General Assembly: 60th plenary meeting, Tenth emergency special session

I declare the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly resumed. Members will recall that in paragraph 11 of its resolution ES/10/SL/26 of 11 December 2024, the Assembly decided, and I quote, to adjourn the tenth emergency special session temporarily and to authorize the president of the General Assembly at its most recent session to resume its meeting upon request from member states. In this regard, I should like to draw the attention of delegations to document A/ES/10/000000000000000 1036 which contains a letter dated 5th June 2025 from the permanent representatives of Yemen and Cameroon in their respective capacities as chair of the Arab group and chair of the organization of Islamic cooperation group requesting the resumption of the 10th emergency special session I intend to conduct the proceedings of this meeting in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Assembly and the past practices of these emergency special sessions. In keeping with established practice, I should now like to invite the attention of the Assembly to document A, slash ES 10 slash 1037 concerning member states that are in arrears in the payment of their financial contributions to the United Nations within the terms of article 19 of the charter. May I take it that the Assembly duly takes note of the information contained in this document. It is so decided. The Assembly will now resume its consideration of agenda item five entitled, Illegal Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory. In this connection, the Assembly has before it draft resolution contained in document A slash ES 10 slash L 34 slash revision one. Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, we convened today following the use of the veto by a permanent member of the Security Council against a draft resolution that contained three urgent demands. One, an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties. Two, the immediate dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups and three the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian Aid into Gaza and is safe and unhindered distribution at scale including by the United Nations and humanitarian partners throughout the Gaza Strip. After 20 months of war, the horrors in Gaza must end. Despite the urgency, the Security Council remains once again paralyzed on this issue, unable to fulfill its responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. And once again, the General Assembly is called upon to take the lead in addressing the unacceptable and catastrophic situation in Gaza. It is unacceptable that the killing of innocent civilians, including women and children, persists with no end in sight. It is unacceptable that hostages continue to be held. It is unacceptable that civilians are wilfully deprived of food, water and medicine, and that they continue to be forcibly displaced. Today, the General Assembly is called upon to act. As representatives of the international community, we must translate our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, to international law, to justice, and to the dignity and worth of every human being into meaningful action on the ground. These values are not simply ideals. They are the very foundation of hope and peace. Together, we must work to finally end the horrors in Gaza. We must start building a better future where the peoples of Palestine and Israel can live in peace, security and dignity in their sovereign and independent states. Next week, Member States will have an opportunity to showcase their resolve in realizing that promise at the high level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Let us not forget that the two-state solution is based on Resolution 181 adopted by the General Assembly in 1947, 78 years ago. and reaffirmed by many other resolutions. I call upon all delegations in this hall today to do the utmost to lay the groundwork for the two-state solution. It is the price for durable peace and security between Israel and Palestine. The time to act is now. I thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain to introduce draft resolution A/ES/10/L.34/Rev.1.

