10th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly

For over a year, the people of Gaza and Israel have endured a relentless cycle of death, destruction, and displacement.

More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 100,000 injured, most of them civilians, women, and children.

About 100 hostages still remain in captivity.

The horror in Gaza must end.

The demands of the international community are clear:

• There must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza;
• All remaining hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally;
• The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations must be granted full, immediate, safe and unhindered access in order to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and deliver desperately needed aid to its suffering population; and
• All parties to the conflict must fully comply with their obligations under international law and international humanitarian law.

These urgent calls from the international community are reflected in the resolutions adopted by this Assembly in response to the war in Gaza.

They are also evident in the draft resolution considered by the Security Council on 20 November, which received 14 votes in favor but was ultimately blocked by a veto from a Permanent Member.

Once again, the Security Council is paralyzed, unable to fulfill its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.

Once again, the General Assembly is called upon to take the lead on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved through endless war and occupation.

This conflict will only end when Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own sovereign, independent states, in peace, security, and dignity.

It is time for the international community to take concrete, meaningful action.

We must strive for a just, comprehensive, and lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--one grounded in international law, the United Nations Charter, and relevant UN resolutions.

International law, the Charter of the United Nations and United Nations resolutions must be respected by all Member States.

This is especially true for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, an agency that was established and mandated by this Assembly.

The Agency is providing protection, shelter, food, water, and medical care to millions of suffering Palestinians, in particular under, most difficult circumstances in Gaza.

Despite the humanitarian need, the agency’s future in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is in peril.

Therefore, I must voice once again my deep alarm at the recent decision taken by the Israeli Parliament to adopt two laws which, if implemented, will prevent the agency from undertaking its essential work in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

A collapse of operations of UNWRA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a result of these two laws would exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.

The cessation of the agency’s activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory would mean that Palestinian refugees will not get desperately needed and life-saving assistance anymore.

This is unacceptable.

I urgently call on the Government of Israel to comply with its international legal obligations and allow the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees to continue its vital work, as mandated by this Assembly, in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

As representatives of the international community, it is our shared duty to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter: justice, respect for international law, and faith in the dignity and worth of every human being.

These principles are the foundations for peace and are what will guarantee lasting security for both the people of Palestine and Israel.

Thank you.

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