of
not taking it. Thank you,I thank the Permanent Representative of the United
Arab Emitates, and I now givethe floor to the Permanent Representative of China.

(01:36:26):
Thank you, mister President. MisterPresident. First of all, I
would like to thank Brazil for organizingtoday's meeting upon the request of UAE and
China. I thank Commissioner General Lazarini, a Executive Director Russell and mister Dalton

(01:36:47):
for their briefings, your briefings onthe squad once again, the gravity of
the situation in Gaza and the urgencyfor the Council to act. Last Friday,
the tenth Emergency Special Session of theGeneral Assembly adopted by an overwhelming majority

(01:37:08):
a resolution calling for an immediate anda durable humanitarian part, leading to a
cessation of hostilities. This reflected thewidespread cores on the part of the international
community. Regretably and unacceptably. However, Israel, turning a deaf year to
the common concerns of the international community, has chosen to further escalate its military

(01:37:31):
operations in Gaza and formerly declared thelaunch of a ground assault. Secretary General
Couterish has warned that the population inGaza is facing a disaster of an avalanche
proportion. Having one of the highestpopulation density in the world, Gaza is
a land that has been under brocadefor sixteen long years. The two point

(01:37:58):
three million innocent people are living inutter fear amidst the indiscriminate bombardment and have
been cut off from water, electricity, food and fuel for twenty one days.
Just this past weekend, they experiencea communication blackout that lasted for nearly
thirty six hours. If like checked, unchecked, the situation will spiral further

(01:38:25):
out of control and even greater humanitariancatastrophe will be inevitable. We express our
deep sympathy to the people in Gazawho are struggling on the brink of life
and death, and we are equallyif not more deeply worried about the Middle
East peace prospect process, which ison the brink of collapse. China solemnsy

(01:38:47):
calls on the parties to the conflictto seize all hostilities, disengage, immediately
set in place if humanitarian choose,and make every effort to prevent the situation
from escalating further. China solemnly callson Israel, as the occupying power,
to fulfill its obligations under the internationalhumanitarian law, lift its siege over Gaza,

(01:39:10):
immediately rescind its evacuation order, andexpertitiously restore the supply of basic necessities
so as to prevent an even largerhumanitarian disaster. China solemnly calls for intensified
diplomatic efforts to facilitate the release ofthe hostages without delay, and to work

(01:39:30):
on this basis to seek to openup space for dialog so as to return
to the track of a political settlement. China solemnly calls on all part China
solemnly calls on the power that hasa special power on the parties concerned to
put aside their own self interests andgeopolitical considerations and make every effort to stop

(01:39:57):
the war and restore peace, misterPresident. The decades long history of the
Palestinian is Real issue has taught usthat the military means are not the solution.
Absolute security cannot be achieved by imposingcollective banishment on civilians, and responding
to violence with violence will only exacerbit, hatred and confrontation. We call on
the parties to the conflict to abandontheir blind faith in the use of force

(01:40:21):
and commit themselves breaking the cycle ofviolence and achieving common security. There is
no fire war in Gaza. Itis a dangerous myth to think that a
contained war is possible there. Allowingthe fighting in Gaza to continue could very
well turn it into a military catastrophethat will engulf the entire region. The

(01:40:44):
situation in the West Bank and alongthe Lebanese is Really border has already sounded
the alarm. We call on allparties concerned about the spillover earth the conflict
to devote their efforts towards promoting aceasfar in Gaza. As long as the
war rages, more violations of internationalhumanitarian law are bound to happen without a

(01:41:09):
comprehensive ceasefire humanitarian assistance, no matterhow much there is will only be a
job in the ocean. What thepeople of Gaza need now is more than
just a reiteration by the Council ofthe importance of international humanitarian law and the
reputation of unfulfilled promises of protection.What they need is concrete actions to restore

(01:41:30):
peace are called the law, therule of law, and save lives.
The Council has so far held severalmeetings on the situation of Palestine and Israel,
and it cannot be said that therewas no consensus at all. The
resolution just adopted by the General Assemblyhas also pointed the Council in the right
direction in the face of the currentcritical situation. China once again solemnly calls