Mr. President, I have the honour to introduce draft resolution A/ES10/L34/Rev.1 entitled Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations. Firstly, I would like to thank all of the co-sponsors for their support for this important initiative, which the President of the Spanish Government, Mr. Pedro Sanchez, announced before the Spanish Parliament on 7 May last, with the aim of the General Assembly of the United Nations stating its view with regard to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Spain, together with Palestine, has been working on this draft resolution, which demands that the parties to the conflict comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and demands Likewise, the immediate and permanent facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza, including food and medical supplies, fuel, equipment, shelter and access to clean drinking water. In this regard, the draft resolution welcomes and expresses support for the United Nations coordinated plan to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza. The text also underscores the obligation of the parties to an armed conflict to respect and protect the civilian population and to exercise constant care to ensure that they spare civilian objects, particularly calls upon all States to respect and protect humanitarian personnel. United Nations personnel and associated personnel, medical personnel as well as humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities. The draft resolution underscores the commitment to the two-state solution with the Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian state, firmly rejects any attempts at demographic change in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and condemns all plans of individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as the deportations of persons protected in the occupied territory. The text also demands an immediate halt to settlement construction, expansion, land confiscation, home demolitions, forced evictions and settler violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and calls for immediate and concrete measures to preserve the territorial integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and towards unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority. Mr. President, as a matter of urgency, the international community must launch a robust message with regard to the situation in Gaza, and we strongly encourage all Member States to vote in favour of this draft resolution. Finally, Mr. President, I would request that the debate be suspended at 4 pm in order to proceed to the adoption of a decision on draft resolution A/ES10/L.34/Rev.1. on the understanding that the debate will resume immediately following the adoption of the decision and that the tenth emergency special session will only be temporarily adjourned following the conclusion of the debate. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Spain. The representative of Spain has moved. that the debate on agenda item five be suspended at 4:00 p.m. for the Assembly to proceed to the consideration of draft resolution A/ES.10/L.34/Rev.1 and that the debate would continue after the action on the draft resolution. It is my understanding that without setting a precedent, and given the urgency of the issue, if the Assembly were to decide to suspend the debate at 4pm for the Assembly to proceed to the consideration of draft resolution AS/ES10/L34/Rev.1 and to continue the debate after the action on the draft resolution, and if the Assembly were to adopt the draft resolution subsequently, The 10th Emergency Special Session would be adjourned temporarily following the conclusion of the debate on item five. Is there any objection to the motion? I hear no objection. It is so decided. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the observer of the observer state of Palestine.

Mr. President, I thank you for your swift response to the request made by the chairs of the Arab group and the OIC for the resumption of the 10th emergency special session of the General Assembly. This request was made following the veto casted by the United States on the 4th of June and the draft resolution submitted to the Security Council by the elected 10 members of the Council, the E10, and supported by 14 Council members, demanding an immediate ceasefire the lifting of Israel's blockade on humanitarian access, and the restoration of all essential services to the Palestinian civilian population in accordance with international humanitarian law, and the release of all hostages as the Council demanded previously in resolution that regrettably remain unimplemented with grave consequences. Mr. President, distinguished delegations, we meet here on the 614th day of a full-fledged assault against the Palestinian people. And as we continue all efforts to mobilize the international community to take the requisite actions to put an end to this genocide. We thank Spain and the members of the core group for their sense of urgency and responsibility in putting forward this draft resolution that once again clearly spells out the international community's stance in favor of a permanent ceasefire, release of hostages and prisoners, unhindered humanitarian aid at scale throughout the Gaza Strip, and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. This draft resolution stresses Israel's obligation as occupying power to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all the population in need, and demands the immediate and permanent facilitation of full, rapid, safe and unhindered entry of humanitarian assistance at scale, including food and medical supplies to and throughout the Gaza Strip and its delivery to all Palestinian civilians, as well as fuel, equipment, shelter and access to clean water in accordance with international humanitarian law with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in coordination with the United Nations. The text strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and stresses the obligation not to deprive civilians in the Gaza Strip of objects indispensable to their survival, including by willfully impeding relief supplies and