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 fragility of the political and security situation, particularly in the occupied West Bank, is highly concerning. The persistence of conflict drivers and the absence of political will to change course have empowered extremists and are eroding the perception among Palestinians and Israelis alike that a resolution of the conflict is achievable. In Gaza, the situation remains fragile, and the risk of escalation persists. Efforts by the United Nations and international partners to improve Palestinian lives and measures by Israel to ease restrictions and facilitate more economic activity, including increasing access to the Israeli labour market for workers from Gaza, have enabled the fragile ceasefire to continue. Keeping the calm, however, is neither sufficient nor sustainable.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“I am appalled by the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and disturbed by the behaviour of some members of the Israeli security services in the context of her funeral. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for an independent and transparent investigation into her killing and the need to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Journalists must never be the targets of violence. I reiterate that the indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centres is prohibited by international humanitarian law and must stop immediately. I also remain concerned by the multiple instances in which officials have used dangerous and hateful rhetoric that has raised tensions and sparked violence during the reporting period.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“Those attacks, the deadliest in years, can never be justified and must be clearly condemned by all. I also condemn the killings of Palestinians, including children, by the Israeli security forces, related in particular to incidents where they did not appear to present an imminent threat to life. I note that to date in 2022 15 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank as compared with nine children killed there during the same period last year. Children must not be the targets of violence or put in harm’s way. I reiterate that the security forces must exercise maximum restraint and intentionally use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“I call upon the Government of Israel to end the demolition and seizure of Palestinian-owned property, prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law, and approve plans that would enable Palestinians in Area C and occupied East Jerusalem to build legally and address their development needs. I remain gravely concerned by the continuing violence against civilians, which exacerbates mistrust and undermines a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The violence must stop, and all perpetrators must be held accountable. I condemn the terrorist attacks carried out by Palestinians and Arab Israelis against civilians in Israel in recent months.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“They undermine the prospect of achieving a two-State solution by systematically eroding the possibility of establishing a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State. I call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately. The continued demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures, including internationally funded humanitarian projects, is also disturbing. In particular, I am deeply concerned by the potential implications of the Israeli High Court’s ruling on Masafer Yatta and the humanitarian toll on the communities in question if eviction orders are enforced.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“Turning to Gaza, on 18 June a rocket was fired by Palestinian militants in the Strip towards the Israeli city of Ashkelon. The rocket was intercepted by the Iron Dome system, causing no injuries or damage. In retaliation, the Israel Defense Forces struck Hamas targets in the Strip, including several observation posts near the Gaza perimeter, with no injuries reported. I will now turn to several observations concerning the implementation of the provisions of resolution 2334 (2016) during the reporting period. Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remains deeply troubling. Settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“On 21 June, an Israeli settler killed a Palestinian man, stabbing him during a scuffle that broke out when Israeli settlers set up tents on Palestinian-owned property near the village of Iskaka, in Salfit. Israeli police arrested a suspect. On 24 June, the Israeli security forces shot a 16-year-old Palestinian near Silwad village, near Ramallah, who later succumbed to his wounds. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said that he was shot during an arrest operation among a group of young people throwing stones at vehicles. On 25 June, Israeli settlers from Adei Ad outpost assaulted and injured two Palestinian farmers, one critically, and set fire to three Palestinian vehicles near Al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“On 17 June, Israeli security forces shot and killed three Palestinians and injured six others in the context of an Israeli military operation and subsequent armed clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in Jenin. In a statement, Israeli security forces said soldiers had returned fire towards a vehicle after armed men inside it had shot at them. The men were later claimed as members of Palestinian militant groups. On 19 June, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man near the separation barrier in the West Bank city of Qalqilya. A spokesperson of the Israeli security forces said that the soldiers had shot at “a suspect who vandalized” the barrier. The man was reportedly trying to reach a worksite in Israel.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“It is crucial that all parties take immediate steps to lower tensions and reverse negative trends that undermine the prospects for a peaceful two- State resolution of the conflict, with a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State. That will require not only specific actions to defuse crises and maintain calm, but also redoubled efforts to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and support a broader strategy that can ensure that collective efforts by the parties and the international community are geared towards establishing a two-State reality. In the period since 16 June, violent incidents have unfortunately continued throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“Since mid-March, 49 Palestinians have been killed in demonstrations, clashes, Israeli security operations, including in Area A, attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis and in settler-related violence. The reporting period was also marked by the most serious terrorist attacks inside Israel in years, in which 11 Israelis and three foreign nationals were killed. The firing of a rocket from Gaza towards Israel — the first since April — is also a concerning reminder of the fragility of the situation in the Gaza Strip. The mounting violence has been further fuelled and exacerbated by provocative steps and inflammatory rhetoric.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: The Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 2334 (2016), which Council members have already received, covers the period between 19 March and 16 June. I will devote my briefing today to developments since the end of the reporting period and highlight some key observations from the report. Before turning to the most recent developments, I would like to express my alarm over the level of violence that we have witnessed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel over the past months. In recent months, violence has continued at a high level, leading to scores of Palestinian and Israeli casualties.”
