Statement delivered by H.E. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, at the Security Council Briefing on 'The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question'
Mr. President,
Thank you for organizing this important briefing. I also express Guyana’s appreciation to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini and Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland for the valuable information and perspectives provided. We pay today tribute to all humanitarians working in Gaza, and given the focus of today’s meeting, especially to Commissioner General Lazzarini and the staff of UNRWA for their unwavering commitment and service in the face of immense challenges
Mr. President,
As I said a few weeks ago, UNRWA is now at a critical crossroads with extremely difficult prospects ahead of it in light of the entry into force of certain aspects of the legislation adopted by the Israeli Knesset last October. The international community, including the General Assembly and Security Council, must do all in its power to safeguard UNRWA’s role in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Dismantling the Agency’s operations will have catastrophic consequences for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who depend on the Agency’s services. This is especially true at this time when Palestinians are seeking to recover from fifteen months of brutal war and hardship.
On this latter note, Guyana notes the unfolding developments in the Gaza Strip following the activation of the ceasefire agreement on 19th January. We are pleased that the supply of humanitarian aid into Gaza has been ramped up with hundreds of trucks, including UNRWA’s, having entered since the start of the ceasefire.
As a demonstration of its capacity to mobilize quickly and on a large scale, UNRWA brought in enough food to Gaza in four days to feed one million people. In fact, as Commissioner General Lazzarini, reminded sixty per cent of all the food that came into Gaza since the start of the ceasefire, has come in through UNRWA. Guyana urges that the parties continue to uphold their obligation to ensure the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in need. Palestinians in Gaza must receive our full support to rebuild their lives and livelihoods and all impediments to this end must be removed.
Mr. President,
As international attention is pivoted towards recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, it is critical to keep in view the broader question of justice for the Palestinians in light of what they have experienced over the past seven decades, and more so during the brutal war of the last fifteen months. Record numbers have been killed and injured and over ninety percent of all infrastructure, including homes and other critical infrastructure, have been damaged or destroyed with piles of rubble as far as the eye can see.
Yet, Mr. President, yesterday alone we witnessed a throng of more than 200,000 Palestinians returning to their homes in north Gaza, and more will follow. They know the likelihood of finding their homes intact is almost zero. But they also know that this is their home, this is their land, even if flattened. As the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote:
“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot prevent spring from coming.”
Even amidst the more than 50 million tons of rubble, it is this “spring” - this hope for a new day, in an independent State of their own and the drums of war silenced - that lies in the heart of every Palestinian, and which fuels their unparalleled resilience. Guyana therefore urges respect for the right of Palestinians to their territory in line with the pre-1967 borders and calls on the international community to protect this right and reject any suggestions of involuntary resettlement.
An effectively functioning UNRWA is also part of a just response to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. We are all aware of the massive efforts that would be required for relief, reconstruction and recovery in Gaza. UNRWA is the only Agency that has the capacity and experience to facilitate the delivery of services to Gazans both in the near and long-term at the required scale. Guyana therefore calls on the Government of Israel not to take any actions with respect to UNRWA that would further jeopardize the situation of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We further call on Israel to uphold its international legal obligations to this end, including those related to the privileges and immunities of UN agencies.
Mr. President,
While Palestinians are attempting to begin the recovery process in Gaza, developments in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are alarming. Guyana condemns in the strongest terms the increasing violence in the occupied West Bank which is leading to a deterioration of humanitarian and security conditions there. We urge all parties, including the Israeli Security Forces, to cease all violations of the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank. We also urge Israel to refrain from all actions that could potentially undermine the ceasefire in Gaza, and lead to renewed conflagrations in the region.
Mr. President,
In the context of the evolving situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Guyana highlights the following points:
First, all efforts should be focused on ensuring that the ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold, including after its first phase. We urge the parties to continue to negotiate in good faith, prioritizing the wellbeing of civilians and the achievement of a permanent ceasefire.
Second, all attempts to unilaterally dismantle UNRWA must cease. As has been said before, it is the General Assembly that created UNRWA’s mandate, therefore it is only the General Assembly that can alter or terminate that mandate. Israel is obligated to cooperate with the UN to ensure that the needs of Palestinian refugees are met as long as that question remains unresolved.
Third, this cycle of uncertainty, flux and violence to which Palestinians have been subject could only be brought to an end with the implementation of the two-state solution. Guyana urges this Council, particularly those with influence, to exert every effort to move the needle on implementation of the two-state solution. We cannot stick to the old ways of doing things if we are getting no results. The people of Palestine deserve much more. Guyana urges all Council members for us to work together to ensure that the upcoming June conference yields concrete results for the Palestinian people.
Allow me to conclude by reiterating Guyana’s full commitment to contributing to a better and peaceful future for Palestinians. We acknowledge UNRWA’s critical role in this endeavour and express our full support for the Agency and to doing everything possible to ensure it can continue fulfilling its mandate in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
I thank you.