access. And while this language is the strongest to date, on these matters Israel's continuing disregard and blatant contempt for the rules of international law the resolutions of UN bodies and the positions of states around the world must lead to the translation of this language into resolute action and it has to be done now no arms no money, no trade to oppress Palestinians. Ethnically cleanse them and steal their land. Use the tools available to you, each and every one of you in your national capacity and as an institution, General Assembly and other parts of the UN. These tools, the political, diplomatic, legal, economic tools to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes and atrocities against an entire people, the Palestinian people. With no wait, no longer, we cannot every day count every day in hundreds of Palestinian lives lost. This illegal, immoral situation cannot continue. It has to stop and stop immediately. We thank all those who are mobilized to end this horrific tragedy, governments and peoples from across the globe who are standing up for humanity and the defense of the entire nation of Palestine. Israel must end its war and its siege against the Palestinian people where over 2 million people have been subjected to relentless bombardments, wanton destruction and engineered starvation, deprived of food, water, electricity and shelter, stripped of any sense of human security and human dignity. Israel must abide by international law. It cannot remain the exception to every rule. There must be an end to its impunity. We welcome that the draft resolution clearly stresses the need for accountability in order to ensure Israel's respect of international law obligations. and in this regard calls upon all member states to individually and collect collectively take all measures necessary in line with international law and the charter of the United Nations to ensure compliance by Israel with its obligations it is the states assembled here all of you who through Their actions, by translating their legitimate outrage into rightful deeds, can end this horrific reality. Mr. President, let me conclude by saying the following. We want to see life prevail. We want to see freedom prevail. We want to see international law prevail. we want to see peace prevail we reject all attacks against civilians whether Palestinians or Israelis we want to see an independent and sovereign state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital living side by side with Israel in peace and security we want to end this illegal occupation and this prolonged conflict for once for all in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions enough bloodshed and enough suffering it is not with it is not with more massacres and more occupation and more displacement and more annexation that this conflict will end it is by breaking the cycle of violence through the fulfillment of our fundamental rights and the achievement of shared peace and security that we will bring this conflict to a close and bring healing and justice for all its victims. The actions you take today to stop the killing, displacement, and famine will determine how many more Palestinian children die a horrific death. The actions you take today will determine if Palestinian children ever get a chance at life. We count not only on your vote, but also on your deeds to make sure our actions matches our words. We have the actual power to deter the continued commission of atrocities and to uphold the tenets of international law and the noble cause of humanity. There is no time to waste. Act now. Save Gaza. Save Palestine. Save peace. And we salute all of you, governments, and millions in the streets and trade unions who are taking actions to stop this atrocity and this genocide. And I hope that all of you would vote in favor of the resolution before us. And I thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the observer state of Palestine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ethan Horn is a father. He is a husband, a social worker. He is an Israeli who moved from Argentina with his family when he was a child. In October 7th, 2023, He decided to visit his brother Yair for the weekend of the holy festival of Simchat Torah. Yair lived in kibbutz near Oz, right by Gaza. On that Saturday morning, Hamas turned a holiday into a day of bloodshed and evil. Eitan and his brother Yair huddled inside the safe room of Yair's home. They texted their family, they tried to stay quiet, Then contact was lost. Hamas released a propaganda video showing the two men starved, beaten, and terrified. They had been tortured and starved in Gaza. Yair was released in the hostage agreement in February, but Eitan remains in captivity. For months, there has been no proof of life. No sign of mercy, only agony. Eitan is not alone. He is one of 53 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. Each one of them is an entire world. However, this General Assembly has failed to treat them as such. You gather here today not to demand their release, not to call out the terrorist regime. No, today is a vote on a resolution that does not condition a ceasefire on the hostages' freedom, a resolution that refuses to condemn their captors, a resolution that rewards the terrorists responsible for their suffering. This resolution does not advance peace, it does not reflect the truths on the ground, It does not reflect the values this institution claims to uphold. Instead of applying pressure on Hamas, the group that started this war and continues to prolong it, this resolution tries to place all the pressure on us, on Israel, the only party actively working to bring its people home. Colleagues, there is a real credible framework already on the table. It was constructed with the support of the US, Egypt, and Qatar. Israel has accepted multiple proposals under it, each time making painful and hard compromises. Hamas has rejected every single one, every proposal, every opportunity. They responded with not negotiating and keeping silent. because Hamas is not interested in peace. It is interested in survival, delay, and the prolonging of terror. But this resolution in front of