2022-06-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9077 (2022) · source
“I remain actively engaged with Israelis, Palestinians, the States of the region and the broader international community and urge them to take action that will lead us back to the path of negotiations that will end the occupation and establish two States, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Positive Israeli economic measures with regard to the Palestinians are regularly undermined by parallel negative steps, such as settlement advancement, demolitions and continued violence. At the same time, the dire fiscal and financial forecast facing the Palestinian Authority looms, amid a lack of prospects for real institutional reform. We must push beyond the paradigm of managing the conflict and move towards resolving it. There are tangible, ongoing arrangements that can be regularized and expanded immediately if there is political will.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“However, trends in the West Bank have deteriorated. As Jerusalem Day, on 29 May, approaches, with the planned provocative flag march through the Muslim quarter in the Old City, I again urge authorities to take wise decisions to minimize confrontation and the risk of more violence and escalation. I reiterate that the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites must be upheld and respected. More broadly, I am extremely concerned that the current dynamics, particularly in the occupied West Bank, could spiral out of control at any time. I encourage leaders on both sides to make difficult, but critical, decisions that will take us back from the brink and help stabilize the situation. Irresponsible and provocative language and incitements to violence must stop.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Local and international observers expressed some concern over incidents of vote buying and electoral violence. The United Nations looks forward to the swift formation of a new Government to implement Lebanon’s urgent recovery and reform agenda. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon convened a tripartite meeting on 19 May with representatives of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the IDF. Major General Lázaro called on the parties to look forward to practical arrangements, including to mark points along the Blue Line as previously agreed. In my previous briefing to the Council (see S/PV.9021), I raised concerns about the potential for violence during Ramadan but made clear that a serious escalation was avoidable. Thanks to efforts by all parties, a major outbreak of violence was, in fact, avoided.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“The decision followed the firing of several rockets from Gaza towards Israel in April, as well as incitement by senior Hamas leaders calling on Palestinians to carry out attacks against Israelis. Turning to the Golan, the ceasefire between Israel and Syria continues to be generally maintained in a volatile environment, with continued violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement by the parties. That includes the 11 May firing by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) across the ceasefire line and the continued presence of Syrian armed forces in the area of separation. The parties must respect their obligations under the Agreement and prevent an escalation of the situation. In Lebanon, parliamentary elections were held on 15 May.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Plans are in place to support the revitalization of Gaza’s fishery sector, including facilitating the entry of dual-use items under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. The success of that initiative could pave the way for a further easing of restrictions, including in the agriculture, industry and health sectors. To improve oncology services in Gaza and reduce the debt burden on the PA from medical referrals, the United Nations is leading preparations for a five-year operational plan for oncology, which will include prevention, treatment and palliative care. Between 3 and 14 May, the Israeli authorities closed the Erez pedestrian crossing between Gaza and Israel except for humanitarian cases.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“I call on the Israeli authorities to end the displacement and eviction of Palestinians in line with Israeli obligations under international humanitarian law, and to approve plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs. On 10 May, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee for the Coordination of the International Assistance to Palestinians met in Brussels, with a focus on key economic files, including PA fiscal reform, enhancing PA revenues and improved trade and water and energy supplies. Turning to Gaza, the United Nations continues to deliver vital humanitarian and development assistance, as well as to make efforts towards further easing restrictions on the movement of people and goods into and out of the Gaza Strip.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“On 4 May, the Israeli High Court of Justice decided to allow the implementation of eviction orders issued to 1,200 Palestinian residents, including 500 children, in Masafer Yatta, in the southern part of the West Bank. In its ruling, the Court said that permanent structures in that area did not exist when it was declared a firing zone by the Israeli military in the 1980s, almost 40 years ago. The Palestinian residents dispute that claim. I am deeply concerned by the potential implications of the High Court’s ruling and the humanitarian toll on the communities in question if eviction orders are carried out.