Mr. President,
I would like to begin by thanking the Deputy Special Coordinator, Mr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the High Representative for Gaza of the Board of Peace, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, and the representative of the Palestinian Red Crescent, Mr. Rami Hijjo, for their briefings.
The Council is meeting today at a crucial juncture, six months after the adoption of resolution 2803. Since then, we have had the chance to hear from you on two occasions, Mr. Mladenov, and we have received the first report of the Board of Peace. We have taken note of that report and of your observations regarding the deliberately phased nature of the plan’s implementation. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that this Council is very regularly kept informed of developments regarding Resolution 2803 and the Board of Peace.
There is some noteworthy progress: the ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the resumption of humanitarian aid. These developments bring relief to Palestinians, Israelis, and the entire world. France once again would like to thank the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their efforts in this regard.
However, this progress remains insufficient in light of the urgency of the situation and the scale of the needs. The ceasefire is subject to daily violations. 850 Gazans have been killed since it came into force, and restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid and at crossing points persist. The objective of 4,200 trucks of humanitarian aid per week has not been reached, and many essential goods remain excluded. The population is mired in a severe health crisis. Hamas is entrenched in its refusal to disarm. The Israeli armed forces continue to occupy a large part of the territory of Gaza, which is nonetheless an integral part of Palestine.
Mr. President,
In Gaza, the path towards a full implementation of Resolution 2803 is therefore still a long one.
The disarmament of Hamas is vital. This terrorist movement cannot play any role in the future governance of Gaza. Its refusal to disarm is unacceptable and reprehensible—for the Palestinian population, for Israel’s security, and for regional stability. Nevertheless, we cannot accept that the restoration of decent living conditions is being subject to the completion of the disarmament process, as this would amount to handing Hamas the key to Palestine’s future and forcing the civilian population to bear the brunt of the blockade.
It is essential for recovery and reconstruction efforts to begin without delay, throughout Gaza. To this end, France has made a contribution of 5 million dollars to the United Nations Horizon Fund for Palestine. We call upon our partners to support this Fund as well.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, for its part, must be able to deploy rapidly, along with the International Stabilization Force and the Palestinian police, with a view to the return of a reformed Palestinian Authority. We invite the Board of Peace, which is working resolutely towards this end, to specify the proposed timeline in this regard.
Israel’s violations are numerous. They must not be overlooked. We call upon the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid and to allow the UN, including UNRWA, and international NGOs to operate freely. Not only is international humanitarian law clear on this matter—and binding on all—but the professionalism, impartiality, and effectiveness of the UN and its agencies provide an unparalleled support for the people of Gaza in need.
Mr. President,
I would also like to address the deeply concerning situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in light of the increasing pace of the settlement policy and the resurgence of unacceptable violence by settlers against Palestinian civilians.
France welcomes the European Union’s adoption of sanctions targeting major Israeli organizations involved in violent settlement activity in the West Bank, as well as their leaders. It has also imposed sanctions on the main leaders of Hamas, who are responsible for the worst anti-Semitic massacre since the Holocaust.
In East Jerusalem, we strongly condemn Israel’s approval of the construction of military infrastructure on the site of UNRWA’s headquarters. This is an unacceptable decision that violates the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities.
We further reiterate that no measure aimed at de facto or de jure annexation can have any validity under international law or with regard to the rights of the Palestinians.
Mr. President,
We must finally restore a credible political horizon towards a two-State solution, with both States recognized and their rights respected, in the spirit of the New York Declaration. We hope that the dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, as provided by Resolution 2803, can resume soon.
It is with this objective in mind that France will host, on June 12 in Paris, a gathering of Israeli and Palestinian civil societies committed to the implementation of the two-State solution and to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Thank you.
