Statement by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy at a UNSC Briefing on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Implementation of UNSC resolution 2334
Madam President,
We would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari for his detailed report on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) in the context of the implementation of UNSC resolution 2334.
Unfortunately, as is clear from your statement, Khaled, and from the Secretary-General’s report we have before us, there has been still no progress in the implementation of the aforementioned resolution. The situation in the OPT and in the Middle East settlement process as a whole remains explosive.
We have repeatedly warned that the fact that one of the major and long-standing conflicts in the Middle East remains unresolved is having a significant impact on developments in the region and could unleash a full-scale conflict in the region, with the confrontation engulfing neighboring countries. Unfortunately, the calls of ours, as well as those of other countries advocating the urgent intensification of collective efforts on the Middle East track, have fallen on deaf ears. That persistent disregard for the Palestinian issue resulted in the “twelve-day war” that unfolded before our very eyes, when two nuclear states attacked a non-nuclear participant in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We have repeatedly voiced our assessments of the aggressive actions by West Jerusalem and Washington within the UNSC, and they remain valid.
Madam President,
We would like to recall today that it is the systematic policy of the Israeli authorities to expand their illegal presence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that remains one of the main reasons blocking the resumption of the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis. As the latest UN Secretary-General’s report points out, the magnitude of violence perpetrated by settlers with the connivance and even complicity of Israeli security forces is not scaling down. Israel's settlement activity itself is going ahead in leaps and bounds. Between March and June alone, Israel approved and adopted plans to build about 10,000 new housing units. In addition, in late May, Israel’s Ministry of Defense green-lighted the legalization of 22 new settlement blocks. At the same time, the leadership of the defense ministry makes no secret of the fact that these steps are strategically important in terms of preventing the creation of a Palestinian State.
At the same time, the practice of demolishing and confiscating Palestinian homes in the West Bank persists. According to the UN data, there have been around 500 such cases in the last three months alone. What is striking here is not only the numerous violations of international law, but also the cynical and humiliating methods used by Israel. Palestinians are often forced to demolish their own homes with their own hands, while paying exorbitant bills for the “services” of destroying their own dwellings.
The systematic line of “creeping” expansion through spreading Israel's physical control over the West Bank is compounded by equally provocative calls by the Israeli leadership to completely “cleanse” the Gaza Strip and have Israeli settlements back there. In this context, we share the assessment by Antonio Guterres who stated that such ethnic “cleansing” is totally inadmissible, and we align ourselves with the calls on Israel to reject the forced displacement of Palestinians and immediately end its illegal presence throughout the OPT.
Madam President,
Once again, we have to state that Israel is acting without any regard to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences for the ordinary Palestinians. A good example in this regard is what is happening in Gaza, where people have received no humanitarian assistance for almost three months with hostilities continuing unabated. We are shocked by the number of victims and the scale of destruction caused by the Israeli military operation: approximately 55,000 Palestinians have been killed and around 125,000 have been wounded, including at least 50,000 children. The civilian infrastructure in the Strip has been basically completely destroyed, 80% of the territory has been declared to be a “no-go area” by the Israelis, and 470 humanitarian workers have been killed, including over 320 UN staff.
The Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, which we condemned from the outset, can in no way serve as a justification for the brutal, inhumane, and disproportionate actions by the Israeli leadership against the peaceful Gazans.
Unfortunately, we cannot expect that the day will soon come when we are no longer horrified reading the daily OCHA reports on new victims of the Israeli operation in Gaza. Immediately after the news that an understanding on a ceasefire had been reached with Iran, the IDF General Staff announced its plans to refocus on combat operations in the Gaza Strip, voicing the same goals that we heard over 600 days ago, including the release of hostages. And this despite the fact that we all understand that the remaining Israeli hostages can only be returned when there is an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Not until this happens will it be possible to begin stabilizing the situation in the sector.
We would like to remind you in this context that such methods of conducting military operations as using famine as a weapon of war, forced displacement of people, and total blockade can be qualified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, which ensues prosecution and respective legal proceedings.
Colleagues,
it is no secret that Washington's position is precisely what remains the key factor ensuring that Israel has “free hand” in Gaza. The United States not only provides the Israelis with international cover by blocking any UNSC draft resolutions that may contain even a faint hint of criticism of the Israeli authorities, but they also continue pumping its ally in the Middle East with new weaponry and military equipment. Thus, it is reported that during the 600 days of war, Israel received 800 aircraft and 140 ships carrying 900,000 tons of military cargo. No comments needed here.
Madam President,
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that amidst the mounting tragedy in the OPT, particularly in the Gaza Strip, there are greater expectations for decisive action by UN Member States and the entire international community, including when it comes to the recognition of Palestine and the protection of specialized humanitarian agencies, first foremost UNRWA. In this regard, serious hopes are pinned on the high-level international conference in support of the two-state solution, which was provided for by two GA resolutions, and was supposed to take place in June.
We expect that the Saudi and French co-chairs will determine and announce new dates for the forum as soon as possible, and that the UN Secretary-General will provide all the support needed to prepare and organize this conference.
Thank you.
