<\/p>\n
22 February 2024<\/p>\n
Security Council<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A full-scale Israeli military operation in the densely populated Rafah area \u2014 where 1.4\u00a0million Palestinians are sheltering near the only point of entry for goods \u2014 would be devastating, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the Middle East told the Security Council today, as he appealed for additional access points to northern Gaza to increase the flow of aid and reduce congestion in the south.<\/p>\n Painting a grim picture of the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, recalling his recent visit there, said: \u00a0\u201cWhat I saw was shocking and unsustainable.\u201d\u00a0 Amid continuing battles across Gaza, including intensified airstrikes in the Rafah area, over 2\u00a0million people face extreme food insecurity while communicable diseases are on the rise. \u00a0\u201cI cannot stress enough how urgently we need a deal that will bring about a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n \u201cThis desperation and scarcity has led to a near total breakdown in law and order,\u201d he observed, noting that 84\u00a0per\u00a0cent of health and education facilities are damaged or destroyed and 62\u00a0per\u00a0cent of all roads and electricity feeder lines are unusable.\u00a0 \u201cKeeping Gaza on a drip-feed not only deprives a desperate population of life-saving support, it drives even greater chaos that further impedes humanitarian delivery,\u201d he cautioned, urging that \u201cthe only long-term solution for Gaza is political\u201d.<\/p>\n Christopher Lockyear, Secretary General of M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res, reported that, for 138 days, doctors and nurses have done everything they can to enact a meaningful humanitarian response, only to watch as a health system they have supported for decades is systematically obliterated and their patients and colleagues are killed and maimed. \u00a0\u201cWe no longer speak of a humanitarian scale-up, we speak of how to survive without even the bare minimum,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Stating that his organization\u2019s staff choose to continue working amidst increasingly desperate conditions, he noted that \u2014 meanwhile \u2014 the Council has missed three opportunities to vote for a ceasefire due to vetoes from the United States. \u00a0He urged that the people in Gaza need such a measure \u2014 not when \u201cpracticable\u201d, but now. \u00a0Recalling that medical staff and families were attacked and died two days ago in a place they were told would be protected \u2014 and that, today, they are back at work, risking their lives once again \u2014 he asked Council members:\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you willing to risk?\u201d<\/p>\n In the ensuing discussion, Council members warned that extensive military operations in Rafah would lead to calamity.\u00a0 Numerous delegates also voiced concern over the detrimental impact of funding cuts to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) \u2014 tantamount to collective punishment for Palestinians \u2014 and appealed for continued support of the Agency. \u00a0Escalating regional tensions in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, the Red Sea and elsewhere are also alarming, many observed.<\/p>\n While echoing concern over the situation in Rafah, Ecuador\u2019s delegate \u2014 recalling that the Council\u2019s attention was focused on the West Bank for the first nine months of 2023 \u2014 stated: \u00a0\u201cWhat is happening in Gaza should not lead us to ignore what continues to happen in that region.\u201d \u00a0This includes Israel\u2019s settlement activities, the economic crisis and ongoing violence. \u00a0He added that a humanitarian ceasefire is necessary to alleviate the conditions that Gaza\u2019s civilian population is enduring.<\/p>\n However, there can be no sustainable ceasefire in Gaza without the release of hostages, said the representative of the United States, detailing his country\u2019s diplomatic efforts to that end.\u00a0 While Washington, D.C., has communicated its concern to Israel that a major ground offensive in Rafah would result in civilian harm and destabilize the region, civilians in Gaza would not be in harm\u2019s way if Hamas did not embed itself into them, he asserted.<\/p>\n Expressing hope that the tragic picture of Gaza \u2014 as portrayed by Mr.\u00a0Lockyear \u2014 will touch the conscience of a certain Council member, China\u2019s delegate recalled that the United States vetoed a ceasefire draft resolution even though it meant that continued conflict would result in greater catastrophe. \u00a0Israel must cancel its Rafah offensive and halt its collective punishment of the Palestinian people, he emphasized, calling on the country to open all land, sea and air routes into Gaza.<\/p>\n For his part, the representative of Algeria said that the decision by the World Food Programme (WFP) to suspend its operations in northern Gaza is another indication of the inevitable fate of 300,000 people who will not have anything to eat.\u00a0 On Israel\u2019s crimes in Gaza, he stressed that the will to be free cannot be killed by the atrocities of bombardment, the horrors of destruction, the plots of forced displacement or the scenarios of ethnic cleansing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of Council have we become if we remain untouched by the tearful briefing we heard today by the Secretary General of M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res?