EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue with the Chair of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, Mr. Srinivasan Muralidhar

Mr Chair,

I have an honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States. 

The EU thanks the Commission of Inquiry for its presentation and takes note of its report. The EU recalls its continuing support for the Commission of Inquiry and other relevant OHCHR mandates. 

All sides are bound by international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Israel, as an occupying power, has the obligation to protect the population under occupation.

The EU rejects demographic or territorial changes and forced displacement of Palestinians. We strongly condemn increased settler violence and Israel’s unilateral actions to expand its presence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and we urge Israel to immediately reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law. The EU also strongly condemns terrorist attacks against Israel.

We urge Israel to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza, and to enable the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations, to work independently and impartially. The protected status of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as humanitarian and medical workers, and journalists must be respected.

The EU regrets the announced postponement of the Palestinian elections and calls on the Palestinian Authority to organise legislative and presidential elections as soon as possible in early 2027.

The EU recalls the need to fully implement the ICJ’s legally binding orders, takes note of its advisory opinions and reaffirms its unwavering support for the ICC’s independence and integrity.

We remain firmly committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders.