United Nations Security Council: Security Council Open Debate Middle East, including the Palestine Question

President 

Thank you for organising today’s debate.

I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Since the last open debate on this issue, conflict in the Middle East has expanded steering us away from the path towards peace.

We call on all parties to take actions to de-escalate tensions and we urge all parties to agree to ceasefires in Gaza and in Lebanon.

One year on from October 7 we remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas. Then, as now, we remain appalled by Hamas’ brutality, and the taking of hostages. Hamas must release all remaining hostages immediately.

The death of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the terrorist organization Hamas, provides an opportunity to secure the immediate release of hostages and a ceasefire.

We unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack on Israel on 1 October and we call on all parties to break the cycle of retaliation to prevent a wider regional conflict. We also call on Iran to refrain from stoking violence in the region, including through its support for militant groups. 

We also condemn attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and the Houthis and urge both groups to lay down their arms. 

We urge Israel to exercise restraint and listen to the concerns of the international community. We respect Israel’s right to defend itself. But the right of self-defence is not unconstrained. It must comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. 

The protection of civilians and the humanitarian workers who deliver the food, water and medicine civilians need to survive is paramount. We condemn the killing of civilians by Israel in its recent operations in Gaza and call on Israel to allow essential supplies of humanitarian assistance to flow in line with binding orders of the International Court of Justice. Palestinians cannot pay the price for the defeat of Hamas.

We are alarmed at the attacks on UN peacekeeping troops by Israel, and the unreasonable demands for UNIFIL to vacate its positions in southern Lebanon in contravention of its Security Council mandate. We are gravely concerned that the attacks seriously jeopardize the safety and security of UNIFIL forces, and set a dangerous and unwelcome precedent. Security Council resolution 1701 must be upheld and we urge all parties to adhere to its provisions.

We are also alarmed at the treatment of UN Agencies by Israel and the unjustified attacks on the UN Secretary General himself. We have confidence in UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. We strongly support the role of UN Secretary General and welcome his continued engagement on the interconnected crises in the Middle East.

UN Agencies, such as UNRWA, have remained essential to the humanitarian response in Gaza. Recent legislative actions in Israel threaten UNRWA’s ability to provide vital assistance to civilians in need and run contrary to the mandate given to the Agency by the UN General Assembly and supported by the UN Security Council. 

The UN system has an important role to play in the future of the region as we work toward a two-state solution, and must be allowed to do its job, as mandated by the Council and UN members states.

We call on parties to return to negotiations that contribute towards achieving a two-state solution. This remains the best option to achieve a just and enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians.