YouSaid · the spoken record

Wennesland

lines on the record: 576
first: 2021-05-27
most recent: 2023-12-19
sittings or episodes: 31
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in ending the occupation and resolving the conflict, in line with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements, in pursuit of the two-State solution — Israel and an independent, democratic, viable and sovereign Palestinian State, of which Gaza is an integral part, living side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“I reiterate that Israeli settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law and call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately. This war has once again served as a devastating and tragic reminder that there is no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict. It is critical at this important junction to enable the parties to re-engage on the long- delayed political path to the two-State solution. I urge Israelis, Palestinians, the States of the region and the broader international community to work together towards that goal. United Nations efforts to support that objective have already begun through active consultations in the region. Our work must continue.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“I am alarmed by the lethal attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians and by Palestinians against Israelis in the occupied West Bank and Israel. All perpetrators of violence must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. I am appalled by the numerous instances of officials glorifying violence, encouraging the killing of civilians. Such rhetoric is abhorrent and must be clearly rejected by leaders on all sides. Leaders have an obligation to clearly and explicitly condemn acts of terror and violence carried out directly against civilians. I remain deeply troubled by the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is impeding the access of Palestinians to their land and resources and threatening the viability of a future independent Palestinian State.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“I mourn the loss of every civilian, including 131 United Nations colleagues — the single-largest loss of life in the history of the Organization. I remain gravely concerned about the impact of the ongoing hostilities on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The current conditions are making it impossible for meaningful humanitarian operations to be conducted. I am also deeply concerned about escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Intensified armed exchanges between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, predominantly in the context of Israeli operations, have led to exceedingly high numbers of fatalities and arrests. I reiterate that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Accounts of the attacks reveal acts of brutality that are impossible to accept and comprehend. I am appalled by the report of sexual violence during the attacks. That must be vigorously investigated and prosecuted. The indiscriminate firing of rockets towards the Israeli population centre, which continues to this day, is a violation of international humanitarian law and must cease completely. I welcome the release of 110 Israeli and foreign hostages and reiterate that all remaining hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released, in line with resolution 2712 (2023). The magnitude of hostilities between Israel and Hamas and the scope of death and destruction in Gaza have been unprecedented and unbearable to witness. I unequivocally condemn the killing of civilians in Gaza, including women and children.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Four major shipping companies have reportedly directed their vessels not to transit through the Red Sea, while Israel’s Eilat port has reported an 80 per cent drop in revenue since the attacks began. I will now turn to several observations regarding the implementation of provisional resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period. The violence that has taken place since 7 October in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in and around Gaza, has shaken the region and, most tragically, the lives of millions of Palestinians and Israelis. I strongly condemn the abhorrent armed attacks by Hamas and others in Israel. Nothing can justify the acts of terror that were committed and the deliberate killing, maiming and abduction of civilians and other protected persons.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line have continued, with the risk of miscalculation and escalation posing a grave threat to regional stability. It is imperative that Lebanon not be dragged into a regional conflagration and that the parties return to the cessation of hostilities, under the framework of resolution 1701 (2006). Meanwhile, in the Red Sea, the Houthis in Yemen have targeted numerous vessels by boarding parties, as well as by armed drones and missiles. Strikes have damaged a number of ships, with others interdicted by United States and other naval forces in the area, raising concerns about the safety of shipping through that vital trade artery.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Over 12 to 14 and 16 to 17 December, two large-scale Israeli operations took place in Jenin refugee camp and Tulkarem, respectively. The operations included exchanges of fire with armed Palestinians, Israeli drone strikes and search operations. In Tulkarem there was extensive infrastructure damage from IDF bulldozers. Seventeen Palestinians were killed, and dozens were arrested. The Palestinian Authority’s fiscal situation continued to be extremely precarious amid broader economic concerns across the West Bank. Some 150,000 Palestinian workers have been unable to reach their jobs since Israel imposed strict entry restrictions following the 7 October attacks. I remain concerned about the wider impact of the war in Gaza and the risk of escalation in the region.