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Despite a notable reduction during Ramadan, the Israeli authorities demolished, seized and forced owners to demolish 40 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and 12 in occupied East Jerusalem, as well as two structures in Area A, displacing 98 Palestinians, including 50 children. The demolitions were carried out citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain. On 25 April, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court accepted the appeal of a Palestinian family against its pending eviction in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, ordering the case to be reconsidered by the Israeli authorities, while an eviction freeze remains in place.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“On 28 April, Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a petition against the construction of 31 settlement housing units in an apartment complex in Hebron. If built, those units would be the first new settlement construction in the city in nearly 20 years. On 15 May, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected four petitions against a highly controversial plan to construct a cable car between West Jerusalem and the Old City, continuing worrying trends in and around Jerusalem. I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace. I urge the Israeli authorities to cease the advancement of all settlement activities and refrain from actions that fuel instability and undermine the prospects for the establishment of a viable and contiguous Palestinian State.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“The judge stated that his ruling did not “determine anything regarding freedom of worship” at the holy sites. Following an appeal by Israeli police, the Jerusalem District Court overturned the decision on 25 May. In her decision, the judge noted that the right to freedom of worship “is not absolute, and should be superseded by other interests, among them the safeguarding of public order”. In another worrying development, on 12 May, for the first time in some seven months, the Israeli authorities advanced plans for more than 4,000 housing units in settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank, approximately one third in outlying locations. Those include the retroactive approval of two outposts, illegal also under international law.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“In the town of Hares, west of Salfit, a young Palestinian was injured by live ammunition, reportedly by one of the settlers, while two others were shot by Israeli security forces with rubber-coated metal bullets. I reiterate that the perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. There is no justification for acts of terrorism and violence against civilians. Such acts must clearly be condemned by all. I also reiterate that security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. On 22 May, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court cancelled an order by Israeli police temporarily banning from the holy sites three Jewish Israelis who performed prayers there.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“On 24 May, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian and injured more than 20 others in Nablus during clashes near Joseph’s Tomb. Israeli security forces said that they fired at the Palestinian, who had thrown a Molotov cocktail at them and Jewish worshippers at the site. Settler violence continued during the reporting period. On 26 April, Israeli settlers erected a tent on private Palestinian land near the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. When asked to leave, the settlers attacked and injured four Palestinians, including a 68-year-old, with multiple fractures. During the reporting period, in eight separate incidents, Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli security forces, entered five Palestinian towns, resulting in 57 Palestinians injured.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Another journalist was shot and injured in the same incident. Both were wearing press vests and helmets. Scenes of violence during Abu Akleh’s funeral procession, where Israeli police entered the hospital and subsequently beat pallbearers and other mourners with batons, were deeply distressing and offensive and widely condemned. On 15 May, the funeral of an 18-year-old Palestinian, who had died the previous day from injuries suffered on 22 April during clashes with Israeli security forces at the holy sites, also led to confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinians in East Jerusalem. On 20 May, during a search operation in Jenin, during which there was an exchange of fire, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian, reportedly while he was throwing a Molotov cocktail.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Following terrorist attacks in Israel that killed 18 people over the past two months, Israeli security forces have continued intensive search-and-arrest operations in the occupied West Bank, particularly around Jenin, which have led to clashes, including with armed Palestinian militants, in which many Palestinians have been killed and injured. In that context, on 30 April, a Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli security forces in the village of Azzun, near Qalqilya. The man reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the soldiers. According to a video, he was shot in the back while running away. On 11 May, the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while covering an Israeli security forces operation in Jenin, in which Palestinian militants exchanged fire with Israeli security forces.