Statement by Chargé d’Affaires of the Russian Federation Dmitry Polyanskiy at UNSC briefing on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
Main statement:
Mr. President,
We thank UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and UNOCHA Director of Operations Edem Wosornu for their comprehensive briefings on the issue. We’ve listened to the statements of civil society brieferes. It is clear from their statements that the current wave of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is becoming increasingly grim and abhorrent.
We were all shocked to learn of the deaths of six hostages in Nuseirat, including Russian citizen Alexander Lobanov. We express our deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims. There is and can be no justification for such actions, and we have repeatedly said this from the very beginning. We have also called from the very outset for the priority to be given to the issue of the release of hostages, which, as we are all well aware, can be achieved only through an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Now is not the time to debate why the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached the point where entirely innocent Israelis are dying in the underground tunnels of Gaza, while Palestinian women and children are dying on the surface of these underground tunnels. Each of us has on numerous occasions given assessments of what is happening. Now is the time to act. The Council has come to some understanding of what needs to be done; and Resolution 2735, adopted on June 10, despite all its flaws, basically reflects this understanding. However, the Israeli leadership is obstinately seeking a military solution to this problem, attempting to disregard the decisions of the Security Council. As a result, at least a few dozen Israeli hostages have reportedly been killed in Gaza while there were attempts under way to free them. They simply did not live to see the ceasefire.
Following the deaths of the six hostages, the clear assessments of what had happened was given by Israeli society. Literally the entire country, in unison, demanded that the Israeli government urgently makes a deal with Hamas that would allow the release of the remaining hostages. We all demand this, but these demands fall in deaf ears in West Jerusalem.
Mr. President,
Today we grieve not only the Israelis who died, but all those who died in Gaza, be they Israeli, Palestinian or citizens of other countries. The UN Security Council has failed so far to compel the parties to cease fire. Each day of inaction has a horrific bloody price, and the civilians have to pay this price with their lives. No matter how we feel about the events of October 7, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that over 40,000 Palestinians have fallen victim to Israel's "collective punishment" over the 11 months of the escalation. And this figure continues to grow with each passing day.
Gaza is submerged in violence and lawlessness. We note the extremely alarming reports of violations of IHL by Israel, in particular strikes on humanitarian convoys as well as the mass graves of murdered Palestinians with traces of torture and the removal of internal organs. All these incidents must be thoroughly investigated, and in an international format.
It is obvious to all of us that each new day of the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip reduces the likelihood of survival for the hostages. The Security Council is united in recognizing that the release of the remaining Israelis and foreigners through military means is impossible and that there is no alternative to negotiations. Israeli society clearly recognizes that as well.
However, the Israeli leadership, unfortunately, continues to regard the negotiations merely as a “smoke screen”, which helps to distract the attention of the international community from Israel’s military solution to the Palestinian issue. This is evidenced not only by West Jerusalem's actions on the ground, but also by the recent remarks of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who stated that he would not stop the military action in the Strip. We still see no indication that Israel's military cabinet has any intention to change this policy. Almost all members of the Security Council are willing to act in accordance with the UN Charter and to force countries to comply with UNSC decisions. The Council has the relevant tools at its disposal; what is needed is political will and unity on this issue. Unfortunately, our American colleagues are preventing us from achieving that, they continue to consistently cover up Israel's actions, supplying it with weaponry and, thus, encouraging it to go on with its military operation in Gaza.
It is, therefore, hardly surprising that we are bearing witness to the growing appetites of West Jerusalem, which is putting forward more and more new conditions for a “deal” to be concluded, although the parameters of the deal were approved by the Security Council Resolution 2735. While initially we discussed the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave, Israel now insists on maintaining its presence in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors. The Security Council gave its consent to completely different parameters of the agreements, which means that these demands are a direct violation of the provisions of the aforementioned Security Council resolution. The American mediators, unfortunately, are openly playing along with their ally in its consistent violation of UNSC resolutions. At every meeting, they try to persuade the Council to put pressure on Hamas, claiming that a deal is “on the horizon.” At the same time, our American colleagues are cunningly silencing the fact that Israel has not agreed to the deal within the parameters of resolution 2735 and is trying to modify it on the fly.