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“In our focus on Gaza, let us not forget that our attention during the first nine months of the year was on a West Bank in crisis, with mounting pressures from settlement activity — which I note more than doubled, to a reach a new annual record since 2017 — settler violence, increased Palestinian armed attacks, Israeli security forces operations, a rapidly deteriorating fiscal and economic situation, and a Palestinian Authority struggling to face these challenges. Most of those trends have continued and intensified. On 8 December, Israeli forces killed six Palestinians, including a 14-year-old child and a local commander in the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, during an operation in Al Far’a refugee camp, which led to exchanges of fire with armed Palestinians.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Amid displacement of an unimaginable scale and active hostilities, the humanitarian response system is on the brink. Limited steps by Israel, including allowing entry of more fuel, food and cooking gas, and opening the Kerem Shalom/Karm Abu Salem crossing for the entry of humanitarian supplies are positive, but fall far short of what is needed to address the human catastrophe on the ground. The northern part of the Gaza Strip remains mostly inaccessible to humanitarian actors owing to insecurity, as well as access restrictions imposed by Israel.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“More than 1,000 fatalities — overwhelmingly Palestinian — have taken place. The toll on civilians, including women and children, remains unbearable. With more than 100 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas, the Israeli army announced it had retrieved the bodies of three hostages, two from a tunnel in the Jabaliya refugee camp and one woman. On 15 December, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Israeli soldiers had mistakenly shot and killed three hostages in Shujaiya. Hamas and other militant factions have also continued to indiscriminately fire rockets at areas in southern and central Israel, including a barrage aimed at Jerusalem on 15 December. The delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip continues to face nearly insurmountable challenges.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: I am devoting my regular briefing on the situation in the Middle East to the twenty-eighth report on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2334 (2016). The Secretary-General’s written report covers the period from 19 September to 7 December 2023. As the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages on, 2023 ends as one of the deadliest in the history of this conflict, with the situation deteriorating on nearly all fronts. Since the end of the written reporting period, hostilities have continued inside Gaza as Israeli forces advanced further into Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip and intensified operations in reported Hamas strongholds in the north, in Jabaliya refugee camp and Shujaiya neighbourhood, as well as at the Kamal Adwan Hospital. Intensive Israeli airstrikes continued across the Strip.”
2023-12-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9513 (2023) · source
“The only viable path is one that leads to the end of the occupation and the realization of a two- State solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, previous agreements and international law. Our past efforts have certainly not been enough. A message that resonates in particular today, as we mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, is that there must be a new and different approach. Otherwise, we are doomed to return to the path of managing a conflict that clearly cannot be managed.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“Without an effective political and security framework for when the fighting ceases, it will be impossible to sustainably end the violence and shape a new reality. Over the coming weeks and months, the international community must increase its engagement with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and regional partners on constructive and practical political solutions. While much is unknown about how the war will end, some absolutes are clear. Acts of terror like those Hamas and others committed against Israel on 7 October must never be allowed to happen again, and Palestinians in Gaza must never, ever again experience the horrors they are now enduring. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State, with both Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“Approximately 100,000 Israelis remain displaced from communities in the north, and some 50,000 Lebanese are displaced from southern areas near the Blue Line. On the Golan, firing from the Syrian Arab Republic towards the Israeli-occupied Golan and strikes by Israel against targets in the Syrian Arab Republic took place. From further afield, missiles and drones were also reportedly launched from Yemen towards Israel. Most were intercepted. However, drone strikes claimed by the Houthis hit a school in Eilat on 9 November. A ship affiliated with an Israeli businessman was seized by Houthi forces in the Red Sea on 19 November. The dizzying pace of events and staggering needs on the ground make it difficult to see beyond the most immediate challenges. Nevertheless, we must begin work on what comes next.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“The 2 November decision by the Israeli Security Cabinet to deduct “all funds designated for the Gaza Strip” from the clearance revenues Israel transfers to the Palestinian Authority further weakened revenues, affecting many critical services and the payment of public sector salaries, including to the security forces. The situation is boiling and getting worse rapidly. In the months before the war, I warned regularly in the Council that more must be done to help to stabilize the situation in the West Bank — that is more the case now than ever before. I will now say a few words on regional dynamics and my continued concern about the risk of further escalation. Turning to Israel’s north, while tensions along the Blue Line have calmed in recent days, the situation remains volatile, as it was during the reporting period.