10 June 2024<\/p>\n
9650TH MEETING (PM)<\/p>\n
After 247 days of war in Gaza, the Security Council today adopted by 14 votes in favour – with the Russian Federation abstaining – a resolution proposing a comprehensive three-phase ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza, urging both Israel and Hamas to implement it fully and without delay and condition.<\/p>\n
By resolution 2735 (2024), the 15-member organ noted that the implementation of this proposal would enable the following outcomes to spread over three phases, the first of which would include an immediate, full and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages; the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed; the exchange of Palestinian prisoners; withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas in Gaza; the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes; and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout Gaza.<\/p>\n
Phase two would see a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all other hostages still in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.\u00a0 Phase three would mark the start of a major multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages still in the Strip to their families.<\/p>\n
Further by the text, the Council underlined that – if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one – the ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue.\u00a0 The Council also rejected any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the Strip\u2019s territory.<\/p>\n
(Note: \u00a0Due to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the Â鶹APP and the resulting constraints, the full press release will be published at a later date.)<\/strong><\/p>\n THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST, INCLUDING THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u><\/strong>, speaking before the vote, said that \u201cthe last eight months had been nothing short but devastating\u201d \u2014 for Israelis who lost loved ones on 7\u00a0October, when Hamas set this conflict into motion by carrying out acts of unthinkable violence, and for Israelis and people from over 16 other countries whose loved ones are still being held hostage by Hamas.\u00a0 The past eight months have also been devastating for Palestinian civilians in Gaza; nearly 2\u00a0million have had to flee from one place to another in search of safety, which has been elusive.\u00a0 Children in Gaza have been traumatized by seeing their family members killed. \u00a0Calling on Israel \u201cto do everything possible to protect civilians\u201d, she said, however, that \u201cHamas leaders are those who put civilians at risk\u201d.<\/p>\n Amid the worsening humanitarian situation, \u201cPalestinian civilians are living through sheer hell by no fault of their own\u201d, she said, with \u201cfamilies unsure what the next day holds and millions grappling with the uncertainty of what will be left when they are allowed to return home\u201d. \u00a0Parents are trying to find food for their families; children are forced to stop their education, and elderly persons no longer have access to medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fighting must end in a sustainable way,\u201d she said, calling for an immediate ceasefire with the release of hostages and stressing that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is \u201cthe only way to bring about a durable end to this war\u201d.\u00a0 She said Hamas has failed to accept any agreement, while Israel has agreed to a comprehensive deal on the table which is \u201cnearly identical to Hamas\u2019 own proposal\u201d \u2014 it would bring hostages home, ensure Israel\u2019s security, enable a surge in humanitarian relief, and set the stage for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u00a0 \u201cNow we are all waiting for Hamas to agree to the ceasefire deal it claims to want, but we cannot allow to wait and wait,\u201d she stated, noting that \u201cwith every passing day, needless suffering continues\u201d.<\/p>\n Detailing the text, she said the first phase of this agreement would last for six weeks and include an immediate and complete ceasefire, with the release of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded; the return of the remains of some hostages who have been killed; the exchange of Palestinian prisoners; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the populated areas of Gaza; the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza; and the safe distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. \u00a0The proposal says that if negotiations take longer than six weeks in phase one, the ceasefire will continue \u201cas long as negotiations continue\u201d.\u00a0 Underscoring that \u201cHamas is no longer capable of carrying out another 7\u00a0October,\u201d she reiterated Washington D.C.\u2019s commitment to Israel\u2019s self-defence. \u00a0She also noted that the text rejects any demographic or territorial changes in Gaza, including any actions that reduce its territory.<\/p>\n The Council then adopted resolution 2735 (2024) with a<\/strong> vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Russian Federation)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Speaking after the vote, the representative of the\u00a0United States<\/u><\/strong> observed: \u201cToday, this Council sent a clear message to Hamas \u2013 accept the ceasefire deal on the table.