Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at Security Council Briefing on 'The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question'
Madam President,
At the outset, I express my appreciation to you for responding to the Algerian request to meet with a swiftness matching the urgency of the matter under consideration. I also thank Ms. Msuya for the information provided.
Madam President, dear colleagues,
Each time we meet in the Security Council to discuss the situation in Gaza, we tally the miseries and the unprecedented, including the Palestinians killed, maimed, displaced, orphaned, starved and detained, and we deplore, demand and condemn as we should. We felt that the Council had fulfilled its moral and legal duty by adopting four resolutions because they are legally binding and hence would have brought positive change for the people of Palestine and Israel. We supported all efforts toward a deal, hoping that we will have a ceasefire, release of the hostages and Palestinians illegally detained, and a renewed hope for Palestinians, even in this darkest of times. One year and 47 meetings later in this Chamber, our combined efforts have not the expected results and the situation in Gaza continues to worsen with each passing day.
We must not allow the shredding of the moral and legal thread that holds our organization together. The most fundamental question this Council faces is what will we do to stop this tide? Honest answers to this question with strong political would no doubt engender the kind of action needed to save the lives of the millions of civilians in Gaza and in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, who have no escape.
Guyana continues to be outraged by the suffering that the Government of Israel is inflicting on the civilian population in Gaza and the inhumane conditions under which they have been forced to live. This undesirable situation is compounded by the frequent evacuation orders that have become a staple of this war and which Guyana concludes is part of a strategy to entrench instability and destroy any semblance of permanence. Displaced civilians face many hardships including protection risks, food insecurity, and increased risk of disease. In fact, these risks are multiplied for civilians in Gaza since many of them have been displaced multiple times since this war began last October.
Madam President,
International humanitarian law contains clear provisions about the forced displacement of civilian population in war. It is illegal. In the strictly limited cases where evacuation of the civilian population is permissible, the provisions are equally clear on the conditions under which the evacuation is to be carried out. Civilians’ interests must be prioritized at all times and their safety must never be compromised. Israel has not fulfilled any of its obligations in this regard. Its latest forcible displacement of civilians in the Northern Gaza governorate coupled with its siege of the area is unconscionable, inhumane and illegal. Civilians are so tired of their misery that many in Northern Gaza who are being displaced again, have decided to stay, so if they are killed whether by bombs or by starvation, they would have at least died in the place they called home. These are the stark choices that people are now making. Guyana condemns these actions by Israel and calls for adherence to its obligations under international humanitarian law regarding the treatment of civilians in armed conflict.
Madam President,
These frequent evacuation orders also have a negative impact on humanitarian operations in the territory since humanitarian personnel are forced to constantly be on the move and to re-establish themselves in new spaces – all without security guarantees. This further exacerbates the dire humanitarian situation.
Against this backdrop, Guyana underscores the following three points.
First, the International Court of Justice has unequivocally declared the illegality of Israel’s ongoing occupation and the General Assembly has demanded that Israel bring to an end its unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territories. It is therefore illegal for the Israeli government to move to annex territory in the Gaza Strip.
Guyana condemns Israel’s actions in this regard.
Second, there is a veritable genocide taking place in Gaza. The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take actions to prevent genocide in Gaza in accordance with that Member State’s obligations under the Geneva Conventions. Israel, however, continues to blatantly disregard the ICJ’s orders. In this circumstance, consideration must be given to how the Council could facilitate implementation of the ICJ orders. The floodgates have already opened in Gaza and this Council must agree to pull the plug and stand up for Palestinians.
Third, this Council has the mandate and responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. We have tools at our disposal to carve out solutions to end this war. Let us use them. When legally binding resolutions and countless appeals to conscience and morality fail to change behaviour, the hand of justice must be applied.
I thank you.