(01:41:53):
on the Council to strengthen unity,build consensus, undertake responsible and a meaningful
action and as soon as possible.We believe that so long as we focus
on the most depression issues on hand, such as a ceasefire and an end
to the fighting, the protection ofcivilians and the prevention of a larger humanitarian

(01:42:13):
disaster, it is possible for themembers of this Council to reach a consensus.
And indeed, this is what heshould do at this juncture. Silence
means a put yes, and inaction it's a tantamount to a green light.
The eyes of the world upon usand history we record our choice.
Thank you, mister President. Ithank the Permanent's Representative of China for his

(01:42:38):
statement, and I now give thefloor to the Permanent Representative of the United
States. Thank you, mister President. Commissioner General Lazzarini, Executive Director Russell,
and Director Dalton. I want toexpress my heartfelt gratitude to you and

(01:42:58):
your teams for the courageous work doneby you under the most difficult circumstances.
Humanitarian actors have stepped up, asthey always do, to try and save
lives in the midst of the humanitariancrisis in Gaza. This work is heroic,
but tragically it comes with great risk. We moren the more than sixty

(01:43:23):
UN staff who've been killed in Gazasince the start of this conflict. The
lives of UAN personnel must be protected, The lives of humanitarian workers must be
protected, the lives of journalists mustbe protected. The lives of all civilians,
innocent civilians, Israeli and Palestinians,men and women, children and elderly

(01:43:48):
must be protected. There's no hierarchywhen it comes to protecting civilian lives.
A civilian is a civilian is acivilian colleagues. Has been three weeks since
Hamas killed more than fourteen hundred innocentcivilians and took more than two hundred people

(01:44:09):
hostage. Gaza base militants continued tofire barrages of rockets toward Israel. Citizens
from dozens of member states are stillbeing held hostage by Hamas, and the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing moredire by the day. At this moment
of pain and sorrow and suffering,we must all come together. We must

(01:44:33):
all come together to call for theimmediate and unconditional release of all hostages,
addressed the immense humanitarian needs of Palestiniancivilians in Gaza, A firm Israel's right
to defend itself from terrorism and remindall actors that international humanitarian law must be

(01:44:58):
respected. Means SAMAS must not usePalestinians as human shields, an act of
unthinkable cruelty and a violation of thelaw of war, and that means Israel
must take all possible precautions to avoidharm to civilians. Yesterday, President Biden

(01:45:18):
spoke to Prime Minister Netan Yahoo andreiterated that while Israel has the right and
responsibility to defend its citizens from terrorism, it must do so in a manner
consistent with international humanitarian law. Thefact that Hamas operates within and under the

(01:45:40):
cover of civilian areas creates an addedburden for Israel, but it does not
lessen its responsibility to distinguish between terroristsand civilians colleagues. The United States is
also deeply concerned by the significant uptickin violence against Palestinian civilians in the West

(01:46:02):
Fain. We condemn the killings ofPalestinian civilians and we urge Israel to prevent
these attacks, working with the Palestinianauthority. The Biden administration also shares the
international community's concern about telecommunications shut downsin Gaza. We've made this clear to

(01:46:26):
Israeli leaders, and we understand communicationnetworks have started to be restored. This
is essential. A shutdown of telecommunicationimperils the lives of civilians, un personnel,
and humanitarian workers, and risks exacerbatingthe humanitarian prices in Gaza. Lives

(01:46:48):
hang in the balance, and wemust all step up, as the United
States has done. We are thesingle largest donor to the Palestinian people,
having contributed more than one billion dollarssince twenty twenty one, and President Biden
recently announced an additional one hundred milliondollars in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people

(01:47:12):
in Gaza in the West Bank.But of course, no amount of aid
will matter if it cannot reach peoplein need, and the United States continues
to work with Israel, Egypt,the UN, and other partners to facilitate
rapid and sustain assistance flow. Food, fuel, water, medicine, and

(01:47:33):
other essential services must be restored.And while the number of trucks entering Gaza
continues to increase, it is notnearly enough. The amount of humanitarian assistance
flowing into Gaza must be scaled upurgently. We must do everything possible to

(01:47:54):
save lives, and President Biden hasexpressed his support for humanitarian pause in the
fighting to allow hostages to get out, to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza
and be distributed, and to allowsafe passage for civilians, which will help
people access humanitarian assistance or moved tosafer locations. We also continue to urge