\u201d\u00a0 Israel has already agreed, she added, underscoring that \u2014 if Hamas does the same \u2014 \u201cthe fighting can stop today\u201d.\u00a0 Now, the international community is united behind a deal that will save lives, help civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal, reunite hostages with their families, lead to a more secure Israel and unlock the possibility of more progress.\u00a0 Noting that Egypt and Qatar have assured her country that they will help ensure that Hamas engages constructively, she said that \u201cthe United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations as well, assuming Hamas accepts the deal\u201d.\u00a0Over the past eight months, the Council has often been divided and the world has taken notice with understandable frustration.\u00a0 However, there is another side to this story \u2014 for the fourth time, the Council has said that the only way to end the cycle of violence and build durable peace is through political settlement.\u00a0 \u201cToday, we voted for peace,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Algeria<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that his thoughts are with the 37,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces over the past eight months.\u00a0 \u201cThese martyrs for us are alive with their Lord, watching over us from heaven,\u201d he said.\u00a0 He acknowledged that Algerians deeply feel the suffering of the Palestinians and, with their own history of struggle against occupation, they understand and support the Palestinians\u2019 legitimate and just demands. \u00a0Noting that as a free and dignified people, Palestinians will never accept living under occupation and will never abdicate their fight for liberation, he added: \u00a0\u201cTo us, Palestinian lives matter\u201d.<\/p>\n While the resolution is not perfect, it offers a glimmer of hope, he said, stressing: \u00a0\u201cWe voted for this text to give diplomacy a chance.\u201d \u00a0Guided by solidarity with the Palestinian people, Algeria will do its part in the international reconstruction effort.\u00a0 He reaffirmed Algeria\u2019s commitment to accountability for those killed in Nuseirat and all occupied Palestinian territories. \u00a0\u201cNo one will be immune.\u00a0 None will be above the law,\u201d he stressed. \u00a0If the International Court of Justice\u2019s orders are not endorsed, a new genocide \u201clooms on the horizon\u201d, he said, underscoring:\u00a0 \u201cTherefore, our objective must be to end the occupation.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0United<\/strong> Kingdom<\/strong><\/u>, whose delegation voted in favour, cited the resolution as \u201can important step\u201d in bringing about an end to the conflict that has raged since the 7\u00a0October attacks.\u00a0The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and the suffering has gone on far too long.\u00a0 London has long called for the deal on the table which is \u201cthe best way\u201d to get remaining hostages out, bring about an immediate ceasefire leading to a permanent end to hostilities, and enable a significant scaling up of much-needed humanitarian aid.\u00a0 She called on Hamas to accept the deal and end the suffering of the Palestinian people and the hostages who remain in detention.\u00a0 Further, she called for the rapid increase of humanitarian aid, stressing that \u201cnow \u2014 more than ever \u2014 is the time for diplomacy, now is the time for peace\u201d.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Malta<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>noted her country\u2019s consistent calls for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a comprehensive response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.\u00a0 \u201cWe fully support all initiatives that bring us closer to these imperatives,\u201d she emphasized.\u00a0 While welcoming the 8\u00a0June news that four hostages were successfully rescued by Israeli forces, she stated that images from that operation \u201care truly horrifying\u201d.\u00a0 And those images are not isolated, she added; rather, they are \u201cemblematic of the scale of suffering in Gaza\u201d.\u00a0 She therefore stressed that all parties must respect international humanitarian law.\u00a0Meanwhile, the ceasefire proposal will be essential to addressing deepening humanitarian concerns; lead to the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip; and create the space to mount an international reconstruction effort there.\u00a0 Most importantly, it will put both parties on the path towards reviving a credible political process for lasting, sustainable peace anchored in a two-State solution.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Switzerland<\/u><\/strong>, noting that she supported the draft text, said: \u00a0\u201cThis plan currently represents the best chance for a way out of the appalling violence raging in the Middle East.\u201d \u00a0However, she expressed regret that despite the request of several delegations, the call for respecting international humanitarian law and human rights law \u2014 which was included in previous resolutions \u2014 \u201cdid not find a place\u201d in the text voted in today.\u00a0 \u201cWe are relieved that four hostages have \u2014 after many months \u2014 been reunited with their families,\u201d she continued, while expressing concern over the very high number of Palestinian casualties during the rescue operation in Nuseirat.