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“In all, 154 Palestinians, including 37 children, have been killed during the reporting period in the West Bank — nearly all of them in the context of Israeli operations, many involving armed exchanges with Palestinians. Two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers. Three Israelis, including two security forces personnel, were killed by Palestinian attacks. Amid the surging violence and extensive Israeli restrictions of movement, the Palestinian Authority’s long-standing fiscal crisis has worsened significantly, as economic activity in the West Bank has ground to a halt and the economy of Gaza has collapsed.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“While the world’s attention has been rightly focused on the devastating violence and outbreak of hostilities since 7 October, we are also witnessing heightened tensions, intensive violence and widespread restrictions of movement across the occupied West Bank. The period has been marked by some of the most intensive Israeli operations in the West Bank since the second intifada, involving the use of improvised explosive devices by armed Palestinians and drone strikes by Israeli security forces. Tulkarem and Jenin have seen the largest-scale Israeli operations, including inside the refugee camps. Settler violence has also continued at high levels, driving mounting tensions and increased violence, as well as Palestinian displacement.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: Following the Secretary- General’s statement, I will focus my briefing on dynamics in the occupied West Bank and the region, and on where we go from here in the context of the unfolding conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Before doing so, I wish to join the Secretary- General in acknowledging the efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States of America in facilitating an agreement that has secured the release of 60 Israeli hostages from Gaza thus far, resulted in a six-day pause in fighting, which has allowed the United Nations to scale up humanitarian aid, and led to the release of 180 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli custody. Such respite from the weeks of horror is long overdue.”
2023-11-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9489 (2023) · source
“The unresolved conflict and continued occupation shape the reality of every Israeli and every Palestinian. For 15 years the Palestinian population has been living under militant rule and a strict closure regime, as the Palestinian divide hardened. For a generation, hope has been lost and despair has prevailed for those who see prospects for a more peaceful future pulling still further away. Only a political solution can move us forward. The steps we take to address the crisis must be implemented in a way that ultimately advances a negotiated peace and fulfils the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis, the long- held vision of two States, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“It is critical that we, as a united international community, employ all our collective efforts to end the bloodletting and prevent any further expansion of hostilities, including in the region. The stakes are astronomically high, and I appeal to all relevant actors to act responsibly. Any miscalculation could have immeasurable consequences. In that regard, I welcome Egypt’s convening on 21 October of the Cairo peace summit and the efforts of States in the region and beyond to address the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before us and pave the way for unlocking a real and serious peace process. These devastating events are not divorced from the broader context in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel and the region, where the dynamics are deeply intertwined.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Syrian State media reported Israeli air attacks on 12 and 22 October that targeted the international airports in Damascus and Aleppo, and again targeting the Aleppo airport on 14 October. The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force continues to engage with both parties, urging them to exercise maximum restraint and respect their obligations under the 1974 Agreement on the Disengagement of Forces. The Secretary-General has been very clear in expressing the condemnation by the United Nations of the horrific attacks by Hamas and others on 7 October and deep alarm at the scale of Israeli air strikes and the scope of civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza. In the past week the Secretary-General and I have been pursuing any and every opportunity to address the situation on the ground and prevent further civilian death and misery.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Meanwhile, across the Blue Line, and amid heightened rhetoric from actors on the ground, there have been intermittent but intense exchanges of fire every day since 8 October. Hizbullah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have launched rockets and anti-tank missiles towards Israel, while the IDF has responded with artillery fire and air strikes, leading to casualties on both sides. On 13 and 20 October, two journalists were killed. Palestinian militants from Lebanon have also made several infiltration attempts, the most significant of them on 9 October. More than 80,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes and some 20,000 Lebanese have been displaced. In the Golan, the Israel Defense Forces responded on 10 October with artillery and mortar shells to what they said were a number of launches from Syria towards Israel.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, already at worrisome levels, has increased since the outbreak of the war. The Israeli authorities have imposed widespread movement restrictions and conducted extensive arrests. Large numbers of daily clashes and armed exchanges between Palestinians and Israeli security forces and settlers have been recorded, as well as settler-related violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Since 7 October, 93 Palestinians, including 27 children, have been killed by the Israeli security forces or settlers, and one member of Israeli security personnel was killed in an armed exchange. Large demonstrations in solidarity with the population of Gaza have taken place in cities across the West Bank, with some leading to confrontations with Palestinian security forces.