(01:48:19):
all member states to work to preventany spellover of the crisis. Last week,
Secretary Blincoln asked this Council to senda firm United message to any state
or non state actor that is consideringopening up another front against Israel, or

(01:48:40):
who may target Israel's partners, includingthe United States, don't. This is
a matter of international peace and securityin this Council must speak out. That
is one of the many reasons thatlast week the United States put forward a
strong and Balanced Security Council RESIDS,one that we consulted with all Member States

(01:49:02):
on and we worked to forge consensusaround. This resolution received the support of
the majority of this Council, butRussia and China blocked this adoption. Following
this veto, action moved to theGeneral Assembly, where Member States were asked
to vote for a resolution that wasgrossly one sided and was missing two key

(01:49:24):
words hamas and hostage. These aredeliberate omissions that give cover and empower Hamasi's
brutality. During the Emergency Special Session, we also heard a few Member States
implicitly endorse Hamasi's acts of violence,and I was frankly shocked and appalled.

(01:49:46):
It is outrageous and it must becalled out. It is unconscionable that Hamasi's
actions are not condemned by the GeneralAssembly, colleagues. As I've said before,
the the United States will continue toengage with any Council member, with
any member state that is committed toadopting a strong and balanced resolution, but

(01:50:10):
any Council product must support direct diplomacyefforts that can save lives and advance the
prospects of a more peaceful and securefuture for the region. Even at this
difficult moment, we must keep hopealive. We must work toward a brighter
future. A future where Israelis andPalestinians have equal measures of security, freedom,

(01:50:36):
justice, opportunity, and dignity.A future where Palestinians realize their legitimate
right to self determination and a stateof their own. A future where two
democratic states Israel and Palestine live sideby side in peace. This is not

(01:50:57):
the future Hamas wants to see,but it is the future that we must
all work to advance together. Thankyou very much, mister President. I
thank the Permanent Representative of the UnitedStates for her statements, and I now
give the floor to the Permanent Representativeof Ecuador, so you're president, mister

(01:51:20):
President. To begin, I wishto thank mister Philip Lazarini and Miss Lisa
Dutton and Catherine Russell for their gravebriefings this afternoon. I wish to thank
them for all of the work ofUnwacha and Judicef in such grueling circumstances,

(01:51:43):
such as those being injured by thesebodies on the ground. The events in
Gaza are of grave concern, MisterPresident. The situation of the civilian population
is desperate. The aid that isarriving is in efficient, The future is
uncertain and menacing. Telecommunication blackouts thathave just been referred to and the beginning

(01:52:09):
of ground operations are worsening this stateof affairs. Ecuador values the efforts that
have been made to render viable theentry of vital supplies from Egypt. We
hope that we will ultimately manage toestablish a system which makes it possible to
supply the civilian population in a sufficientand continuous fashion. We recognize the right

(01:52:33):
of countries to protect their civilians wheninternational law allows. However, at the
same time, we recall the obligationfor that right to be exercised in full
compliance at all times with international lawand international humanitarian law. As we have
stated on several occasions, As Ecuadorand other members of the Council indeed have

(01:52:58):
stated on several occasion, we supportthe work of the Secretary General, that
of the United Nations System, andwe support the work of its agencies who
have the mandate to provide humanitarian aidto the population affected by this conflict.
My country has appealed vehemently for theavoidance of the spillover of this violence to
other areas in the region. Atthis moment, I wish to draw a

(01:53:21):
particular attention to the need to avoidexacerbating tensions and fueling the violence in the
West Bank and on the border betweenLebanon and Israel. I reiterate our request
to all to act with a senseof responsibility and common sense. Anything else,
and death, more pain, andmore suffering will be all that await

(01:53:45):
Mister President. As I have saidon several occasions in recent weeks, this
Council must speak out before in theface of the eruption of violence in the
area and its dire humanitarian consequences.All efface must be made to achieve this
goal. Particularly, we must achievereach agreements between those who have the power

(01:54:09):
to prevent with their will alone.The adoption of a decision which adjoins the
majority support of this Council. Itis timely to recall here that exercising greater
power brings with it greater responsibility.The Council must bear in mind that this
organization was born to defend the dignityand worth of the human person, to