\u201d asked the representative of Slovenia, criticizing the organ\u2019s failure to rally behind a call for a ceasefire. \u00a0He stressed that the most fundamental principles of international law are crumbling, underscoring that current violations of the rules of war will endanger the safety of medical and humanitarian personnel in other and future conflicts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Briefings<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n TOR WENNESLAND,\u00a0Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process<\/u><\/strong>, said that, after almost 140 days of devastating war, there is still no end in sight for those impacted by the horrors unleashed on 7\u00a0October, nor for the people in Gaza.\u00a0 Recalling his recent visit there, he painted a grim picture of the unfolding tragedy.\u00a0\u201cWhat I saw was shocking and unsustainable,\u201d he reported, expressing concern over a possible full-scale Israeli military operation in the densely populated Rafah area, where some 1.4\u00a0million Palestinians are sheltering near the only point of entry for goods. \u00a0\u201cI cannot stress enough how urgently we need a deal that will bring about a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of hostages,\u201d he asserted, urging all concerned \u2014 including Israeli authorities \u2014 to address the key impediments to the UN\u2019s humanitarian response on the ground.<\/p>\n Calling for safety measures and access points to enable the scaling up of aid, he highlighted his regional and international engagements to support all efforts toward a ceasefire and address the complex humanitarian, security and political crises.\u00a0 According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 4,327 Palestinians were killed and over 7,000 were injured in fighting and Israeli operations in the Strip between 18\u00a0January and 16\u00a0February, bringing the total Palestinian fatalities in the war to more than 28,000. \u00a0Many of these are women and children.\u00a0 In addition to the approximately 1,200 fatalities on 7\u00a0October in Israel, the Israel Defense Forces reported 235 personnel killed in Gaza since ground operations began. \u00a0160 UN staff have been killed in Gaza \u2014 the largest single loss of life in the Organization\u2019s history.<\/p>\n Battles have continued across Gaza, including intensified airstrikes in the densely populated Rafah area, he continued. \u00a0Hospitals, schools and other protected sites continue to be severely impacted by military operations, including Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis where 13 Palestinians were killed.\u00a0 Internally displaced persons face acute shortages of food, water, shelter and medicine, communicable diseases are rising amid unsanitary conditions and over 2\u00a0million people face extreme food insecurity. \u00a0\u201cThis desperation and scarcity has led to a near total breakdown in law and order,\u201d he stressed, adding that 84\u00a0per\u00a0cent of health and education facilities are damaged or destroyed and 62\u00a0per\u00a0cent of all roads and electricity feeder lines are unusable.\u00a0 \u201cKeeping Gaza on a drip-feed not only deprives a desperate population of life-saving support, it drives even greater chaos that further impedes humanitarian delivery,\u201d he cautioned, appealing for additional access points to northern Gaza to increase the flow of aid and reduce congestion in the south.<\/p>\n While spotlighting ongoing investigations into allegations that 12 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were allegedly involved in the 7\u00a0October attacks, he recognized that the Agency remains \u201cthe backbone of humanitarian response on the ground\u201d and called on donors to guarantee the continuity of its operations. \u00a0Turning to the occupied West Bank, he said that 27 Palestinians, including eight children, were killed by Israeli security forces. \u00a0Highlighting the severe risk of further regional escalation, he said that, across the Blue Line, exchanges of fire between Israel and Hizbullah continue to intensify. \u00a0Firing from Syria towards the Israeli-occupied Golan and strikes by Israel against targets in Syria also continue. \u00a0Additionally, Houthi forces continue to launch attacks against vessels in the Red Sea, with strikes reported against Houthi targets in Yemen.\u00a0 \u201cThe scale of the emergency we are facing is staggering and could quickly spiral out of control in the region,\u201d he warned, noting that \u201cthe only long-term solution for Gaza is political\u201d.<\/p>\n CHRISTOPHER LOCKYEAR,\u00a0Secretary General of M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res<\/u><\/strong>, said that people violently forced to Rafah in southern Gaza are bearing the brunt of Israel\u2019s military campaign, living in fear of a ground invasion \u2014 fear rooted in experience. \u00a0Just 48 hours ago, as a family sat around their kitchen table in a house sheltering medical staff and their families in Khan Younis, a 120mm tank shell exploded through the walls, ignited a fire, killed two people and severely burned six others. \u00a0This happened despite every precaution taken to protect humanitarian staff and family members from such an attack, as warring parties were notified of the location and the building was clearly marked with the medical organization\u2019s flag.