Gaza: Security Council Passes Resolution Demanding Immediate Ceasefire’ During Ramadan -“End the War – Recognize Palestine” – Members Urge UNSC

Gaza’s Ordeal Must End Now : Palestine

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for the observer State of Palestine, said it had taken six months, with more than 100,000 Palestinians killed and maimed, to finally demand an immediate ceasefire.

The Palestinians in Gaza have shouted, cried, cursed and prayed, defying the odds time and time again. Now, they live with famine, with many buried under the rubble of their own houses.

“Their ordeal must come to an end, and it must come to an immediate end now,” he told ambassadors.

He said the rule of international law was being destroyed by Israel’s crimes. Instead of implementing a mandatory order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Israel has doubled down on its actions.

He said Palestinians had been killed if they stayed or left, and now, Israel threatens an invasion of Rafah.

Israel has also continued its incitement against the UN, attacking the UN chief and the UN relief agency, UNRWA. The UN must be defended, he said.

“This outrageous incitement has real-life consequences for UN and humanitarian staff on the ground who are targets of attacks, who are killed, arrested and tortured,”, he warned.

It also has real-life consequences for the blocking of UNRWA aid. “It is time for all these Israeli actions to trigger a serious international action,” he said.

He welcomed the adoption of the resolution and saluted Arab unity in demanding the ceasefire.

“This must be a turning point; this must lead to saving lives on the ground. This must signal the end of this assault of atrocities against our people,” he said, declaring that his entire nation was “being murdered”.

Russia: Council must work towards permanent ceasefire

Mr. Nebenzia, Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative, said that his country voted in favour of the resolution as it called for an immediate ceasefire, “even if it is limited to the month of Ramadan”.

“Unfortunately, what happens after that ends remains unclear since the word ‘lasting’ could be interpreted in various ways,” he said.

“Those who are providing cover for Israel still want to give it a free hand,” he added, expressing hope that the wording contained in the resolution “will be used in the interests of peace rather than advancing the inhumane Israeli operation against the Palestinians”.

The word “permanent” would be more precise, the ambassador said, voicing his delegation’s “disappointment” that Russia’s proposal “did not make it through”.

“Nevertheless, we believe it is fundamentally important to vote in favour of peace,” he said, urging the Security Council to continue to work on achieving a permanent ceasefire.

Humanitarian pause key, then sustainable peace: UK

United Kingdom Ambassador Barbara Woodward said her country had long been calling for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life as the fastest way to get hostages out and aid in.

That is what this resolution calls for and why the UK voted in favour of the text. “We regret that this resolution has not condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October,” she said, but it sets out the urgent demand for the unconditional release of all hostages.

Now, the Council must focus on an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a lasting, sustainable peace without a return to fighting.

That means the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza accompanied by an international support package, Ambassador Woodward said, as well as ending Hamas’s ability to launch attacks.

There must be a pathway towards a two-State solution with Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in security and peace.

Too late for some: China

Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, thanked the E-10 Council members for their efforts on the draft.

Noting that his country’s negative vote on the US-led draft resolution last Friday, he stated that a comparison of the two drafts showed the differences.

“The current draft is unequivocal and correct in its direction, demanding an immediate ceasefire, while the previous one was evasive and ambiguous,” he said, adding that the present resolution also reflected the general expectations of the international community and enjoyed the collective support of Arab nations.

He said China had forced the US to realise it could not continue obstructing the Council.

“For the lives that have already perished, the Council resolution today comes too late,” he said, but for those still living in the Strip, the resolution represents “long awaited hope”.

“All harm to civilians must cease immediately” and the offensive must end, he said.

After ‘deafening silence’, Council must focus on solutions: France

French Ambassador and Permanent Representative Nicholas de Rivière  welcomed the adoption of the resolution, stressing that “it was high time” that the Security Council act.

“The adoption of this resolution demonstrates that the Security Council can still act when all of its members make the necessary effort to discharge their mandate,” he said.

“The Security Council’s silence on Gaza was becoming deafening, it is high time now for the Council to finally contribute to finding a solution to this crisis,” he continued, noting that it is not yet over and that the 15-member body will have to remain mobilised and immediately get to work.

“It will have to, following Ramadan, which finishes in two weeks, [the Council] will have to establish a permanent ceasefire,” the ambassador added, stressing also the importance of the two-State solution.

Resolution must make a difference: Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korea’s Ambassador Hwang Joonkook said it was the first ever resolution from the E-10 to be adopted on this Middle East agenda and represents a huge breakthrough.

But, for today’s resolution to have concrete significance, it must have a tangible impact in Gaza itself, he said.

“The situation must be different before and after this resolution. This will only be possible when both Israel and Hamas respect and faithfully implement this resolution.”

The parties must understand this resolution reflects the consensus of the international community, starting right now with a ceasefire.

Supporting crucial talks: US

US Ambassador and Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that in adopting the resolution, the Security Council “spoke out in support” of the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by the Washington, Qatar and Egypt to bring about an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, secure the immediate release of all hostages and help alleviate the tremendous suffering of Palestinian civilians in need in Gaza.

“The United States fully supports these critical objectives,” she said.

“In fact, they were the foundation of the resolution we put forward last week – a resolution that Russia and China vetoed.”

Emphasizing that her country’s support for the objectives “is not simply rhetorical”, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said that the US “is working around the clock to make them real on the ground, through diplomacy”.

She urged Council members to be clear that a ceasefire could have come “months ago” had Hamas been ready to release the hostages, accusing the group of throwing roadblocks in the path of peace.

“So today, my ask to the members of this Council…is ‘speak out and demand unequivocally that Hamas accepts the deal on the  table’,” she said.

The resolution is end of Bloodbath in Gaza; Algeria

Algeria’s Ambassador Amar Benjama said the draft will put an end to the massacres that have been going on for five months in Gaza.

“The bloodbath has gone far too long,” he said. “Finally, the Security Council is responding to the calls of the international community and the Secretary-General.”

The draft conveys a clear message to the Palestinian people, he said, “the international community, in its entirety, did not abandon you.”

“Adopting today’s resolution is only the beginning to meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people…and to put an end to the bloodbath without any conditions.”