<\/p>\n
20 January 2025<\/p>\n
Following are Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres\u2019 remarks to the Security Council\u2019s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in New York today:<\/p>\n
I thank the presidency of Algeria for convening this briefing.\u00a0 The Middle East is in a period of profound transformation \u2014 rife with uncertainty, but also possibility. \u00a0It is clear the region is being re-shaped.\u00a0 But it is far from clear what will emerge.\u00a0 We have a responsibility to help make sure the people of the Middle East come out of this turbulent period with peace, dignity and a horizon of hope grounded in action.<\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n
In Gaza, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal offer a ray of hope.\u00a0 I commend Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for their steadfast efforts to secure that deal. \u00a0Yesterday, the first three female hostages were released as part of the first phase.\u00a0 Ninety Palestinian prisoners were also released by Israel.<\/p>\n
While many challenges lie ahead, we should appreciate the long-overdue relief this moment provides for Palestinians in Gaza and the hostages reunited with their loved ones. \u00a0We are doing our part to ensure the rapid scaling up of humanitarian deliveries.\u00a0 More than 630 trucks with humanitarian aid entered Gaza yesterday, at least 300 of them to the north.<\/p>\n
I want to repeat:\u00a0 Nothing justifies the appalling 7\u00a0October terror attacks by Hamas.\u00a0 And nothing justifies the dramatic levels of death and destruction inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza. \u00a0We have been relentless in calling for an immediate ceasefire. \u00a0The immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. \u00a0And immediate action to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of life-saving aid to all those in need.<\/p>\n
Now the parties must make good on their commitments and fully implement the deal. \u00a0I urge the parties to ensure that this deal leads to the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.<\/p>\n
For our part, the United Nations will do all we can to advance these efforts \u2014 in particular, to scale up humanitarian aid across Gaza, fully aware of the significant obstacles, challenges and constraints that we still face. \u00a0Specifically, the ceasefire must translate into at least four simultaneous actions on the ground:<\/p>\n
First, United Nations entities \u2014 including the backbone of our humanitarian response, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) \u2014 must be able to perform their functions without hindrance.<\/p>\n
The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ must have rapid, safe and unimpeded access through all available channels and crossings to deliver food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter, and materials to repair infrastructure across Gaza, including the north. \u00a0Other humanitarian organizations \u2014 including local and international NGOs \u2014 and the private sector must also have unimpeded safe passage. \u00a0Visas, permits, and other enabling conditions must be in place quickly to allow a surge of desperately needed relief.<\/p>\n
Second, scaling up the delivery of aid and essential services demands safe conditions and a conducive operating environment. \u00a0We require the necessary technical, protective and communications equipment.\u00a0 To do our work, the parties must coordinate with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ system in a timely and effective manner. \u00a0This also includes the restoration of public order and safety to prevent the looting of humanitarian supplies.<\/p>\n
Third, people must be able to access life-saving aid.\u00a0 This includes medical evacuations for those who need it \u2014 and I urge Member States to take in those patients. \u00a0Sufficient commercial supplies must also be allowed to enter Gaza to meet the overwhelming needs of the population.<\/p>\n
Fourth, and fundamentally, civilians must be protected, and those seeking to return to their communities must have safe passage. \u00a0Explosive ordnance must be removed. \u00a0The recovery of human remains must be conducted with dignity and respect.<\/p>\n
I urge the Security Council and all Member States to support all efforts to implement this ceasefire, bring about a permanent cessation of hostilities, ensure accountability, and create the conditions for recovery and reconstruction.<\/p>\n
The international media must also be allowed into Gaza to report on this crucial story on the ground. \u00a0We must seize the opportunity presented by the ceasefire deal to intensify efforts toward addressing governance and security frameworks in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The Palestinian Authority has said it stands ready to assume its role and responsibilities in Gaza. \u00a0I urge collective support for the creation of security and governance arrangements that will enable Gaza to be re-unified politically, economically, socially, and administratively with the West Bank.<\/p>\n
Regrettably, the situation in the West Bank continues to worsen\u00a0\u2014\u00a0with clashes, airstrikes, and unabated illegal settlement expansion and demolitions. \u00a0I am deeply concerned about an existential threat to the integrity and contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory of Gaza and the West Bank.<\/p>\n
Israeli administrative changes over the past two years have streamlined and accelerated the settlement approval process. \u00a0As a result, control over many aspects of planning and daily life in Area\u00a0C of the West Bank has been transferred to Israeli civilian authorities. \u00a0Senior Israeli officials openly speak of formally annexing all or part of the West Bank in the coming months. \u00a0Any such annexation would constitute a most serious violation of international law.<\/p>\n
It is clear that greater stability in the Middle East requires irreversible action towards a two-State solution, with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, in line with international law, relevant Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ resolutions, and previous agreements, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States. \u00a0Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ will continue to support every effort to advance peace, stability and a more hopeful future for Palestinians and Israelis\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and the broader region.<\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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