(01:54:29):
ensure that reason prevailed in international relations, and to create a better world for
all. It is our obligation,mister President, to strive so that we
can always discharge that mandate. Ithank you, I think the Permanent Representative
of Ecuador, and I now givethe floor to the Permanent Representative of Switzerland's

(01:54:55):
thank you, mister President. AndI would like to thank you for for
the second time sharing an emergency meetingof the Security Council on the situation in
the Middle East this month. Iwould also like to thank the Commissioner General
of UNRUA Philippe Lazzarini, Director Lizadoubt And of OCHA, and the Executive
Director of UNICEF, Catherine Russell,for their briefings and their efforts, and

(01:55:20):
above all, all of their effortsin these particularly tragic circumstances. We offer
our very sincere condolences to the unin particular to UNRUA for the dozens of
personnel who died in the course oftheir duties. Our condolences also go to
the relatives of the thousands of Israeliand Palestinian civilians, more than a third

(01:55:45):
of them children, who have losttheir lives tragically lost their lives in recent
weeks. Since the seventh of October, Switzerland has strongly condemned the acts of
terror, indiscriminate rocket fire against theIsraeli population and hostage take perpetrated by Hamas.
In this context, Switzerland expressed itssolidarity with the Israeli people. All

(01:56:08):
hostages held in Gaza must be releasedimmediately and unconditionally. We have recognized Israel's
legitimate concern for national defense and security, recalling that the legitimate needs of security
and military necessity are taken into accountby international humanitarian law, which must be

(01:56:30):
respected by all parties to the conflict. We stress once again the binding nature
of all its rules, without exception, in particular the principles of distinction,
proportionality and precaution in the conduct ofhostilities. All violations of international law must
be investigated so that the perpetrators canbe brought to justice, as it has

(01:56:57):
done on many occasions. Switzerland reatthat the application of international humanitarian law and
human rights, in particular the protectionof civilians is and must remain a priority
for this Council. It is thereforeimperative to protect civilians and people who are
no longer taking part in hostilities.We must protect them from acts of terror

(01:57:17):
in Israel, and we must protectthem in Gaza and the West Bank,
where the increase in violence, particularlyby settlers, is worrying. We must
exert our influence on the parties tothe conflict to ensure that international humanitarian law
is respected, to halt the currentspiral of violence and prevent it from spreading

(01:57:38):
throughout the region. As we haveheard in Gaza, the entire population,
almost half of whom our children,is now under siege. Entirely Civilian infrastructure,
including unoir, schools and in particularhospitals, are protected by international humanitarian
law. They must be able toprovide security and assistance to civilians. The

(01:58:00):
population must have access in sufficient qualityand quantity to essential goods and services,
including drinking water, food, medicalcare and fuel. Switzerland has been working
very actively within this Council and thatthe General Assembly for the respect for international
humanitarian law and the introduction of measuressuch as humanitarian pauses or truces to guarantee

(01:58:25):
access to aid. Such measures,accompanied by security guarantees, are necessary to
enable the personnel of impartial humanitarian organizationsto work effectively to respond to the needs
of the population and to alleviate theworsening sanitary crisis in Gaza. This is
all the more necessary in the lightof the intensification of hostilities in recent days,

(01:58:48):
Mister President. Unified action by thisCouncil is therefore more necessary than ever
to put an end to the violencein sure respect for international law and work
towards peace. Switzerland will continue tomake every effort to seek such action by
this Council so that it assumes itsresponsibility in the face of this crisis.

(01:59:10):
Thank you. I thank the PermanentRepresentative of Switzerland for her statement, and
I now give the floor to thePermanent Representative of Gabon. Thank you,
mister President. I thank honor ourCommissioner General Philippe Lazarini, the Executive Director

(01:59:31):
Catherine Russell and OTCHA Director Lisa Doctnfor their briefings on the current situation in
Gaza. I am quite frankly shockedto the core by their briefings and accounts.
I wish to thank the United ArabEmirates and China for convening this emergency

(01:59:56):
open briefing because we cannot, asa security Council, remain unmoved in the
face of the unbearable extent of thehorror playing out before our eyes. The
intensification of Israel's air strengths, togetherwith the ground operations of forces in Gaza,

(02:00:18):
is causing the huge death toll ofthis war to tragically skyrocket. This
is a heinous war which is morallyunacceptable. The paralysis of this council is
unacceptable and inconceivable. Ten thousand people, including one thousand children, have been

(02:00:41):
killed since the heinous attacks of Hamasin Israel on the seventh of October.
It is high time for this bloodbathto cease. Gabon once again staunchly condemns
all deadly, indiscriminate violence. Wewish to say the following very clearly.