you says nothing about that. It does not acknowledge the facts. It does not hold Hamas accountable. Instead, it hands Hamas everything it wants: time, leverage, legitimacy. By adopting this resolution today, you will give Hamas political cover, you will strengthen their hand, and you will tell the families of the hostages that their loved ones are no longer your priority. It must be acknowledged that by failing to condition a ceasefire on the release of the hostages, you told every terrorist organization that abducting civilians works, that holding elderly men and young women in tunnels earns you a seat at the table, that you can brutalize the innocent and still be rewarded with resolutions from the world's highest body. This is not diplomacy. It is surrender. You know what Hamas is. You have heard the stories. You have seen the footage. You know they do not care about international law or your resolutions. They care about one thing, power. This assembly is giving it to them. The hostages have not seen sunlight. They have not spoken to their families. Many have been tortured. Many have been murdered. All of them are being denied the most basic forms of human dignity. Somehow, this institution cannot find the strength to condemn Hamas. Instead, you lecture Israel. You accuse us of collective punishment. You pretend that the suffering in Gaza is disconnected from Hamas's constant atrocities. But let me show you the facts. Meanwhile, Israel continues to deliver humanitarian aid, despite the slander contained in this resolution. Over the past weeks, over 16 million meals have been delivered through the new international mechanism in Gaza, Humanitarian Foundation, It was developed in coordination with the U.S. On Tuesday, June 10 alone, over two million meals were distributed across three distribution sites. Only today, 36,000 meals were distributed. This mechanism does what the previous one could not. It stops Hamas from stealing the aid. At the same time, Hundreds of aid trucks have entered Gaza in recent weeks, but over 500 trucks are still sitting undelivered inside Gaza because of the UN's failure to distribute on the other side. And yet, this resolution claims Israel, and I quote, is using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war. That is a blood libel. This assembly speaks of balance, but this resolution is not balanced. It draws a false and disgusting equivalence between Israeli hostages and Palestinian terrorists. It compares innocent people held in unimaginable conditions to murderers protected by Israeli legal system with access to food and medical care. How can you do that, to compare these two groups? is not just dishonest, it is morally indefensible. It erases the line between victim and aggressor. It deprives the hostages of their humanity. Because Israel values life, we agree to these exchanges, but we will never accept the moral inversion that this resolution represents. This resolution betrays the very people it claims to protect. It undermines real diplomacy. It emboldens those who seek only to destroy. So esteemed colleagues, allow me to clarify something. If this assembly wishes to maintain even a shred of credibility, if it wishes to be seen as legitimate, if it claims to act with any integrity whatsoever, if it seeks to demonstrate the slightest bit of moral clarity, then any resolution on the situation in Gaza must begin with the following words: The General Assembly of the United Nations is appalled by the atrocities committed in the October 7 massacre. Not difficult to say. The General Assembly unequivocally condemns Hamas for those atrocities, as well as its use of human shields and looting of humanitarian aid. The General Assembly demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Now ask yourselves, why does this sentence not appear in this resolution you are about to vote on? What was so difficult? I asked my colleague from Spain, you negotiated this resolution. Where is the condemnation of Hamas? Why it was so hard? One line, five pages you have here. You all read it. One line, condemnation of Hamas. This assembly is not capable of doing it. Let's be honest. I challenge any one of you here in this chamber to stand up and explain why you could not bring yourself to include a simple condemnation of Hamas. Explain it to your citizens. Why you must vote for a resolution that looks away from a mass murder, rape, torture, and kidnapping. Explain it to your people why you are trying to erase October 7 from history. It is shameful. Each member state that supports this resolution without a single word of condemnation for Hamas owes its people an answer. Because when you refuse to condemn Hamas, you commend them. You have abandoned the hostages, but we will not. We will fight to bring back each and every one of them, all of them. Those kidnapped from Nir Oz, Tamir Adar, Amiram Kuper, Ariel Konio, David Konio, Ronen Engel, Ethan Horn, Eliyahu Margalit, Aryeh Zalmanovich, Matan Tsangoker. Those kidnapped from the Nova Festival. Uriel Baruch, Elkanah Buchbuth, Ron Bar Ratlevsky, Avitar David, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Inbar Hayman, Maxim Herkin, Guy Iluz, Segaf Halfon, Bar Kupershtain, Eitan Avraham Mor, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Or, Yonatan Samirano, Idan Stevi. Those kidnapped from Be'eri, Shachar Baruch, Manny Godard, Ofra Kedar, Dror Or, Yossi Sharabi, Ilan Weiss. Those kidnapped from Kfar Aza, Gali Berman and Ziv Berman. Those kidnapped from the Gaza envelope, Muhammad Al-Atarsh, Nimrod Cohen, Shai Levinson, Omer Netura, Daniel Peretz. Those kidnapped from Nachal Oz, Matan Engrest, Itai Chen, Omri Miran. Those kidnapped from Nir Itzhak, Tal Chaimi, Lior Rudaf, and all those kidnapped into Gaza, Adar Goldin, Ran Gvili, Bipin Joshi from Nepal, Eitan Levi, Tamir Nimrodi, Daniel Oz, and Joshua Lutumolal from Tanzania. No resolution, no moral failure, no hypocrisy will change the reality. Israel will do whatever it takes to bring our people home. Maybe today some in this hall have lost their moral clarity, but we have not. That moral clarity guides us to say to the hostage families, "We will bring them back, all of them.".