\u00a0 \u201cThis pattern of attacks is either intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n He went on to report that, for 138 days, doctors and nurses have done everything they can to enact a meaningful humanitarian response, only to watch as a health system they have supported for decades is systematically obliterated and their patients and colleagues are killed and maimed. \u00a0Calls for more humanitarian assistance have echoed across the Council chamber; yet, in Gaza, there is less and less each day.\u00a0\u201cWe no longer speak of a humanitarian scale-up, we speak of how to survive without even the bare minimum,\u201d he said, declaring:\u00a0 \u201cAttacks on health care are attacks on humanity.\u201d\u00a0 The excuse given is that medical facilities have been used for military purposes, yet \u201cwe have seen zero independently verified evidence of this,\u201d he pointed out.\u00a0 Since 7\u00a0October, medical workers and patients have been forced to evacuate nine different health facilities, most recently from Nasser Hospital following a raid.<\/p>\n Deploring that surgeons have had no choice but to carry out amputations on children without anaesthesia, he said that medical teams have added a new acronym to their vocabulary: \u00a0\u201cWCNSF\u201d \u2014 wounded child, no surviving family.\u00a0 The psychological injuries they suffered have led children as young as five to say they \u201cwould prefer to die\u201d, he recalled, adding that \u2014 although his organization\u2019s staff are scared and beyond exhausted \u2014 they choose to continue working despite increasing risks.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the Council has missed three opportunities to vote for a ceasefire due to vetoes from the United States and, while that country is preparing a new draft resolution that ostensibly calls such a measure, this is misleading at best.\u00a0 The Council should reject any resolution that further hampers humanitarian efforts on the ground and results in a tacit endorsement of continued violence and mass atrocities in Gaza.\u00a0 The people there need a ceasefire, he underscored \u2014 not when \u201cpracticable\u201d, but now \u2014 and that ceasefire must be sustained, not a \u201ctemporary period of calm\u201d. \u00a0Anything short of this is gross negligence.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, the protection of civilians in Gaza cannot be contingent on Council resolutions that \u201cinstrumentalize humanitarianism to blur political objectives\u201d, he said.\u00a0 The responsibility to protect civilians, infrastructure, health workers and hospitals falls first on the parties to the conflict.\u00a0 But it is also a collective responsibility \u2014 one that rests with the Council and its members as parties to the Geneva Conventions.\u00a0 The consequences of casting international humanitarian law to the wind will reverberate well beyond Gaza, he stressed, recalling that medical staff and families were attacked and died two days ago in a place they were told would be protected.\u00a0 Today, the organization\u2019s staff are back at work, risking their lives once again for their patients. \u00a0\u00a0Demanding the protections promised under international humanitarian law and a ceasefire from both parties, he asked Council members:\u00a0\u201cWhat are you willing to risk?\u201d<\/p>\n Statements<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said that the best way to advance an enduring peace is to create an independent Palestinian State that exists side-by-side with Israel. \u00a0However, this vision faces obstacles, including the holding of hostages by Hamas and other groups, he said, stressing that there can be no sustainable ceasefire in Gaza without the release of such hostages.\u00a0 While noting that high-stakes negotiations do not often yield immediate results, he reported that his country is working with Egypt and Qatar to bring the hostages home.\u00a0 As for the more than 1\u00a0million Palestinians in Rafah, Washington, D.C., has been clear that a major ground offensive there would result in civilian harm and destabilize the region. \u00a0\u201cWe have communicated our concern to Israel clearly,\u201d he underscored, adding that civilians in Gaza would not be in harm\u2019s way if Hamas did not embed itself into them.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Russian Federation<\/u><\/strong>, sounding alarm over the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip, asked: \u00a0\u201cCan we even bear to hear more?\u201d\u00a0 The unprecedented levels of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict zone have been ongoing for 140 days, he observed, underlining \u201cthe colossal figures of losses and devastation\u201d. \u00a0More than 29,000 people, including women and children, have fallen victim to Israel\u2019s indiscriminate bombardment, and 80 per cent of Gaza\u2019s entire population is now internally displaced. \u00a0The majority of these people have found refuge in southern Gaza, which the Israeli air force has aggressively bombed.\u00a0 Condemning deliberate policies to expel Palestinians from Gaza, he noted that they will \u201cinevitably result in Gazans breaching the border with Egypt\u201d. \u00a0Additionally, he condemned the use of force against the sovereign nations of Syria, Iraq and Yemen, spotlighting the direct threat this poses to international peace and security.