00:00Mr. Chair, Ambassador Kolisek, Bureau members, let me begin by congratulating you on your
00:12election, and I want to salute this committee for its work.
00:19At its essence, the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is about
00:25the right of Palestinians to simply live as human beings in their own land.
00:31We have seen the realization of those rights steadily slip further out of reach.
00:37We have seen a chilling, systematic dehumanization and demonization of an entire people.
00:44Of course, nothing justifies the horrific Hamas attacks on October 7, and nothing justifies
00:51what we have seen unfold in Gaza over the last many months.
00:56We all know too well the catalogue of destruction and unspeakable horrors.
01:02The nearly 50,000 people, 70 percent of them women and children, who have been reportedly
01:09killed.
01:10The majority of Gaza's civilian infrastructure – hospitals, schools, and other facilities
01:15– that have been destroyed.
01:18The overwhelming majority of the entire population who have faced displacement after displacement,
01:23anger and disease.
01:26Children out of school for over a year.
01:29A generation left homeless and traumatized.
01:34In these conditions, I welcome the ceasefire and the hostage release deal.
01:40I thank the mediators – Egypt, Qatar, and the United States – for the continued efforts
01:45to ensure implementation.
01:48Now it is time to be crystal clear about objectives going forward.
01:54First we must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and release of all hostages without
02:00delay.
02:01We cannot go back to more deaths and destruction.
02:06For our part, the UN is working around the clock to reach Palestinians in need and scale
02:11up support.
02:13This requires humanitarian access that is rapid, safe, and impeded, expanded, and sustained.
02:20I call on member states, donors, and the international community to fully fund humanitarian operations
02:27and meet urgent needs.
02:30And I once again urge member states to support the essential work of UNDWA.
02:37Second, in the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse.
02:45It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law.
02:50It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing.
02:54Third, we must reaffirm the two-state solution.
02:59Any durable peace will require tangible, irreversible, and permanent progress toward the two-state
03:06solution, an end to the occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian
03:12state with Gaza as an integral part.
03:17A viable, sovereign Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel,
03:23is the only sustainable solution for Middle East stability.
03:28Excellencies,
03:30Beyond Gaza, the situation continues to unravel in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
03:36I am gravely concerned by rising violence by Israeli settlers and other violations.
03:42The violation must stop.
03:44As affirmed by the International Court of Justice, Israel's occupation of the Palestinian
03:49territory must end.
03:52International law must be respected and accountability ensured.
03:56We must work towards preserving the unity, continuity, and integrity of the occupied
04:01Palestinian territory and the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.
04:06A strong and unified Palestinian governance is crucial.
04:10The international community must support the Palestinian Authority to this end.
04:16Excellencies,
04:17The UN is fully committed to peace, stability, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
04:22people.
04:23I commend this committee for its steadfast dedication to these goals and call on the
04:29international community to fully support these efforts, and I thank you.
Yorumlar