(02:01:01):
Indeed, civilian populations must be neithercurrency nor human shields, nor must they
be the target of collective punishment.All hostages must be released unconditionally, and
Israel's right to self defense must beexercised in accordance with international humanitarian law and

(02:01:28):
with the principles of proportionality, precautionand distinction. The cycle of the dehumanizing
cycle of violence against civilian populations mustimmediately stop. Within this Council, we
must move beyond the bonds of thepolitical and geopolitical bonds that bind us to

(02:01:54):
inaction. We must move beyond divisions, rivalry and sterility to call for the
immediate cessation of hostilities and for unhinderedhumanitarian access to those in need, those
civilians trapped in the devastated ruins ofGaza. We call for the compliance with
an implementation of the resolution adopted bythe General Assembly on the twenty sixth of

(02:02:16):
October twenty twenty three. We hailthe efforts to restore calm undertaken by the
countries in the region. At thesame time, we retreate the security the
Secretary General's appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire. We retraate our appeal for restraint and
encourage all states that have influenced thatthey can bring to bear on parties to

(02:02:36):
ratchet up efforts to bring parties tochoose peace and to preserve human life.
Mister President, we are all awareof the risk that the Israel Palestine conflict
poses to peace and stability in theregion as a whole and beyond. We
must avoid a conflagration which would standas a point of no return and would

(02:03:02):
leaders into chaos once and for all. To conclude, I wish to reaffirm
my country's conviction that diplomacy, dialogueand negotiation, with a central role played
by the United Nations, are andremain vital channels to achieve a lasting solution
to this deadly crisis. We reiterateour commitment to the two state solution.

(02:03:27):
Thank you. I thank the PermanentRepresentative of Gabbon for his statement, and
I now give the floor to thePermanent Representative of Malta. Thank you,
President. I thank the briefers today'sbriefers for their stark briefings, and also
thank and applaud your teams for yourimportant work on the ground. Commissioner General

(02:03:50):
Lazzarini, we convey our sincere condolencesfor the tragic loss of annual staff.
In these past weeks four years,the agency has been an important stabilizing force
in the region. In recent days, your work has been nothing short of
heroic and you can count on ourfull support. President Malta is gravely concerned

(02:04:15):
by the desperate situation in Gaza.Such military operations will undoubtedly have a devastating
impact on the more than two millioncivilians trapped in the enclave. Let us
not forget that these civilians were alreadyperilously vulnerable and living in dire conditions.
During these last days, thousands brokento unraur warehouses and distribution centers, taking

(02:04:41):
wheat, flour and other basic items. This illustrates how desperate the situation on
the ground is and is worrying.Is a worrying sign that civil orders starting
to break down. In parallel,Hamas continues rocket barrage into Israeli territory,
with some reaching Tel Aviv. Thisis completely unacceptable. We unequivocally reject and

(02:05:05):
condemn these barbaric attacks, including theseventh October attack and the taking of hostages.
These are heinous acts of terrorism.We reiterate our call on Hamas to
immediately release all hostages safely and unconditionally, and urge parties with influence to continue
negotiations to this end. Malta condemnsall violence against civilians. All parties to

(02:05:31):
the conflict are obligated to abide byinternational law, including international humanitarian and human
rights law. They must take allfeasible precautions to avoid and in any event
minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects. These including objects indispensable to the survival

(02:05:53):
of the civilian population. We areutterly devastated to note the effects of the
conflict as having on Palestinian and Israelichildren. Thousands have perished, while the
rest are suffering unthinkable psychological traumas.We underscore that the killing and maiming of
children, attacks on schools, hospitals, places of worship, and denial of

(02:06:16):
children's access to humanitarian assistance are allgrave violations. We also echo the concerns
raised regarding the children being held byhamas we reiterate our call for their immediate
release and for their special protection needsto be prioritized. President. The humanitarian