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Also on 8 May, a 17-year-old Palestinian reportedly carrying a knife climbed a fence to enter the Israeli settlement of Tekoa and was shot and killed by a resident. Hamas later claimed him as a member. The same day, Israeli security forces shot and killed a Palestinian man attempting to cross the security fence near Tulkarm. On 11 May, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 16-year-old Palestinian in Al-Bireh, where, according to eyewitnesses, some 30 Palestinian youths were throwing stones at Israeli security forces.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“In total, there were 80 attacks by Palestinians on Israeli civilians, causing injuries and damage to Israeli property. On 29 April and 5 May, violent confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians took place at the holy sites in Jerusalem, with Israeli security forces using physical force to disperse Palestinians. Forty-four Palestinians were injured. On 29 April, armed Palestinians shot and killed an Israeli civilian guard in the settlement of Ariel. Israeli forces arrested two suspects on 30 April. On 5 May, two Palestinians from the Jenin area killed three Israeli civilians and wounded four others with axes in a terrorist attack in the Israeli city of Elad. Israeli security forces arrested the perpetrators on 8 May.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“During the reporting period, 10 Palestinians, including one woman and three children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks on Israelis and other incidents, and 346 Palestinians, including five children, were injured. Israeli settlers and other civilians perpetrated 57 attacks on Palestinians resulting in the death of one Palestinian child and 24 injured, along with damage to property. In all, four Israeli civilians and one member of Israeli security personnel were killed, and 22 civilians, including five women and three children, and 20 Israeli security forces officers were injured by Palestinians in shooting and stabbing attacks, clashes, the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails and other incidents during the reporting period.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“While immediate steps to reverse the negative trends and support the Palestinian people are essential, a better coordinated and more strategic approach by the parties and the international community is needed. Economic relief must be expanded and made more sustainable. An agreed and updated regulatory framework for the Israeli-Palestinian economic relationship is not only vital to bringing meaningful economic dividends for the Palestinians, but it would also add a tangible political perspective to those economic steps. However, that approach must be combined with political and security steps that address core conflict drivers and ultimately lead us towards an end to the occupation and the achievement of a negotiated two-State solution. The daily violence has continued throughout the occupied Palestinian territory.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“In Gaza, efforts by the United Nations and international partners to improve Palestinian lives, along with measures taken by Israel to ease the pressure and facilitate more economic activity, have enabled the fragile ceasefire to continue. Keeping things calm, however, is neither sufficient nor sustainable. More needs to be done to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and lift Israeli closures, in line with resolution 1860 (2009). The persistence of those conflict drivers and the absence of real political will to change course have empowered extremists and are eroding the perception among Palestinians and Israelis that a resolution of the conflict is achievable. Those dynamics, combined with the financial crisis, are converging and intensifying dangerously.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Regrettably, recent weeks have been filled with the familiar patterns of daily violence, including armed clashes, settlement expansion and evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian structures, as well as a deadly terrorist attack in Israel. Meanwhile, the financial situation of the Palestinian Authority (PA), compounded by the constraints of the occupation, the absence of serious Palestinian reforms and unclear prospects for donor support, is dire and requires urgent attention. Without meaningful policy steps on Israel’s part, bold reforms on the part of the PA and increased donor support, those economic challenges will continue.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“Mr. Wennesland: Allow me at the outset to acknowledge the killing of the revered Palestinian- American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as she covered events in Jenin on 11 May. Her death brought together Palestinians and countless others around the world in grief and anger, while serving as another reminder of the devastating human cost of this conflict. I send my deepest condolences to her family and reiterate the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all attacks on journalists and his call to the relevant authorities to carry out an independent and transparent investigation. Those responsible must be held to account.”
