UK explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, following the vote on the E10 draft UN Security Council resolution on Gaza.
The United Kingdom voted for this resolution as an expression of our determination to end this war, stop the suffering in Gaza and secure the immediate release of the hostages.
The UK remains resolute in our call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages cruelly held by Hamas since 7 October 2023, and urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis.
The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and unacceptable.
All of Gaza is at the risk of famine, and in some areas, this is likely to be imminent. Yet the aid reaching civilians remains entirely insufficient to mitigate this unfolding disaster.
The unthinkable hardship that civilians are already facing in Gaza is set to get even worse as winter approaches. Israel must take urgent action to alleviate this crisis. International humanitarian law must be respected by all sides.
We regret that the Council was unable to reach a consensus on this issue.
But colleagues, we remain committed to the vision of this text. And we will keep striving, alongside our partners, to bring this war to a close. To secure the release of the hostages. And to secure a huge scale up in aid and to protect civilians.