\u00a0Reiterating her support for the negotiations led by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, she called on Israel and Hamas to conclude and implement this agreement as soon as possible.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Japan<\/u><\/strong>, whose delegation voted in favour, underscored that \u201cthe devastating conflict in Gaza has gone on for far too long,\u201d with too much suffering and loss of innocent life. \u00a0\u201cThe catastrophic humanitarian situation is indescribable,\u201d while many hostages are still being held in appalling conditions. \u00a0Commending the vigorous diplomatic efforts led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, and the three-stage proposal outlined by President Biden, he said that \u2014 if Hamas accepts the deal and both parties commit themselves to negotiations \u2014 it will finally bring about the long-awaited ceasefire and release of hostages. \u00a0\u201cToday, the Security Council has upheld its responsibility to maintain international peace and security by expressing our strong desire to see the end of the vicious cycle of violence,\u201d he stated, adding:\u00a0 \u201cThe people of Gaza and the hostages still held by Hamas are counting on us.\u201d<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Slovenia<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>noted that international law prohibits hostage-taking, the denial of humanitarian access to civilians and attacks against humanitarian workers.\u00a0 Further, it includes displaced persons\u2019 right to voluntary return.\u00a0 \u201cMy point, colleagues, is that many of the elements of this deal should already be taking place,\u201d she emphasized \u2014 which also should have been the case for the Council\u2019s previous resolutions and the International Court of Justice\u2019s provisional measures.\u00a0 Underscoring that \u201cthe suffering in Gaza must end\u201d, she said that military operations to free hostages that leave hundreds of civilians killed and injured \u2014 like the one conducted on 8\u00a0June \u2014 \u201ccannot be the new normal\u201d.\u00a0 Photos of children dying of malnutrition \u201cwill go down in history as one of the conflicts this Council should have prevented\u201d, she stressed.\u00a0 Only two sovereign and equal States can make peace happen, she added, pointing to this as the reason for her country\u2019s recent recognition of Palestine as an independent, sovereign State.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0China<\/u><\/strong>, noting that the draft text is still \u201cambiguous in many aspects\u201d, said that his delegation has \u201cvalid concerns\u201d whether the parties concerned will accept the ceasefire proposal and whether the three-phase arrangements can be carried out smoothly.\u00a0\u201cOur understanding is that, as long as a ceasefire is achieved, no more fighting will be launched again,\u201d he said, observing that this has been the most pressing aspiration of Gaza civilians.\u00a0From the perspective of the urgent need to stop more killings and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, China voted in favour.\u00a0 Underscoring that all Council resolutions are legally binding, he expressed hope that the sponsor will work \u201csincerely\u201d in an impartial matter to push for an immediate realization of a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0 China will work towards bringing the Israeli-Palestinian question \u201cback to the right track\u201d of the two-State solution, he added.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Guyana<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that 247 days have passed since Hamas\u2019 horrific attacks and since Israel launched a war on Gaza \u201cunprecedented in scale and impact\u201d.\u00a0 The humanitarian situation is catastrophic and \u201cGaza has been made an abyss of destruction,\u201d she observed, adding that \u2014 despite the adoption of the resolution calling for the protection of civilians and a ceasefire \u2014 the war has persisted.\u00a0 Her country voted in favour of the draft as it represents a valuable contribution towards achieving the end of the war and bringing relief to civilians suffering in Gaza and the Israeli hostages and their families.\u00a0 Nevertheless, she emphasized that the Council must redouble its efforts towards the urgent achievement of a ceasefire and the release of all hostages in Gaza.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Ecuador<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that his country, \u201conce again, voted in favour of peace\u201d.\u00a0 Now, both parties must accept the proposal, which will put into effect an immediate ceasefire, allow for the release of hostages and alleviate the terrible humanitarian situation faced by civilians in Gaza.\u00a0 Further, implementing all proposed phases will facilitate the beginning of a reconstruction plan in Gaza and reject any attempts at demographic or territorial change in the Strip.\u00a0 Stressing that the proposal be seized to halt the spiral of violence and \u201censure that this is the last war of this long conflict\u201d, he also urged moving towards the existence of two States, Palestine and Israel, on the basis of 1967 borders and relevant resolutions.