(02:06:39):
crisis in Gaza can no longer beignored. Urgent action is needed. This
is why we voted in favor ofthe General Assembly Resolution Australia are the tenth
Emergency Special Session. We welcome theprovisions of this resolution, calling foreign immediate,
durable and sustained humanitarian truths leading toa cessation of hostile This is the

(02:07:00):
minimum requirement to ensure protection of civilians. Meanwhile, we remain concerned that this
Council has been unable to act inthe face of this accelerating crisis. We
echo the Secretary General's message that thisis a moment of truth. Our immediate
priority must be to address the unfoldinghumanitarian catastrophe and to reverse current escalations.

(02:07:28):
We urge Council members to unite ingood faith and act decisively for the sake
of regional and international security. Wealso stress that it is unacceptable that humanitarian
actors working through the most life threateningand extraordinary conditions to protect gods and civilians
also must contend with communications blackouts.Connectivity is of utmost importance, not only

(02:07:55):
to the civilian population, but alsoso that responders can continue doing their critical
work. Malta reiterates the call alsomade on the European Council conclusions for the
continued rapids, safe and unhindered humanitarianaccess in Gaza, including through humanitarian corridors

(02:08:18):
and pauses. All efforts made byinternational actors in this regard are welcome.
Furthermore, we are alarmed at theprecarious developments in areas outside of Gaza.
It is critical that the international communityworks together to prevent a Spilova, which
would further increase internal tensions and destabilizethe entire region. Malta underscores that any

(02:08:41):
lasting and sustainable plan for peace inthe Middle East must be based on a
two state solution, in line withrelevant Security Council resolutions and internationally agreed parameters.
The escalation, restraints and mediation arecritical. The longer we fail to
address these imperatives, the harder itwill become to climb out of the abyss

(02:09:05):
and towards the path of peace.Thank you, I think the Permanent Representative
of Maltham for her statement, andI now give the floor to the Permanent
Representative of France, Mocheur Posidon.Mister President, I thank the Commissioner General

(02:09:31):
of ANOIR, Executive Director of UNICEFand the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs for their briefings. The terroristattacks by Hamas and other groups against Israel
on the seventh of October have triggeredan unprecedented crisis. The humanitarian situation in
Gaza is tragic, civilians are dyingevery day, including many children. The

(02:09:56):
population is going hungry, the lackof water that brings with it the risk
of epidemics, and hospitals are overwhelmed. It is urgent that unfettered humanitarian access
be guaranteed for the Gaza strip thatneeds food, water and electricity. The
number of convoys must increase significantly inorder to be commensurate with what is needed.

(02:10:18):
A humanitarian truce is needed, whichcould ultimately leave to lead to a
ceasefire. France has significantly increased itshumanitarian assistance through the chartering of a special
flight last weekend and welcomes the commitmentof the Secretary General, the work of
un agencies and the work of humanitarianactors on the ground who are working in

(02:10:39):
extremely difficult conditions. Our most sincerecondolences go to the United Nations following the
deaths of sixty three UNWA staff members. Civilians must be able to leave Gaza
without being impeded from doing so,and we have constantly requested that for our
own nationals and their families since theseventh of October. Can justify the suffering

(02:11:01):
of civilians who must be protected.All victims deserve our compassion and all lives
are valuable. Israel has the rightto defend itself and the duty to do
so in compliance with international humanitarian law, sparing the civilian population. France voted
in favor of the resolution introduced byJordan on behalf of the Arab Group,

(02:11:26):
which calls for a truce and humanitarianaccess and for the protection of civilians,
which condemns terrorist acts, and whichcalls for the immediate and unconditional release of
hostages. And I recall our condemnationin the most energetic terms of the terrorist
attacks by Hamas, which in noway represents the Palestinians, and which has

(02:11:46):
nothing but contempt for their suffering.I also reiterate our core for the hostages
to be released immediately and without condition. Following this vote in the General Assembly,
this Council must be able to fullyshow its responsibilities and achieve a just
decision based on our common principles.France will continue to work on the new

(02:12:07):
draft resolution presented by Brazil so thatit can be adopted quickly. Mister President,
the extreme severity of the situation inGaza should not lead us to forget
what is happening in the rest ofthe occupied Palestinian territory. France firmly condemns
the violence perpetrated by settlers against thePalestinian population, acts of violence which are