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Compounding the destruction from air strikes, the humanitarian impact has been immense. In that regard, I welcome Egypt’s facilitation in opening the Rafah border crossing on 21 October and reiterate that humanitarian assistance needs to flow safely and uninterruptedly into the Strip. I echo the Secretary- General’s appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Lynn Hastings, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, will report in full on the humanitarian situation, on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths. The risks of a significant further deterioration of the situation in the occupied West Bank or spillover of the conflict in the region remains significant.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“So far, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported more than 5,000 Palestinians killed, including 1,100 women and 2,000 children, as well as journalists, medical workers and first responders, with more than 15,000 injured. Authorities estimate that hundreds more lie dead or injured under the rubble, as rescue efforts languish amid continued air strikes. More than 1 million Palestinians have been displaced. The level of physical destruction has left entire neighbourhoods in rubble and critical infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged. Schools, including those run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and hospitals — many sheltering displaced Palestinians — have been hit. The displacement levels are unprecedented.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“On the day of the attack, Israel’s Security Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time in more than 50 years, with the aim of “the destruction of the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad”. That same day, Israeli forces began a massive bombardment of what they said were Hamas sites throughout Gaza. Israel’s air assault on the Strip is still ongoing, with some 5,000 such sites targeted, according to the IDF. On 8 October, Israel’s Minister of Defence announced a complete siege of Gaza, blocking the entry of all goods, including electricity, water, food, fuel and medical equipment. The air strikes have been devastating and have resulted in a staggering number of Palestinian fatalities, a huge percentage of whom are civilians.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“I welcome the release of four hostages and recognize the important role of Qatar in that regard. To the families of the hostages, some of whom are with us today, the fear and uncertainty they have had to endure is unimaginable. As the Secretary-General and I have said repeatedly, their loved ones must be returned to them immediately and unconditionally. Heavy fighting between Israeli forces and militants inside Israeli communities continued until 10 October, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they had regained control of the perimeter fence. More than 120,000 Israelis were displaced from the area. Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza have continued to launch indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, reaching as far north as Haifa. To date, according to Israeli sources, some 7,700 rockets have been launched.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“The testimony and evidence emerging from that tragic day reveal a sickening killing spree, designed to terrorize, with appalling scenes of brutality, massacres and hostage-taking, including of infants and young children. In all, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups killed more than 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals — the bloodiest attack in Israel’s history. That includes more than 1,000 civilians, many of them women and children, and more than 360 security-force personnel. More than 5,400 Israelis were injured. At least 220 civilians, including women and children, as well as soldiers, were abducted and taken into Gaza Strip as hostages. While this has not been confirmed, Hamas has said that 22 hostages were killed by Israeli strikes.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“As I told the Council last week (see S/PV.9443), and the Secretary-General has just expressed, the events we are witnessing are unprecedented. They risk expanding to the wider region and may have a profound long-term impact on the dynamics of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. On the morning of 7 October, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched a large-scale, complex assault on Israel. The unprecedented attack saw an estimated 1,500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants from Gaza infiltrate some 20 Israeli communities and military facilities in the Gaza periphery by land, sea and air, while thousands of rockets were launched towards central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: I thank the members of the Security Council for attention sustained attention to the grave developments unfolding in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in and around Gaza. In the light of the horrific violence of the past weeks, allow me to begin by expressing my most sincere condolences to the thousands of families — in Israel, Palestine and across the globe — who are in mourning, in shock and in profound pain. That includes the families of 35 United Nations staff killed in Gaza. The abhorrent attack launched by Hamas on 7 October and Israel’s devastating, ongoing military operation in Gaza have taken a staggering toll on civilians and deeply shaken Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
2023-10-24 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9451 (2023) · source