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Malta<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>expressed regret that, on 20\u00a0February, the Council once again failed to call for a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0Israel\u2019s announcement that it will be advancing its ground offensive into Rafah is extremely alarming, as is its plan to displace the acutely vulnerable population there.\u00a0 This will only serve to perpetuate the forced displacement of Palestinians and further enflame regional tensions.\u00a0 Some 30,000 people have already been killed, including 12,000 children. \u00a0Pointing out that not a single medical facility remains fully functional, she stressed that UNRWA\u2019s presence remains essential and that funding cuts to the Agency will have immediate repercussions. \u00a0In this vein, Malta has just announced an additional contribution to UNRWA, she reported, encouraging others to do the same and calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to allow the necessary space for a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Japan<\/u><\/strong>, while calling for the immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and other groups, noted that 75\u00a0per\u00a0cent of Gaza\u2019s population is displaced. \u00a0He also pointed out that the World Food Programme (WFP) has had to pause food deliveries to northern Gaza, urging Israel to open additional border crossings and secure humanitarian corridors.\u00a0Further, he called for a humanitarian ceasefire and observed that the conflict is already spreading across the region, with Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, intensified hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel and Houthi attacks against vessels in the Red Sea.\u00a0It is essential to efficiently conclude investigations concerning UNRWA, he said, adding: \u00a0\u201cIt is high time that we heed the many calls to save lives, including from the ICJ in its legally binding order on the provisional measures.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said that Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.\u00a0The fighting must stop now.\u00a0However, she emphasized that \u201csimply calling for a ceasefire now doesn\u2019t make it happen and won\u2019t make it sustainable\u201d.\u00a0Instead, she called for an immediate suspension in fighting to get aid in and hostages out, and then progress towards a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0 To provide a pathway towards a two-State solution, it is vital to release all hostages, form a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package, and remove Hamas\u2019 capability to launch attacks against Israel.\u00a0 Gravely concerned about the prospect of an Israeli offensive on Rafah, she said that it would have disastrous consequences for half of Gaza\u2019s population sheltering there. \u00a0She also urged all parties to call for calm and not inflame tensions around the holy sites during Ramadan.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Switzerland<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>expressed regret over the failure to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that a large-scale military offensive in Rafah could have on the civilian population and the delivery of humanitarian aid.\u00a0 Deeply concerned about the effect of the collapse of the health system in Gaza on civilians, including nearly 70,000 wounded, she asserted that \u201cthe occupying Power has the duty to ensure the provision of food and medical supplies to the population\u201d under Article\u00a055 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.\u00a0 \u201cThis must be done now,\u201d she said, adding that the International Court of Justice has been clear: \u00a0Israel must take effective measures without delay to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid throughout Gaza and it must comply with the Court\u2019s order.\u00a0 \u201cIn the short term, we see no alternative to UNRWA in saving lives, providing shelter and organizing assistance to civilians in Gaza,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0China<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>expressed the hope that the tragic picture of Gaza, as portrayed by the M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res briefer, will touch the conscience of a certain Council member. \u00a0Voicing regret that the United States vetoed a ceasefire draft resolution even though it meant that the continuation of conflict for another day would result in greater catastrophe, he hoped that the new draft its delegation has tabled will respond to the global desire for a ceasefire. \u00a0The Council must send a message that is clear and unequivocal, instead of beating around the bush, he said, calling on Israel to cancel its Rafah offensive and halt its collective punishment of the Palestinian people.\u00a0The WFP has had to stop its deliveries due to security threats, he noted, calling on the country to open all land, sea and air routes into Gaza.\u00a0 Independent Palestinian statehood is not a gift to be given as charity, but the inalienable right of the Palestinian people, he pointed out, also expressing concern about the dismissal of the two-State solution by Israeli leaders.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0France<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>called for an urgent ceasefire that guarantees the protection of all civilians and the entry of aid.