United Nations Security Council: Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question

Mr President,

Thank you for organising today’s debate. Thank you to Chef de Cabinet Rattray for his briefing.

New Zealand welcomed the Council’s adoption of Resolution 2735 last month.

It is disappointing, though, that we are yet to see the ceasefire deal formally agreed and implemented.

We urge both parties to make genuine efforts to reach a ceasefire, which would facilitate a surge of desperately needed humanitarian assistance, and the release of all hostages by Hamas. We condemn any moves to prolong this conflict and the human suffering it has unleashed.

New Zealand also supports the full implementation of Resolution 2720. We urge the parties to cooperate with the Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza to ensure the full implementation of her mandate. It is important work, which will be needed well into the future.

As we call for an end to the catastrophic suffering in Gaza, we are also greatly concerned by the deterioriating situation in the West Bank.

We call on Israel to uphold its commitments under the Oslo Accords. The continued expansion of illegal settlement projects in the West Bank poses significant risks to the stability of the West Bank and ultimately the security of Israel. Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories are a violation of international law and constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a just and
lasting peace.

In the long term, only a political solution, where two states are able to live side by side in peace and security, with dignity and without fear, will end the cycle of violence. We must not lose sight of this objective. We urge the Security Council to work to protect the two-state solution envisioned and endorsed in many resolutions of this body.

We are gravely concerned at the escalations of rhetoric and hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. These escalations threaten to spark yet another war in the region.

We urge the relevant parties, particularly Israel and Hezbollah, to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis along the Blue Line, consistent with Resolution 1701. The parties must re-commit to and implement this resolution.

We recognise the stabilising role played by UN peacekeeping missions including the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and the UN Truce Supervision Organisation in mitigating the risk of escalation in the region. Their good offices must be part of diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.

It is critical that all parties do not take further actions to escalate the crisis.

The region cannot afford another destructive war.

Thank you, Mr President.