2022-05-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9046 (2022) · source
“The United Nations remains committed to supporting Israelis and Palestinians in moving towards that future, even as they address pressing political, security, economic and humanitarian concerns and needs. We will continue to work with the parties and with regional and international partners to achieve that goal.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Steps to improve economic conditions must be implemented in a way that lays a foundation for a return to a meaningful political process. Let me repeat what I said to the Council last week, which is that a serious escalation is avoidable. A sustained calm can open the space for a more serious discussion about further improvements and perspectives, and I urge the parties to maintain calm so that the final week of Ramadan can be celebrated without interruption. Having said that, we must not lose sight of how vital it is to end the occupation and advance towards a two- State reality. The ultimate goal remains clear — two States, living side by side in peace and security, in line with United Nations resolutions and international law.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon continues to engage with the Lebanese Armed Forces to increase its counter-rocket- launching operations to prevent further such incidents and contribute to stability along the Blue Line. The violence and spiralling tensions of the past month have underscored yet again that efforts to manage the conflict are not a substitute for real progress towards resolving it. We must work immediately to lower tensions and maintain calm. Alongside that, collective efforts are needed to address the drivers of conflict. Reducing violence and halting settlement activity, while shoring up the Palestinian Authority’s fiscal stability and strengthening Palestinian institutions, are crucial.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“The United Nations continues to support the authorities’ operational preparations, encouraging women’s political participation and urging campaigning without hate speech. On 7 April, the International Monetary Fund announced a staff-level agreement with the Government of Lebanon that would unlock around $3 billion in financial aid, subject to the implementation of major reforms. At a sensitive time of ongoing tensions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, I am concerned by the firing of a rocket across the Blue Line into Israel in the early hours of this morning. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. The IDF responded with artillery fire into Lebanon. There were no casualties reported, and I urge restraint on all sides.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Policy changes and initiatives to better regulate the economic interdependence between Israelis and Palestinians and to promote more effective and integrated governance are much needed. Turning to the region, on 21 April, Jordan convened a ministerial meeting of the Arab League to discuss tensions at the holy sites. The ministerial committee issued a statement following the meeting calling for the respect of the legal and historic status quo. The ceasefire between Israel and Syria is being maintained in a volatile security situation characterized by violations of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria by the parties. As always, such developments present the risk of escalation Lebanon is preparing for parliamentary elections to be held on 15 May.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Without additional funding, the World Food Programme and UNRWA will not be able to meet the food needs of the Palestinian population this year, which could have a destabilizing impact across the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the Gaza Strip. I echo the Secretary-General’s appeal for urgent support for UNRWA, which continues to face a critical financial situation. The parties and regional and international partners must work in concert to move the Palestinian Authority onto a firmer fiscal footing while addressing broader systemic issues. While we have seen some encouraging initiatives and Israeli-Palestinian cooperation to address economic challenges in recent months, a coherent strategy is needed to ensure that the progress made is not reversed.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, rising prices and market disruptions, which are taking place across the Middle East, threaten food-security levels of vulnerable families in the occupied Palestinian territory. The cost of the quarterly United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) distribution has increased by 42 per cent since the end of 2021 in Gaza where the United Nations accounts for nearly 60 per cent of food supply, which, in addition to meeting needs for food security, is a key stabilizing factor. Spiking international prices for construction materials will also affect reconstruction efforts all over Palestine and in Gaza.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“In a new development, around 3,000 tons of rebar entered Gaza through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing during the reporting period. While these developments are welcome, additional steps are needed by all parties to further enhance access and trade and to improve the prospects for economic development of the Strip. The fiscal condition of the Palestinian Authority remains precarious. While Palestinian Authority revenues have risen in recent months, expenditures continue to grow, and adequate budget support from donors has not been forthcoming, making it increasingly difficult for the Authority to address outstanding debts and make critical investments in the economy and its people.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“In a separate decision, Israeli authorities approved essential medical equipment, such as mobile X-ray machines, and reduced restrictions on the import to Gaza of 56 communications items, many of them routine. Separately, following agreement by the Palestinian Authority and Israel, preparations are under way to facilitate under the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism the entry into Gaza of dual-use materials and equipment needed for the repair and maintenance of Gaza’s fishing boats as part of revitalizing the fishing sector. The success of this initiative should pave the way for a similar easing of restrictions in other sectors. Reconstruction of homes fully or partially damaged during the May 2021 escalation is continuing, albeit slowly, largely owing to lack of funds.