Statement delivered by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations, at the meeting of the UNSC on the "Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question"

Thank you, Mr. President,

As this is the first formal meeting for the month, I take this opportunity to congratulate Algeria on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and welcome the newly elected members – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia. I also commend the United States for its able leadership of the Council in December and extend best wishes to Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland who just concluded their terms.

Turning to our agenda for today, I thank Algeria for organizing this important meeting to discuss Israel’s ongoing attacks against hospitals and healthcare facilities in Gaza.

We are grateful for the updates provided by High Commissioner Volker Türk, (WHO representative) and Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan.

Mr. President,

Guyana is deeply saddened that the new year finds the Palestinian people continuing to experience intolerable suffering brought on by Israel’s brutal war on Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have no option but to live in tents, exposed to the harsh winter conditions. One of the most devastating consequences has been the freezing to death of babies who are unable to maintain their body temperature and who have no access to the medical infrastructure that could preserve their lives.

Last week, the UN reported that a series of deadly IDF attacks committed on and near hospitals in Gaza have pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse.

We also noted from OHCHR’s recent report that attacks on hospitals for the period October 2023 to June 2024 have reportedly rendered up to 22 out of 38 hospitals across Gaza non-functional. The situation today is much worse.

The recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital has put the last major health facility in North Gaza out of service.

Mr. President, Colleagues,

There is simply no place or time where such a state of affairs can be acceptable. If nothing else, this dire situation should strengthen our collective resolve to end this protracted war that Israel is waging against the entire Palestinian population.

The destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system is well documented. This deplorable situation, compounded by Israel’s restrictions on the entry and distribution of medical supplies, has – according to OHCHR, led to the drastic deterioration of health outcomes across the entire population and a health catastrophe of unprecedented proportions, including the spread of infectious diseases such as polio, Hepatatis A, acute diarrhoea and jaundice.

Guyana remains convinced that the ongoing attacks on the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza, including medical personnel, is part of a systematic plan against the Palestinian people. They have been bombed, shot, starved of food and water, arbitrarily detained and tortured. They have also been displaced and forced to live in unsanitary conditions. Those who manage to survive encounter disease and other consequences of deprivation; with little or no recourse to functioning healthcare facilities.

Every time we think that the situation in Gaza could not possibly get worse, it does.

Guyana condemns in the strongest terms all attacks on the hospitals and medical and humanitarian personnel.

Israel – as an occupying power with specific legal responsibilities, must be held to account for its actions.

The continued violations of international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, should not be met with inaction. We reiterate that there should be no comfort in calling for adherence to international law without taking tangible steps to bring about this adherence.

The Security Council has a special responsibility to uphold international law, ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects across Gaza.

Guyana again calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the campaign of violence being waged against the Palestinian people. The two-state solution remains the only viable option.

Mr. President,

Guyana commends the WHO and its partners for the tireless efforts to provide healthcare, basic medical and hygiene supplies, food and water, amid the ongoing chaos in northern Gaza. We call Israel to uphold its legal obligations as the occupying power, to ensure that the health care needs of the Palestinians are met.

We also appeal to fellow Council members for us to work together to bring an end this ongoing tragedy.

I thank you.