\u00a0 Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, he underlined the need to open the Port of Ashdod, a direct land route from Jordan and all access points to the Strip.\u00a0 Additionally, Israeli military operations must stop, he asserted, opposing an offensive in Rafah that can only lead to humanitarian disaster of a new magnitude. \u00a0He also opposed any forced displacement, which would violate international humanitarian law and risk further regional escalation.\u00a0 Underscoring the need to condemn the 7\u00a0October terrorist attacks, he called for the release of all hostages. \u00a0It is essential to restore a political horizon, he observed, noting that only the two-State solution can build a just and lasting peace. \u00a0He added that France will continue contributing to maritime security in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Ecuador<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that the situation in Rafah is a clear reminder that international humanitarian law must be always respected by all. \u00a0\u201cAdherence to these provisions is not voluntary, and failure to comply brings with it serious consequences,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He demanded full implementation of Council resolutions 2712 (2023) and 2720 (2023), the result of arduous negotiations aimed at alleviating the conditions of Gaza\u2019s civilian population, especially women and children.\u00a0 To that end, a humanitarian ceasefire is necessary. \u00a0During the first nine months of 2023, the Council\u2019s attention was focused on the West Bank. \u00a0\u201cWhat is happening in Gaza should not lead us to ignore what continues to happen in that region,\u201d he said, citing Israel\u2019s settlement activities, the economic crisis, and violence.\u00a0He also urged caution during the upcoming period of religious festivities and respecting the status quo of Jerusalem\u2019s holy places and the role of Jordan as their custodian. \u00a0\u201cProvocative acts in these places must be avoided at all costs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Slovenia<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said \u201ca threat of incomprehensible proportions\u201d is looming over the world, as well as the Council itself as the body fails again to rally behind a call for a ceasefire. \u00a0\u201cWhat kind of Council have we become if we remain untouched by the tearful briefing we heard today by the\u00a0Secretary General of\u00a0M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res?\u201d he asked, stressing that the most fundamental principles of international law, decades in the making, are crumbling. \u00a0Expressing alarm about the working conditions of medical and humanitarian personnel in Gaza, he said Slovenia just today made an additional\u00a0\u20ac500,000 contribution to UNRWA.\u00a0 The current violations of the rules of war will endanger the safety of medical and humanitarian personnel in other and future conflicts, he warned, noting that\u00a0Israel has not complied with the\u00a0Court\u00a0order for provisional measures. \u00a0Urging its Government not to carry out the offensive into Rafah, he emphasized that any displacement of the Palestinian population from Gaza would constitute a breach of international laws.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said that the war in Gaza continues to rage, causing grievous harm to civilians and threatening regional stability.\u00a0 \u201cIt is distressing to note that over 29,000 fatalities have been recorded \u2014 a greater percentage being women and children,\u201d he observed. \u00a0He added that, according to the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund (UNICEF), this figure does not include the 1\u00a0million children in need of mental health and psycho-social support, nor does it include the 17,000 children unaccompanied or separated from their parents as reported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.\u00a0 Further, he voiced concern over the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the execution of military operations in health-care facilities, including the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. \u00a0Ongoing bombardment and imminent military operations in the Gaza Strip \u2014 including the impending attack on Rafah \u2014 will exacerbate the current humanitarian situation, he cautioned, calling for an immediate ceasefire.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Republic of Korea<\/u><\/strong>\u00a0said that extensive military operations in Rafah would lead to another great calamity. \u00a0\u201cThis must not happen,\u201d he said, adding any forcible transfer of Palestinians outside Palestine, including Gaza, is simply not acceptable. \u00a0Ramadan is fast approaching. \u00a0Yet the situation in Gaza has seen little improvement, with 2.2\u00a0million people there at imminent risk of famine.\u00a0 Israeli citizens are also suffering, with more than 100 hostages still being held in Gaza. \u00a0Further, across the Middle East, including Lebanon, the Red Sea, Iraq and Syria, \u201cinstability and tensions are at an alarming level\u201d, he warned, calling for a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the atrocities in Gaza and Israel and ease the perilous tension in the region.\u00a0\u00a0Even after the current situation ends, agony and sorrow will be deeply rooted in both Palestine and Israel, creating a high risk of relapse. \u00a0As such, it is high time for the international community, notably this Council, to realize a two-State solution.