Five elements to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and lasting peace: UK statement at the UN General Assembly
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at UN General Assembly on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
President, the civilian suffering in Gaza cannot continue.
Hunger has reached devastating levels.
Disease is on the rise.
People are crammed into ever smaller slivers of land, with nowhere left to go.
Last week, the UK and Jordan air-dropped four tonnes of life-saving aid to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza.
We also announced an additional $5.4 million in aid to ensure UNFPA can continue to provide life-saving support to more than 100,000 vulnerable women and girls in Gaza.
As my Prime Minister has told Prime Minister Netanyahu and regional leaders, we are deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah.
Over half of Gaza’s population are sheltering in the area, and the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people who so desperately need it.
The deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy last week were horrific.
There must be an urgent investigation and accountability.
This must not happen again.
And we cannot separate what happened from the inadequate aid supplies.
In February, only half the number of trucks crossed into Gaza that crossed in January.
This is simply unconscionable.
President, Israel has an obligation to ensure that significantly more humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza.
We have identified a series of bottlenecks that need addressing: Israel must urgently open more crossings into Gaza; eliminate bureaucratic obstacles; enable aid operations in Gaza; and ensure there is a robust de-confliction mechanism in place to protect ordinary Palestinians, NGOs, medical staff and others providing aid.
This latest tragedy serves only to underscore the importance of securing an immediate end in fighting, leading to a permanent and sustainable ceasefire.
The negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the US are the only way to get lifesaving aid in at the scale needed and to free the hostages currently held by Hamas.
Such a deal would offer the basis from which to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and lasting peace.
The elements essential to achieving this are: first, the release of all hostages.
Second, the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package.
Third, removing Hamas’s capability to launch attacks against Israel.
Fourth, Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza.
Fifth, and finally, a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution, with a clear commitment to grant Palestine recognition, including at the United Nations.
I thank you.