Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the 9819th meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”
Madame President,
I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari for his briefing and I have listened carefully to the perspectives offered by Dr. Efron and Mr. Levy.
Madame President,
Guyana notes with concern that no steps were taken by Israel since the Secretary-General’s last report on the implementation of resolution 2334 to comply with the provisions of that resolution. This ongoing stance of non-compliance is even more concerning considering that the International Court of Justice has established that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are violations of international law. The Court further established that Israel has an obligation to immediately cease all new settlement activities and to evacuate settlers from the occupied territories. Despite these clear legal provisions, however, Israel continues to violate international law, through both its policies and practices regarding settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In this context, the Secretary-General’s report sets out very clearly the violence and other human rights abuses that are the hallmark of Israeli settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Guyana therefore reiterates its call on Israel to strictly abide by its legal obligation as an occupying power to safeguard the rights and interests of the Palestinian people.
Madame President,
Guyana has taken note of the impact of Israeli settlement policies and practices on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. We note, for example, the increasing number of fatal incidents and are alarmed that most Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in the context of Israeli operations. We have also taken note of the continuing incidence of displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem attributed to demolitions and other illegal activities by Israelis. It is unjust that Palestinians are forced to live with the constant threat of violence and even death by the Israeli security forces and Israeli settlers, even when they are engaged in routine activities such as picking olives from their olive groves. Guyana deplores these acts in the strongest terms and underlines Israel’s legal and moral obligation to desist.
Madame President,
The Secretary-General’s account of the situation in Gaza remains a point of deep concern for Guyana as it does for the international community. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll has surpassed forty-five thousand. This is shocking in any context and would elicit urgent and strong measures from this Council, were we to act solely based on our Charter mandate. It is deeply lamentable that the Council has been unable to achieve consensus to act for the Palestinian people, while hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians are killed, disabled, displaced, orphaned, widowed, starved, and/or subject to many other violations, the depth and scale of which no report can perhaps adequately capture. What would it take to stop this seemingly unending suffering and killing of civilians? The answer is clear - strong political will that translates into action to end the impunity with which the rights of the Palestinian people have been violated for all of these decades.
Madame President,
We urgently need a political horizon to move us beyond the status quo. We already have the relevant frameworks established by the resolutions adopted both by the General Assembly and this Council. The international community must work unceasingly to remove the impediments to Palestinian self-determination which have persisted almost since the birth of the United Nations. This continues to be manifested in cycles of violence meted out against the Palestinian people with impunity, in the denial of their requests for full membership of the United Nations, for recognition and to chart their own political path, among others. The two-state solution continues to be effectively undermined. We cannot allow this to continue. Guyana appeals to fellow Council members and the entire United Nations membership to spare no efforts toward a two-state solution.
Madame President,
I wish to conclude by highlighting four points.
First, we need an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We have seen media reports about a potential deal between Israel and Hamas and we urge the parties to prioritize the lives of civilians and to cease the hostilities. We also reiterate our demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
Second, Israel cannot continue to turn a blind eye to its international legal obligations concerning the Palestinian people. The illegal settlement activities must end and Israel must repatriate all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territories. Additionally, Member States must uphold their obligation to distinguish in their dealings with the State of Israel proper and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Third, the Council must unite as one and uphold its Charter mandate. We must achieve consensus to end the impunity with which Israel has continued to violate all of the UN resolutions on the question of Palestine.
Fourth and last, we must deliver peace for the Palestinian people. This entails support for establishing strong governance by Palestinians for Palestinians even as we take decisive measures to bring the Israeli occupation to an end. Peace must also entail a resolution of all final status issues, including the refugee question. On this latter note, Guyana reiterates its strong support for UNRWA’s mandate, noting that unless the refugees are able to exercise their right of return, that mandate cannot be unilaterally brought to an end by Israel or any other party.
Guyana commits to continue its strong engagement on the question of Palestine with a view to contributing to a just and lasting solution.
I thank you
