UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Informal briefing by the High Commissioner,

following his visit to the Middle East

EU Intervention

16 November 2023

High Commissioner,

The European Union wishes to thank you and your Office for your work on the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian territory.

We welcome in particular your personal engagement, as demonstrated by the recent visit to the region, as well as your strong voice in calling for upholding human rights for all. We reiterate our support to your mandate and its independence.

The EU deplores all loss of civilian lives in Israel and occupied Palestinian territory and expresses its deepest condolences for the over 100 UN staff members killed in Gaza since October 7.

The EU is gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and has called for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza.

The EU reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Hamas for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel. We call on Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and condemn the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields. It is crucial that the Red Cross is granted access to the hostages.

We emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. The hostilities are severely impacting hospitals and taking a horrific toll on civilians and medical staff. In this context, we urge Israel to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the protection of civilians.

The EU and its member states, will continue to work closely with international partners, the UN and other agencies as well as countries in the region to provide a sustained flow of assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter

The European Union is ready to contribute to reviving a political process on the basis of the two-state solution; High Representative Borrell is conducting a visit in the region as we speak.

The EU welcomes the adoption of resolution 2712 by the UN Security Council and we thank Malta for its leadership in negotiations.