(02:12:30):
increasing in the West Bank. Wecall on the Israeli authorities to put a
stop to this. We must preventthis engulfing the entire region. France remains
extremely worried following a launching of ashell that land did in uniform headquarters in
the south of Lebanon on the twentyeighth of October. France is committed to
avoiding a spread of this conflict.This war has reminded us, as if

(02:12:54):
any reminder were necessary, that theworld can no longer ignore the legitimate aspirations
of the Palestinians and Israelis to livein peace and security. We all are
aware of the conditions for this,namely the necessary security guarantees for Israel and
a state for the Palestinians. Wemust all mobilize in order to restore a

(02:13:18):
political horizon. The only viable solutionis a two state solution, and France
will continue its engagement within this Councilfor it to adopt a resolution as quickly
as possible. We owe this tothe Israelis and the Palestinians. Thank you.
I thank the Permanent Representative of Francefor his statement, and I now

(02:13:39):
give the floor to the Permanent Representativeof Albanian. Thank you, mister President.
And let me thank Commissioner General Lazzarini, Executive Director Rousselle and Miss Dutton
for the information providers. We paytribute to you, your work and your
teams on the ground, and mournthe loss of all sixty UN workers fallen

(02:14:01):
in the line of duty. Thepast three weeks have been dramastic for Israelis
and Palestinians and tormenting for the MiddleEast and many elsewhere. The overall death
toll in civilian victims is frightening andunsustainable. We extend our condolences and deepest
sympathy to the families of all victims, Israelis and Palestinians alike. Mister President,

(02:14:26):
seventh of October will remain a definingmoment in the never quiet history of
the Middle East. Hamas is brutalityand terror, the worst in human behavior,
will not and must not be forgotten. In the current utterly complex situation,
there is an accumulation of competing urgenciesto response to terror and the continued

(02:14:46):
rocket launches from Gaza, deliberation ofhostages, the protection of civilians, the
provision of humanitary and help, andthe increased risk of spillover of the conflict.
Let me quickly go through each ofthem. First. In its exercise
of the right of self defense,which we recognize and support, like for

(02:15:07):
every other country under attack, Israelis determined to eradicate Hamas. It should
not be portrayed mistakenly as a licenseto punish Palestinians. It is beyond any
doubt that conducting warfare in such adensely populated area as Gaza is difficult,
challenging, very demanding, and itmust be conducted prudently, professionally and in

(02:15:28):
compliance with international mintern law. Weprofoundly regret every innocent life lost, without
distinction. While circumstances may be different, a loss is always a loss.
Therefore, there is need for maximumprecaution not to harm those who are twice
in danger, first from Hamas andtheir policies on one hand, and a

(02:15:50):
fight they have not chosen on theother. It is therefore extremely important and
urgent to do everything possible that civilianpopulations are not found in that horpless place
from where there is no escape.Second, nothing can ever justify abducting and
holding hostages innocent people, children,women and elderly, even less so using

(02:16:13):
them as Hamas is doing. Theymust be liberated, They must be brought
home. We welcome efforts from variousactors in this respect and urge them to
continue. Third, and hindered,minitarian health at scale must be urgently provided
to all those in need. Wecannot contemplate children die in the hospital because
of the lack of medicine or electricityor water, or lack of communications.

(02:16:37):
We cannot contemplate lack of food forentire families, adding to an already difficult
situation that tot will break down,or law and order because of lack of
basic commodities. The Government of Israelhas promised that soon aid with flaw in
abundance, it should happen immediately.Those who are spared from the fighting do
not need to die from hunger.Colleagues, we try to put ourselves in

(02:17:03):
Israel's shoes, feel the trauma ofterror striking with the ferocity we cannot forget.
Face with an existential question with countriesand proxies that seek openly to destroy
it. I don't think anyone hereor anywhere would feel at ease knowing that
your next door neighbor is just waitingfor the right moment to kill you.