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Sierra<\/strong> Leone<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0said he voted in favour of the resolution, adding that the Security Council\u2019s actions should complement ongoing diplomatic efforts.\u00a0 While his delegation does not agree with all the elements in the text, he urged Israel and Hamas to seize this opportunity to meaningfully engage and commit to an agreement that will lead to a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners.\u00a0 To avoid future catastrophes and put an end to this \u201cbrutal conflict\u201d, Sierra Leone reiterates the need for parties to the conflict to respect and implement all relevant Council resolutions. \u00a0He expressed hope that the parties to the conflict will approach the negotiating table with empathy, flexibility and consideration of the conflict\u2019s impact on women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, who since 7\u00a0October\u00a02023 have been victims of their actions.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Russian<\/strong> Federation<\/strong><\/u>\u00a0said that from the very outset of the military escalation, Moscow has advocated for a permanent ceasefire.\u00a0 On the adopted resolution, he said that \u201cits sponsors did not keep the Council in the loop of the agreement\u2019s details\u201d.\u00a0 Noting that \u201cthere was no negotiation process\u201d, he also pointed out that \u2014 even though Hamas is called upon to accept this so-called deal \u2014 there is no clarity regarding official agreement from Israel.\u00a0 In this regard, he recalled numerous statements by Israel that \u201cit will continue in its war until Hamas is defeated\u201d. \u00a0The Council should not sign up to agreements with vague parameters and without a clear understanding of the parties\u2019 position, he asserted.\u00a0 Also, the adoption of yet another document \u2014 the content of which raises questions \u2014 undermines the Council\u2019s authority as the main body for the maintenance of international peace and security.\u00a0 \u201cWe do not wish to block the resolution as the Arab world supports it,\u201d he said.\u00a0 However, the questions raised by Moscow require a response.<\/p>\n The representative of the\u00a0Republic<\/strong> of Korea<\/strong><\/u>, Council President for June, spoke in his national capacity to welcome diplomatic efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to achieve an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.\u00a0 \u201cThe recent airstrikes on refugee camps and the massive operation to rescue hostages, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties, once again exemplify the imperative of finalizing the deal as soon as possible,\u201d he said.\u00a0Underscoring that \u201cmore hesitation means more fatalities\u201d, he expressed hope that today\u2019s adoption will press both parties \u2014 notably Hamas \u2014 to accept and implement the terms of the proposal.\u00a0Israel must also stay true to its word.\u00a0\u201cNo other considerations should be prioritized beyond the lives of innocent people,\u201d he stressed, expressing hope that the resolution can lead to \u201ca concrete outcome on the ground\u201d \u2014 including a massive expansion of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong>said that her country\u2019s goals have been very clear since Hamas\u2019 invasion on 7\u00a0October: \u00a0to bring hostages back home and to dismantle that terrorist group\u2019s capabilities.\u00a0 \u201cOnce these goals are met, the war will end,\u201d she stressed, noting that if Hamas released hostages and turned themselves in \u201cnot one more shot needs to be fired\u201d.\u00a0 However, 120 hostages are still being held by Hamas, which keeps advancing their goal of \u201cmurdering every Israeli\u201d.\u00a0 It is the \u201cgenocidal jihadists who started this war\u201d who are preventing the war from ending, she observed, emphasizing that pressure must be applied on Hamas and \u201cblame must be placed where it belongs\u201d.\u00a0 Yet, that terrorist group does not care for what the Council has to say because it has never been held responsible.\u00a0 She stated that the pressure on the terrorists should have begun long ago, but \u201cit\u2019s still not too late\u201d.<\/p>\n As a result of a heroic operation, the Israel Defense Forces rescued four hostages, who were held in residential buildings by Palestinian families. \u00a0While the hostages were guarded by terrorists, Gazan civilians were their jailors, she said, adding that those \u201cso-called innocent civilians\u201d were not only cooperating with terrorists, but were complicit with their heinous crimes.\u00a0 \u201cIsrael regrets any harm to civilians, but it must be emphasized that Palestinians who cooperate with Hamas and take part in their war crimes are not uninvolved,\u201d she said.\u00a0 While the loss of life is tragic, if States do not put blame on Hamas, they are advancing its strategy.\u00a0 \u201cWe will continue until all hostages are returned and until Hamas\u2019 military and governing capabilities are dismantled,\u201d she underscored, adding that Israel will not engage in meaningless negotiations, which Hamas can stall as a way to exploit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Explanation of Position Before Vote<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Vote<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Explanations of Position after Vote<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n