“Ultimately, the only way to bring an end to the bloodletting, prevent any recurrence and pave a way forward is a long-term political solution, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements. As I have stated many times in the Council, a patchwork of ad hoc and temporary fixes and the perpetual management of the conflict without addressing the underlying issues is not sustainable. That has been proven over the past 11 days. What we are seeing on the ground now all too tragically proves that to be true. What we must do now is to work together as one to achieve those objectives.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“We need to start working immediately on the day after. We know the way forward. I can say that these days, diplomacy is very hard. But here is what we need to do. We need the time and space to achieve two urgent objectives: first, Hamas’ immediate, unconditional release of all the hostages; and secondly — and quickly — unrestricted access of humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Thirdly, we need collective efforts to end the hostilities and prevent any further expansion of the conflict into the region. Regarding the West Bank and Lebanon, there should be no miscalculation, no provocation and no step that closes the door on our current efforts. The next step must be down the path towards a political solution.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“In that regard, I welcome President Al Sisi’s swift call for a summit of world leaders to continue those discussions. I also had similar discussions with leaders in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as repeated phone calls with the five permanent members of the Council and other key regional and international partners who are seized of and actively engaged in addressing this conflict. We are all seeking a common understanding and approach at this critical time. I welcome the visits of world leaders, including Chancellor Scholz of Germany and Foreign Secretary Cleverly of the United Kingdom, as well as today’s visit by President Joe Biden. To the parties on the ground in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramallah, my message has remained steadfast: we must not let the dynamic of the current conflict take our eyes off of what I would call “the day after”.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“Together with the Secretary-General, I have been in constant communication with a broad range of interlocutors, with the parties and with regional and international actors who have agency and influence. I will continue to do so. Today I speak to the Council from Doha, where the authorities have assured me of their continued commitment to the Palestinian people and their humanitarian needs and the urgency to prevent any further loss of civilian lives. Meetings and ongoing discussions with leaders in Egypt have focused not only on the question of facilitating access of humanitarian assistance through the Rafah crossing, but also our shared concerns and efforts to rein in further regional hostilities. I will return to Cairo tomorrow to join the Secretary-General to continue those political discussions.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“After more than a century of conflict and more than half a century of occupation, we, the international community, have failed, collectively, to bring the parties to a just, sustained political resolution. The long-standing fissures run deep and extend well beyond the confines of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. The events of the past 11 days have served to reignite grievances and reanimate alliances across the region. Based on my meetings and the dynamics I am observing on the ground, I would say the following: the risk of an expansion of this conflict is real — very real — and extremely dangerous. Since the outbreak of the current hostilities, it has been my absolute priority to work to diminish these existential threats.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“Last night, I watched in horror and in real time, as I am sure we all did, as reports of mass casualties emerged from what should be a protected site, shielded from danger — a place of healing. Hundreds of Palestinians were killed — patients and those seeking shelter — when the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was struck by lethal fire. The circumstances of that catastrophe and the responsibility for it still need to be clarified, and we will need a fact-based, full and broad investigation. But the result of all of this is very clear: it is a terrible tragedy for those who were involved. I fear that we are at the brink of a deep and dangerous abyss that could change the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if not the trajectory of the Middle East as a whole.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“The massacre and despicable acts of violence and terror perpetrated by Hamas against Israelis on 7 October are seared into our collective memory. Entire families were killed. Women and children were abducted to the Gaza Strip, where they are being held to this day. There is no justification or excuse for such acts of terror, and I condemn them unequivocally. We are facing a devastating and clearly difficult challenge for the region and for the international community. It comes at a moment when the global institutions we need to respond to such an active crisis are already overstretched. We are in a war, and wars are filled with horrific scenes of violence and tragedy.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: The Secretary-General and I have briefed the Security Council extensively in private over the past days on the details of the horrific and unprecedented events that have been unfolding, relaying our utter condemnation, shock and regret. I will not repeat my briefings here today, noting that I will report on the situation next week during my regular monthly briefing. My colleague, Mr. Martin Griffiths, will brief the Council on the humanitarian situation. Today I want to update Council members on where we are and on my efforts over the past several days to find a way to bring to an end the hostilities and spare the lives of civilians. I have to be very honest here now and say that this is one of the most difficult moments facing the Israeli and Palestinian people in the past 75 years.”
2023-10-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9443 (2023) · source
“I remain committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, the relevant United Nations resolutions and bilateral agreements, in pursuit of the vision of two States — Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian State — living side by side in peace and security, within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both States.””