As a result, while the Security Council is held hostage by the United States, which threatens to block any resolution with a clear demand for a full-fledged ceasefire, and has to make do with merely declarative statements in favor of a prompt deal between Hamas and Israel.
Under these conditions, all humanitarian efforts of the Council are naturally faltering. As the humanitarian workers themselves have repeatedly emphasized, they are simply unable to work in the absence of a ceasefire. Against this backdrop, the Israeli military is systematically “cleansing” not only Gaza, but also the West Bank of the Jordan River. The Israeli army raids in Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarmah speak of one thing – nowhere are there any safe places for Palestinians any longer, neither in Gaza nor in the West Bank, where nearly 700 people have been killed since the escalation began. In August alone, there were recorded more than a thousand attacks by Israeli security forces and settlers against West Bank civilians. According to Doctors Without Borders, the Israeli military personnel are blocking the access to medical facilities for the victims, as well as obstructing the circulation of ambulances.
Meanwhile, one of the most senior Israeli officials, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is calling for transitioning to the practice of collective punishment and execution by fire of Palestinian prisoners, as well as for the establishment of multiple checkpoints in the West Bank to impede the movement of locals. He explicitly calls Palestinians nothing but animals. Moreover, the Israeli cabinet is known to have approved new plans to construct new settlements in the West bank. Thus, they decided to proceed with the actions that are condemned by all members of the Security Council and the overwhelming majority of members of the international community. This situation can be viewed as nothing but an egregious disregard for international law and the principles on which the generally accepted international legal basis for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement is built.
Mr. President,
The Council cannot afford to remain inactive in the face of what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank. We gave 3 months to the negotiators, who are trying to secure the deal between Israel and Hamas, to convince both sides to accept the deal in the parameters approved by Security Council resolution 2735. That's more than enough. Now we see that the negotiation process, in light of new Israeli demands, is becoming drawn out and unpredictable. Those who defend West Jerusalem need to summon the courage to fulfill their responsibilities not in words but in deeds, and do that as a responsible member of the international community and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. And together with all of us, they must not just demand an end to the inhumane slaughter in Gaza, but also to take concrete steps to that end, as stipulated in the UN Charter. Only this will save both the remaining Israeli hostages and the tens if not hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians forced to resist the ruthless Israeli war machine. The world is waiting. The time for diplomatic games is over. The time has come for real and practical action. And the sooner you realize this, the better for you.
Thank you for your attention.
Right of reply:
I want to assure our American colleague that we will certainly withdraw troops from Ukraine after we have achieved all the goals of our special military operation. We have repeatedly said that we would prefer to resolve the conflict by peaceful, diplomatic means. Unfortunately, under the current circumstances we cannot do that, including due to the efforts of the United States, which continues to support the illegitimate Kiev regime.
With regard to the situation around Gaza, you can, of course, dispute with me. I have no objection to it. But it is difficult to dispute the facts. Facts, as you know, are stubborn things. And you have indeed been assuring us for three months now that the deal is “on the horizon”. But still there's no deal. And you still have not bothered, distinguished colleague, to explain to Council members how the parameters of the deal that were approved by Council resolution 2735 are being modified. This is the third time I have requested that you explain it, but you remain deaf to my request. I hope that three times will be enough for you to hear.
Under such circumstances, it is quite natural that the Council's humanitarian efforts are faltering.
Second reply:
I would like to thank my American colleague for the clarification and ask whether your words mean that you support the collective efforts of the Council to ensure the implementation of the resolutions that have already been adopted, including resolution 2735, and to this end use all the tools that the Security Council has at its disposal.
