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'
Madam President,
Thank you for convening today’s meeting.
I thank Assistant Secretary General Khiari for his briefing, and I take this opportunity to extend to him and the UN family our deepest condolences on the killing of the six UNOPS and UNRWA workers over the last few days.
I also commend Mr. Sharabi for his courage in sharing his experience with us today and commiserate with him on the loss of his loved ones in such tragic circumstances.
Madame President,
At the outset, Guyana stresses that the taking of hostages is a grave breach of international law, particularly common Article III of the Geneva Conventions.
In this context, we condemn once again the taking of hostages by Hamas during the 7 October attacks on Israel and emphasize the provisions of Security Council resolutions 2712, 2720, 2728 and 2735 which call for the release of all hostages. We further stress the imperative of ensuring humanitarian access to these individuals to attend to their medical and other needs. Guyana also emphasizes the obligation of parties to ensure that the remains of anyone who died while being held hostage or detained are handled with dignity and respect.
Madam President,
In the context of the foregoing, allow me to underscore the following three points.
First, there must be an immediate end to the ongoing hostilities in Gaza to create the conditions for peace, recovery and for a lasting, just and comprehensive end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Guyana has consistently emphasized, recurring cycles of violence between the two sides only hurt the prospects for a lasting peace, and place both Palestinian and Israeli civilians at continued risk of harm, including death. It is therefore important to address the factors driving occurrences such as those witnessed on 7 October.
In this context, Guyana recalls Member States’ commitment as elaborated in the UN’s Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy to “address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including but not limited to prolonged unresolved conflicts, dehumanization of victims of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, lack of the rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, socio-economic marginalization and lack of good governance, while recognizing that none of these conditions can excuse or justify acts of terrorism.” Efforts to combat terrorism must continue to take these important factors into account.
Second, the Security Council must be at the forefront of efforts to address breaches of international law which have implications for the maintenance of international peace and security. Given its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council should be the first to demand accountability for such breaches. It must also be first to institute measures, in keeping with the scope provided by the UN Charter, to address violations of international law, including in circumstances where those violations feature as the taking of hostages or the administrative detention of innocent civilians. Accountability is an important deterrent.
Third and final, the resolution of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict calls for principled consistency. By this, I mean that there must be principled and consistent application of international law and principled and consistent responses to wrongdoing. The approach to this conflict should not be determined by convenience based on present circumstances because this presents the risk of acting from expediency rather than principle. Guyana therefore appeals to this Council and to all Member States to consistently adopt a principled approach to the Palestinian question as we collectively seek to advance a lasting solution.
Madam President,
Allow me to conclude by reiterating the need to bring a definitive end to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict which keeps manifesting in cycles of violence that produce volumes of hurt to both sides. Let us work to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza; to bring home the remaining men, women and children which Hamas took hostage from Israel and the Palestinians detained in Israeli jails without charge; and to end the aid blockade on Gaza which is once again stifling Palestinian civilians.
Guyana is prepared to do its part to this end in compliance with international law.
I thank you.