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“I note the Israeli Security Cabinet’s decision to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and encourage Israel and relevant stakeholders to take tangible steps in that regard, while also encouraging the PA to undertake reforms; “I also urge Member States to enable UNRWA to deliver on its General Assembly mandate to ensure the delivery of essential services that are crucial to stability throughout the region. I also encourage additional support to the World Food Programme so that it can continue delivering vital assistance to the most vulnerable Palestinian families. I welcome the additional pledges made to UNRWA during the ministerial meeting on 21 September; “There can be no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“However, only sustainable political solutions, with the ultimate goal of lifting the debilitating Israeli closures in line with resolution 1860 (2009), will restore hope to Gaza’s long-suffering population; “I am disturbed by the multiple instances in which officials have used dangerous or racist rhetoric and engaged in incitement, which must be rejected by all. I welcome President Abbas’ convening of Palestinian factions in Egypt and encourage all actors to take concrete steps towards reuniting Gaza and the occupied West Bank under a single, democratic Government; “The absence of intra-Palestinian unity continues to undermine Palestinian national aspirations. I remain concerned about the critical state of the Palestinian Authority’s finances, which is affecting the Government’s ability to deliver services and pay public-sector salaries.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“I call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law, including with regard to the proportional use of force, and ensure thorough, independent and prompt investigations into all instances of possible excessive use of force, while holding those responsible to account; “In Gaza, the resurgence of violence near the perimeter fence is a reminder of the fragility of the situation and the risk of escalation. Despite some easing of access restrictions, more needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian situation and improve the economy and the freedom of movement.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“Israel must act to stop all settler violence. I urge Israel, as the occupying Power, to abide by its obligations under international law to protect the Palestinian population against all acts or threats of violence; “I am appalled that children continue to be victims of violence. Children must never be the target of violence, used or put in harm’s way; “Security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“I call upon the Government of Israel to end that practice, in line with its international obligations, and to allow Palestinian communities to build and address their development needs; “I remain gravely concerned by the intensification of violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel — at a level not seen in decades — and the use of increasingly lethal weaponry, including in densely populated areas. Immediate steps are needed to de-escalate tensions; “I condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror. Such acts can never be justified and must be condemned by all. Perpetrators must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. I am disturbed by the high levels of settler-related violence, often in the proximity of Israeli security forces, with perpetrators rarely held accountable.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“I reiterate that settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. I call on the Government of Israel to cease all settlement activity and dismantle outposts immediately, in line with its obligations under international law; “The demolition and seizure of Palestinian structures, including internationally funded humanitarian projects, entail numerous human rights violations and raise concerns about the risk of forcible transfer.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“On 18 September, Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States and the European Union, in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, convened a ministerial meeting to discuss practical ways to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process. In conclusion, allow me to share the Secretary- General’s observations on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016). “I remain deeply troubled by the unrelenting expansion of Israeli settlements and settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with over 10,000 housing units advanced in this reporting period alone. Settlements further entrench the occupation, fuel violence, impede Palestinian access to their land and resources and systematically erode the viability of a Palestinian State as part of a two-State solution.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“foreign policy.” Resolution 2334 (2016) also calls upon all parties to continue, inter alia, to exert collective efforts to launch credible negotiations. On 12 August, Saudi Arabia appointed an Ambassador to the State of Palestine and a Consul General in Jerusalem for the first time since 1947. On 14 August, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Abbas met in Egypt. Their joint statement noted the importance of Israel halting all settlement activity, the confiscation of Palestinian land and the eviction of Palestinians from their homes, while underscoring that a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause is the key to stability in the region.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“In addition, at the moment, the humanitarian appeal for Palestinians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory is funded at only 33 per cent. In resolution 2334 (2016), the Security Council also calls upon all States to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967. On 26 June, the United States Department of State confirmed that it had circulated foreign policy guidance to relevant agencies advising that “engaging in bilateral scientific and technological cooperation with Israel in geographic areas which came under the administration of Israel after June 5, 1967, and which remain subject to final-status negotiations, is inconsistent with U.S.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source
“On 17 September, the Erez crossing was closed for exits due to Jewish holidays, and it has remained closed due to the violence near the security fence, with some exceptions including the transfer of patients for medical treatment. Over 22,000 work and business permit holders have been denied exit since the closure. Meanwhile, funding shortages continue to undermine the United Nations ability to provide crucial services to Palestinians. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) urgently still needs $75 million to maintain food assistance through the end of the year to 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza, while the World Food Programme requires $32 million to restore social assistance to priority families across the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2023-09-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9425 (2023) · source