UK explanation of vote delivered by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, in the General Assembly Emergency Special Session on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
It has now been over 400 days since Hamas' abhorrent attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. Over 400 days that the hostages have been cruelly held in captivity. At the outset, I want to make clear the UK's unequivocal call for the immediate release of the hostages, including British citizen Emily Damari.
We call on Hamas to stop their abhorrent crimes and to comply with international law.
President, we must see this conflict come to an end. The scale of suffering in Gaza is unimaginable. Famine is imminent in some areas and the UN has reported a shocking increase in cases of acute malnutrition in children. Lack of access to medical treatment will only compound this devastating issue.
The past two months have been the worst for aid access since October 2023. International obligations are abundantly clear. The World Food Programme report found that for more than 50 days, barely any food has entered besieged areas.
Israel must ensure sufficient aid reaches civilians in Gaza. I reiterate there is no excuse for Israel's restrictions on humanitarian assistance.
Urgent solutions are required now, to prevent the very worst from unfolding.
We also remain deeply concerned about civilian deaths and damage to civilian infrastructure caused by IDF activity. In North Gaza, Kamal Adwan hospital has recently come under fire, and seriously injured and sick children remain trapped.
Israel must do much more to ensure civilians, medical personnel and humanitarian workers are protected, and to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
President, the United Kingdom voted for the draft resolution put to the Security Council on 19 November which called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages.
We regret that the Council was unable to reach consensus. The UK remains resolute in our commitment to the vision of the draft resolution, and will keep working, alongside our partners, to bring this war to a close. Secure the release of the hostages. Deliver a huge scale up in aid. Better protect civilians. And ensure that the UN can deliver in Gaza.
That is why we intend to vote in favour of today's General Assembly resolution calling for these steps.
The UK will carefully consider our position on any future accountability options produced in a report from the Secretary General. The UK considers, however, that focus should remain on encouraging all parties to cooperate with existing mechanisms of accountability.
With this in mind, the UK reiterates its unwavering support to the ICJ, while recognising their recent Advisory Opinion is, of course, not binding as a matter of international law and that this resolution does not change that.
In any event, there remains an imperative need for negotiations between all parties based on a two-state solution, recognising the relevant Security Council resolutions.
The UK intends to vote in favour of the resolution in support of UNRWA. We unequivocally reject attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA.
As my Foreign Secretary has said, the legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset seeking to restrict UNRWA's work is unacceptable.
UNRWA has an unequivocal mandate from the UN membership to provide life-saving aid to thousands of Palestinians in need. The UK continues to support UNRWA to deliver important reforms which can further strengthen their commitment to neutrality.
As the occupying power, Israel has a responsibility to ensure Palestinians have basic services. UNRWA and UNRWA alone is equipped to deliver that.
Today, my Prime Minister committed to an additional $16.5 million to UNRWA to support vital services for Palestinian refugees in the OPTs and the wider region.
While the UK intends to vote in favour of this resolution, we wish to clarify that our position does not prejudge any future international legal determinations referenced in the text.
President, a ceasefire, the release of the hostages now held for over 400 days, and urgent steps to address the humanitarian crisis, are more critical than ever. We are working urgently with our partners to deliver on this. And to give the people of Gaza, and of Israel, the prospect of the peaceful future that they deserve.