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“I reiterate that the indiscriminate launching of rockets towards Israeli population centres violates international law and must stop immediately. Some positive developments related to movement and access in and out of the Strip took place during the reporting period. On 27 March, the Israeli Government approved the issuance of 20,050 permits for Palestinian workers from Gaza to enter Israel, in addition to some existing 2,500 permits issued for traders and businessmen. The Government also allocated some $12 million to improving the crossings between Gaza and Israel, as the amount of goods exiting Gaza remains at a relatively high level.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Palestinians in Gaza continue to suffer as a result of years of severe economic and movement restrictions resulting from the Israeli closure regime, as well as the nature of Hamas rule and the ongoing threat of violence. After several months with no rocket fire, militants in Gaza launched five rockets towards Israel, with one landing in the Israeli town of Sderot and causing property damage. The others were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, landed short in the Strip, or landed in open areas inside Israel. In retaliation, the IDF conducted air strikes against what it said were Hamas targets in the Strip, with no injuries reported. Following the rocket launches, Israeli authorities closed the Erez crossing into Israel to Palestinian workers and traders on 24 and 25 April.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“On 30 March, Israel’s Supreme Court decided to postpone by some six months a ruling on the potential demolition of 38 homes in the Palestinian village of Al-Walajeh, near Jerusalem, citing progress in discussions between the Palestinian residents and Israeli authorities on advancing a building and zoning plan for the village. I call on Israeli authorities to end the demolition of Palestinian property and the displacement and eviction of Palestinians, and to approve additional plans that would enable Palestinians to build legally and address their development needs. Turning to Gaza, the security, humanitarian and economic situation remains deeply troubling.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“At least 14 Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets. I reiterate that all settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a marked obstacle to peace. Ahead of and during the month of Ramadan, there was a slowdown in the demolition of Palestinian homes. Overall, the reporting period saw Israeli authorities demolish, seize or force owners to demolish 27 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C and one in occupied East Jerusalem, displacing eight Palestinians, including four children. The demolitions were carried out due to the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“Turning to settlement-related developments, on 27 March, members of an Israeli settler organization accompanied by Israeli police took over the first floor of a historic building in Jerusalem’s Old City. The settlers’ seizure took place amid ongoing legal proceedings over ownership of the property between the settler organization and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. In a statement issued on 29 March, the Patriarchate called the seizure a threat to the continued existence of a Christian Quarter in Jerusalem. On 19 April, thousands of Israeli activists, accompanied by right-wing members of the Knesset, marched to the evacuated Homesh settlement, demanding its re-establishment. Prior to the march, Israeli security forces temporarily closed the main road and blocked the entrances to several villages, prompting clashes with Palestinians.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“I urge the Israeli authorities to conduct thorough and transparent investigations into all instances of possible excessive use of force. Against the backdrop of continued settlement activities and ongoing pressure on Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, as well as heightened tensions, settler-related violence remained high, particularly following the terrorist attacks in Israel. On 10 April, dozens of Palestinians vandalized and set fire to a Jewish holy site located in Area A in the West Bank city of Nablus, before being dispersed by Palestinian security forces. Vandalizing religious sites is unacceptable and has the potential to further escalate the situation. I call on all parties to ensure religious sites and places of worship are respected and protected.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“On 19 April, Israeli authorities decided, in line with past practice, that non-Muslims would not be allowed to visit the Holy Esplanade between Friday, 22 April and the end of the month of Ramadan. Despite the tensions, overall, hundreds of thousands of Muslims, Jews and Christians have been able to celebrate the holy days in and around the Old City in relative peace and without further escalation. I reiterate that perpetrators of all acts of violence must be held accountable and brought swiftly to justice. Security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. I am particularly appalled that children continue to be killed and injured.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source
“During the clashes, some damage was caused to the structure of the mosque. Some 160 Palestinians were injured, including four women, 27 children and at least one journalist, while some 400 were arrested, most of whom were released later that day. According to Israeli security forces, three policemen were injured during the clashes. The conduct of Israeli forces has raised concerns about possible excessive use of force. Importantly, noon prayers subsequently took place that day without major incident. Over the following days, there were additional, though more limited clashes at the holy sites and in and around the Old City. Some 52 Palestinians were injured by Israeli security forces in these incidents and 10 Israelis were injured by Palestinians in two separate incidents.”
2022-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.9021 (2022) · source