I thank Algeria for the initiative to convene this meeting and thank USG Martin Griffiths for his briefing.
More than three months have passed since the outbreak of this round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The flames of war are still raging, and the humanitarian disaster is still intensifying. In the face of repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law, in the face of repeated breaches of the bottom line of human dignity, morality and conscience, and in the face of enormous threats to regional peace and security, the international community has made increasingly strong appeal and the ICJ has also taken forceful action. The Security Council has no alternative but to immediately take further action, with the greatest sense of responsibility and the strongest determination, to safeguard justice, save lives and achieve peace.
We must push for an immediate ceasefire with the utmost urgency. There has long been an overwhelming consensus in the international community for an immediate ceasefire, and it's regrettable that a certain country has persisted in their obstruction and passive attitude. Real security cannot be achieved by military means, and the protracted fighting in Gaza will only lead to more casualties and the wider regional instability, making peace in the Middle East more elusive. The Security Council should take strong action to pull all diplomatic efforts towards an immediate ceasefire. Israel should immediately cease its indiscriminate military attacks and destruction in Gaza. At the same time, every effort should be made to prevent the spillover effects of the Gaza conflict on the wider region, including the Red Sea. We call on all parties to exercise calm and restraint and to refrain from actions that will exacerbate the situation.
We must take pragmatic steps to alleviate the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The World Health Organization Director-General has warned and described the conditions in Gaza as "hellish". Security Council resolutions 2712 and 2720 must be fully implemented, and Israel must fully cooperate by removing obstacles to the access of supplies at all levels, opening up all access routes by land, sea and air, and effectively protecting humanitarian organizations and their staff. We support further action by the Council to clear the obstacles to humanitarian relief. The provisional measures ordered by the ICJ last week is a strong response to the concern of the international community for the protection of civilians, the easing of the regional situation and the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These provisional measures must be implemented swiftly and effectively.
We must unswervingly promote the implementation of the two-State solution, which is the only viable way to achieve peace between Palestine and Israel. Israel must immediately stop eroding the basis of the two-State solution, stop the forced displacement of the population of Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, as well as the searches, arrests and attacks against Palestinians. China calls for greater international and regional diplomatic efforts to reshape a credible multilateral process. We call for an international peace conference that is more broad-based and effective, so as to expedite the formation of a timetable and a roadmap for the implementation of the two-State solution. We support Palestine's full membership in the UN.
Comment: If we compare some of the increasingly frank comments from China to the US, one gets the impression that, all things considered, China is still exercising a certain diplomatic rhetoric towards Israel.
Madam President,
We have taken note of the accusations of the alleged involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 attack and support an independent, impartial and objective investigation by the UN. It should also be pointed out that individual cases should not dilute attention from the situation in Gaza and the efforts for a ceasefire and the alleviation of the humanitarian disaster. UNRWA has played an indispensable and irreplaceable role in alleviating the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, which is the hope for survival for the 2 million people in Gaza.
Comment: Indeed, it seems Israel's intention is to use its concocted scandal to divert attention from the ICJ ruling, as well as to ruin UNRWA: Israel schemed to oust UNRWA back in December 2023 - Times of Israel
We should not deny the whole work of UNRWA entirely based on the actions of a few individuals, nor should we cease support for all at a time when it's most needed, which would mean cutting off the lifeline of the people in Gaza and leading to additional collective punishment for the Palestinian people. We call on the international community, especially the major donor countries to reconsider their decision to halt funding in the interest of the lives of the people in Gaza, and the greater good of humanitarian relief, and continue to support UNRWA's work during the investigation.
Thank you, Madam President.
Comment: It certainly seem as though the West and Israel consider the genocide and wider war to be critical to their survival, and so, for them, the consequences may be damned; which is just as well, because, whilst many analysts have said that Israel will never recover from this global exposure, increasingly, the same is true for the West.
The West just about succeeded in concealing its true nature in Ukraine, but, alongside Israel, has made a great miscalculation in Gaza.
Notably, these comments from China come just a week or so after it rejected a US request to facilitate the continuation of the genocide: US asks China for help with Houthis & Red Sea blockade, China reminds journalists 'Gaza conflict' to blame