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Mozambique<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>noted that escalating hostilities in Gaza have caused a devastating loss of life, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions, particularly affecting women and children. \u00a0Calling for secure and unimpeded humanitarian access, he said this is essential to save millions of lives.\u00a0 He also stressed the need for an immediate and urgent humanitarian ceasefire, urging that a temporary cessation of hostilities be followed by a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0 Without that, humanitarian aid cannot be delivered and, further, respecting international humanitarian law is necessary to save innocent civilian lives.\u00a0 Calling for the urgent implementation of the two-State solution, he expressed commitment to Israel and Palestine living side-by-side as good neighbours, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and various Council and General Assembly resolutions.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Algeria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that the will to be free cannot be killed by the atrocities of bombardment, the horrors of destruction, the plots of forced displacement or the scenarios of ethnic cleansing.\u00a0 The Zionist occupation persists in Palestine, with genocide and war crimes being committed in Gaza, he deplored, declaring: \u00a0\u201cHistory will remember those war criminals, the enemies of life and humanity.\u201d\u00a0 The WFP\u2019s decision to suspend its operations in northern Gaza is another indication of the inevitable fate of around 300,000 people who will not have anything to eat. \u00a0Calling once again for an immediate and durable ceasefire to end this humanitarian tragedy, he rejected any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians and warned that measures to restrict Palestinians\u2019 access to the Aqsa Mosque compound during the holy month of Ramadan may have grave repercussions. \u00a0These actions risk inflaming a situation that could spiral out of control, he cautioned.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Guyana<\/u><\/strong>, Council President for February, spoke in her national capacity to express regret that the 15-nation body has failed to unite to secure relief for the Palestinian people from a relentless war that has driven the population of Gaza to unprecedented levels of desperation and loss.\u00a0 The blatant disregard for international law \u2014 including obligations stemming from international instruments to which the occupying Power is party \u2014 is wholly unacceptable.\u00a0 Further, funding cuts to UNRWA are having a detrimental impact given the Agency\u2019s critical work in both Gaza and the West Bank. \u00a0Such cuts are tantamount to collective punishment for the Palestinian people, she said, appealing for the restoration of funding to UNRWA and for other donors to scale up funding to the Agency.\u00a0 The Council\u2019s actions must match the level of urgency \u2014 \u201cpeople are depending on us to stay alive\u201d, she stressed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 22 February 2024 SC\/15600 Security Council 9556TH MEETING (AM) Underlining \u201cDesperation and Scarcity\u201d in Gaza, Special Coordinator Appeals for Ceasefire as Possible Israeli Military Operation Looms Over Rafah Head of M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res Urges Measure Not When \u201cPracticable\u201d, But Now A full-scale Israeli military operation in the densely populated Rafah area \u2014 where 1.4\u00a0million […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[660,759,807,834,867,906,969,5248,1593,1065,1074,5836,1119,2321,2553],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[5958,1362,1877],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2517,1769,1945,2005,6873,6845],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542],"class_list":["post-293659","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","country-algeria","country-china","country-ecuador","country-france","country-guyana","country-japan","country-malta","country-mozambique","country-palestine-state-of","country-republic-of-korea","country-russian-federation","country-sierra-leone","country-slovenia","country-united-kingdom","country-united-states-of-america","document-category-press-release","document-source-medecins-sans-frontieres","document-source-security-council","document-source-united-nations-special-coordinator-for-the-middle-east-peace-process-unsco","document-subject-access-and-movement","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-medical-supplies","document-subject-protection-of-civilians","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":293718,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/293659\/revisions\/293718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=293659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=293659"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=293659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Underlining \u201cDesperation and Scarcity\u201d in Gaza, Special Coordinator Appeals for Ceasefire as Possible Israeli Military Operation Looms Over Rafah<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Head of M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res Urges Measure Not When \u201cPracticable\u201d, But Now<\/h4>\n