UN Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question
Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Permanent Representative
Ghana Permanent Missionto the United Nations
New York City November 22, 2023
BRIEFINGS ON “THE SITUATIONIN THE MIDDLE EAST INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION”
Mr. President,
A week ago, this Council, after several attempts, managed to adopt resolution 2712 (2023), which, among others, called for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza to help address the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Today’s briefing by Executive Directors Sima Bahous and Catherine Russell reminds us of the sobering reality in Gaza, where an estimated 575,000 women and adolescent girls of reproductive age are facing critical gaps in access to health services. The death toll in Gaza has also surpassed 11,000, two-thirds of whom are women and children; 1.7 million people have been displaced; more than 29,000 people are injured; and many are presumed dead or trapped under the rubble in Gaza as a result of the ongoing war.
Ghana is equally concerned about strikes against refugee camps and UNRWA installations in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These facilities are providing refuge to an estimated 1.5 million internally displaced people, including women and girls in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
While we therefore reaffirm our condemnation of the horrendous attacks of Hamas against Israel on 7th October, which led to the death of 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals and the abduction of more than 200 hostages, we are concerned by the high number of civilian casualties arising from the military response of Israel, which has created in its own wake, significant concerns.
In this regard, we urge a strong recalibration of approach and welcome the decision reached by the Israeli government with Hamas to cease hostilities for a 4-day period in exchange for the release of 50 Israeli hostages, mostly children and the counterpart release of Palestinian prisoners, mostly women. We also welcome the additional daily trucks of aid agreed and commend the mediation efforts that have been undertaken to achieve this outcome. We urge the commitment of the parties to the implementation of the arrangements and believe that the release of further hostages creates an opportunity to build confidence with other measures.
It is our expectation that further mutual measures would reinforce respect of the parties for international humanitarian law and the preservation of hospitals and schools from the conflict, as well as create space for humanitarian access and supplies to civilians to prevent the deterioration of conditions that could lead to a major health catastrophe. Moreover, it would be important that any effort to build the confidence of the parties should help abate attacks that impact UNRWA installations and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, storage facilities and shelters.
Mr. President,
The humanitarian actors operating in Gaza have done so under extremely dangerous and difficult conditions and we acknowledge their efforts. We in particular appreciate the efforts made for the evacuation of 31 premature babies from Al-Shifa hospital to Rafah for proper neonatal care following the total collapse of medical services last Saturday (18 November 2023), including the evacuation of children, women, and seriously injured people to neighboring countries for medical treatment. We regret that not all the babies had the opportunity to survive before the evacuation.
We note that the death of several non-combatants on both sides is attributable to the continued airstrikes and launch of rockets. We therefore urge their cessation beyond the agreed datelines and also aver that the continuous holding of innocent civilians as hostage is a violation of their fundamental human rights. In this context, we believe strongly that this Council must remain steadfast in its commitment to ensure the protection of civilians in strict compliance with international humanitarian law.
We commiserate with the families and colleagues of all humanitarians that have lost their lives, including the 104 UNRWA staff and also regret the several deaths that have befallen the media fraternity, where some 48 journalists have been killed (43 Palestinians, 4 Israelis and 1 Lebanese).
Mr. President,
In closing, I reiterate our appeal for all of us to be guided in our conduct and engagement by the dire situation on the ground for the interest of peace. We recall our long-held position that the security of Israel and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people for their homeland lies in a deepened commitment to a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side within secure and recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as the shared capital.
It us our fervent hope that as a Council, we can find further consensus to abate this conflict and bring the parties to the table of peace. We must help them to untie themselves from the burden of history and embrace the promise for a shared future of peace, security and prosperity.
I thank you.