(02:17:24):
How can this not bring back horriblememories that fear and anxiety summarized in the
Never Again Pledge. But we alsoput ourselves in the very same way in
the shoes of the Palestinians, feelingthe unexplainable pain of civilians caught in the
midst of a war that has befallenon them, a war first imposed by
Hamas and the likes, decided elsewhereby their masters, who are rubbing their

(02:17:48):
hands in the face of casualties theyhad anticipated and hoped for in a turmoil
of all dangers. We feel forPalestinians, for who, for decades,
every time they near to the horizonof their future with their state, those
against would always be quicker to disruptit and push it further away. We

(02:18:09):
feel for those thousands on both sidesof this terrible divide who have lost their
loved once, the families of thehostages, and all those torn apart by
death and grief and the insecurity oftomorrow. Wars are sometimes unavoidable because imposed,
but they are always brutal, Theybring inevitable destruction, They cause victims

(02:18:31):
and sadly often casualties among those whodon't deserve it. But even wars have
laws and they must be respected.We believe and trust that there is a
way there. There is and mustbe a way to ensure the security of
Israel and its people while ensuring thesecurity and and the perspective of all Palestinians

(02:18:52):
who do not want war colleagues.Beyond the tragedy unfolding in Israel and Gaza,
the magnitude of the human suffering isimpacting people across borders and identities,
and we notice a sharp increase inthe hate and division, including the threat
of terrorism and targeted violence. Thissharp and often confusing polarization fails to acknowledge

(02:19:15):
our common humanity and that the killingof innocent civilians, regardless of religion or
ethnic background, is wrong unacceptable.The frightening images of the bloodthirsty mob yesterday
in Dugistan hunting for Jewish people isanother appalling illustration of intolerable and appalling rays
of anti Semitism. No one shouldstay indifferent to rallies to allow relies where

(02:19:39):
people chant kill the Jews or destroyIsrael. This is why there is so
much need for wisdom, responsibility andaction on the ground and from this Council,
because otherwise confusion, hatred, tensionand violence will continue, not only
in Gaza and the West Bank,but also elsewhere in the Middle East and
beyond, dividing societies fueled by strongemotions, ideologies and beliefs, overpowering cold

(02:20:05):
minds and reason, and overshadowing forwardlooking perspectives. Last, but not least,
Mister President, the serious risk ofspillover Haspola is playing with fire and
attacks from the northern border are becomingmore and more threatening. If this continues,
it may be a matter of timebefore the irreparable point is reached.
It must be resisted since it willonly bring the region and all the countries

(02:20:28):
involved near a catastrophe. In thisrespect, we're also very concerned for the
situation in the West Bank. Wecondemned the extremist settler violence and Palestinians,
which is totally unacceptable. Such actsmust be full investigated and those responsible must
be held accountable. Mister President,In the face of so much complexity and

(02:20:48):
adversity, we think it is urgentto start thinking about the Gaza of tomorrow,
the Gaza without Hamas, without extremists. There is need to offer Palestinian
civilians in Gaza a perspective, anew organization of life under a new administration.
Hamas has let them down, Hamashas brought war to them. Hamas
did not bring them prosperity because itinvested in tunnels and rockets, in hatred

(02:21:13):
and death. We need to startthinking how the fabric of the society can
be repaired so that the children knowthat what shalom means instead of being raised
with and repeating death to the Jews. If not, the Hamas of today
will only be replaced by the hamasovtomorrow, maybe with another name, but
with the same hatred, the sameideology, the same goals, embroiled in

(02:21:33):
a never ending cycle of hurting theother, acting falsely in the name of
God they disrespect, and acting falselyin the name of a future they simply
oppose. This is why there isa need to revive the political process as
soon as possible, because in itsabsence there will only be unhappiness, poverty,
discrimination, hatred, tension, neverending violence, victims and is and

(02:21:58):
as it has happened many times,exploitation by terrorists, extremists and their supporters.
And let's not fool ourselves. Thenext war will be only deadlier,
but it is preventable if we allwork together with conviction and in good faith
for peace, for last in peace. And I thank you. I thank
the Permanent Representative of Albania and forhis statement. And I now give the

(02:22:24):
flor to the Permanent Representative of Mozambique. Thank you, mister President. The

(02:23:09):
show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact us at depictions dot media
for more information

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Why Can't The UN Security Come To A Common Answer In The Middle East

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

All Episodes

Why Can't The UN Security Come To A Common Answer In The Middle East

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist