Check against delivery

Colleagues,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, as well as San Marino align themselves with this statement.

We thank you, President, for convening this debate following the veto cast in the Security Council on 20 November 2024. We also thank the E10 for their efforts in trying to table a resolution, which received the support of 14 Council members.

For the EU, ending the civilian suffering and preventing further loss of life in Gaza is an absolute priority. And it is a collective responsibility of the international community.

For this to happen, we need an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of all hostages, the urgent improvement of access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to hostilities, in line with UNSC Resolution 2735. All these elements were present in the resolution put forward at the Security Council.

President, the EU, once again, unequivocally condemns Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks of October 7. The EU also deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, especially women and children, in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the catastrophic levels of hunger and imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza, following Israel’s response to these attacks. We also recall the need to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders.

We call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, put an end to all hostilities immediately and fully abide by international law, including international humanitarian law. 

Allow me to reiterate the essential role of UNRWA, which provides crucial services to millions of people in Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and across the region, including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

We condemn any attempt to abrogate the 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA or to otherwise attempt to obstruct its capacity to operate its mandate. It is essential that UNRWA can continue carrying out its crucial work in line with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1949 and renewed since.

The EU together with its Member States is the largest contributor to UNRWA and the EU is committed to continuing its support to the Agency, both politically and financially. We closely monitor and evaluate the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Review Group report. As long as there is no sustainable solution to the conflict, the mandate of UNRWA will remain vital.

Finally, the EU reiterates its unwavering commitment to a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, on the basis of relevant UNSC Resolutions, its commitment to implement UNSC Resolution 2334, and our support to the Palestinian Authority to help address its most pressing needs and promote its reform agenda. The European Union will actively support and engage with international partners on concrete irreversible steps towards the two-state solution, including through the Global alliance on the implementation of a two state solution and the holding of an international peace conference as soon as possible. The European Union stresses that a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood is a crucial component of that political process.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.