New York (TDI): “There is no justification for denying civilians in Gaza access to life-saving aid,” said Ambassador Barbara Woodward, the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the UN, in a statement made during the UN Security Council’s open discussion on the Middle East situation.
The assassination of the leader of Hamas, who had the blood of innocent Israelis and Palestinians on his hands, must be a watershed in this terrible struggle, which has now taken over 43,000 lives in Gaza, she continued throughout her statement.
She also underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages who have been held in cruel conditions for more than a year.
However, she also mentioned how terrible the humanitarian situation is in Gaza. Nowadays, many people suffer from acute malnutrition. The least amount of aid has reached Gaza since the crisis started this month.
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She also emphasized how concerning the situation is in northern Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have been asked to leave the northern region.
However, there is nowhere to go that is safe. As we have witnessed throughout the conflict, Israeli strikes have targeted designated humanitarian zones in recent weeks,” Barabara said.
She added that at least 17 individuals, including nine children, were killed in an Israeli hit on Al-Shuhada. This school was converted into a shelter in the Nuseirat refugee camp on Thursday, causing the world to see extremely upsetting scenes once more.
She continued that the grave effects of these strikes on civilian infrastructure, especially hospital facilities, which face significant shortages in food, water, and medical supplies, continue to worry the UK.
She also underlined the need for Israel to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law. The world will no longer accept Israel’s continued justifications for humanitarian help, as my prime minister has stated.
“There is no justification for denying civilians in Gaza for access to essential supplies” she added.
She further added, the Israeli government needs to do more to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure while facilitating the secure and widespread delivery of supplies.
Barbara added that it is incredibly alarming to learn that UN organizations have been forced to delay the polio vaccination campaign’s implementation in northern Gaza. Israeli authorities must permit aid workers to do this work safely and securely.
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“We reiterate that northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south,” she continued. The return of Palestinian civilians, including those who were evacuated from northern Gaza, must be allowed. The Gaza Strip’s territory cannot be reduced, nor may Gazans be forcibly relocated inside or outside of it. Civilians need to be safeguarded.
The growth of illegal settlements and settler violence in the West Bank is at an unparalleled level. Israel needs to deal with this right away.
She said that unilateral action cannot and will not lead to a durable solution to this situation.
Since the two-state solution is the only realistic route to a peaceful resolution, the international community and this Council have been unambiguous and united in our support.
However, she underlined that both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples have the right to protection, security, and self-determination and that we must all cooperate to offer a viable and unchangeable route to a two-state solution.