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait, who will speak on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.

Sayyid al-Rais, ashab al-saada, sayyidat wa al-sada.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings. I am honored to deliver this statement on.

Behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and my country, the State of Kuwait. I would also like to express our solidarity with the statement and our alignment with the statement that will be delivered by His Excellency, the Permanent Representative of Yemen on behalf of the Arab Group. Mr. President, for almost two years, the world has witnessed a policy of chaos that is followed by the forces of the occupying Israeli power. through its violation of sovereignty and its committing a genocide and using starvation as a weapon of war and exposing the security of the region to risk and violating the principles of international law and international custom. The international community must take a stance for the sake of truth. that has been long-awaited, to uphold its responsibility to end these practices that threaten the future of the region and the people in the region, while affirming the need to take serious measures in order to maintain peace and stability in the region as per international law. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemns in the harshest of terms the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and its attacks against Palestinian civilians and forcibly displacing them. We also condemn the blockade forced and imposed by the occupying power since last March. During this time, food, medicine, fuel, and water have been prevented from entry, which has led to the absence of all forms and necessities of life in the Gaza Strip. Our GCC reiterates its firm solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and around the Gaza Strip and our commitment to end the blockade and to lift the suffering of the Palestinian people and to guarantee humanitarian access in full and all necessary needs to the population of Gaza. The world has witnessed through live broadcasts images that cannot be described or even imagined through the thousands of innocent civilians who have crowded at the aid distribution points managed by Israel and which do not comply with the UN criteria for humanitarian action. The people crowd in manners that humiliate and violate the most basic human dignity, and as innocent civilians do so, the Israeli war machine killed unarmed persons deliberately. And we emphasize that we confirm that we support the UN aid distribution mechanism, and we reiterate that Israel is fully responsible for the continued attacks and aggression against the innocent civilians that has led to the deaths of more than 55,000 people, most of whom are women and children. These are war crimes. and crimes against humanity as per international humanitarian law. The GCC welcomes the ICC ruling in November 2024. Mr. President, what we witnessed today of practices that are unprecedented by a deviant entity is a situation that requires the solidarity of the international community to end these violations that have worsened because of the lack of accountability. Mr. President, accountability is the most important pillar of justice. What we have seen at the end of last year in the Israeli Knesset on the laws that have been adopted to ban the operation of UNRWA in the occupied territory is only a direct result of the absence of accountability for this entity whose monstrosity has exceeded all custom and all experience. Accordingly, we emphasize that the UNRWA has been and continues to be and will remain as one of the achievements in UN history. It is the backbone and the cornerstone of humanitarian action in the occupied Palestinian territory. It is an agency that is indispensable. Therefore, we must all emphasize in one voice the importance of UNRWA's role as a pillar of regional stability and as a lifeline that gives hope and opportunities to millions of Palestinian refugees who the agency serves, including women and children. Any interruption or suspension of this critical work of the agency will lead to risks that are economic, political, and humanitarian and security-related. And we must provide safety for humanitarian workers, and we must reject all attempts to alter the situation of the UNRWA. We call on the international community to continue supporting the agency's work politically, financially, and in every human way so that UNRWA can continue its work until the return of the last Palestinian refugee to their land. Mr. President, at the time when we condemn the occupying entity. While we are regretful that the Security Council has been inflicted with paralysis, we applaud the Member States that did not remain silent but have come to the General Assembly, which is the heart of this organisation, We emphasize that if the maintenance of international peace and security is primarily the responsibility of the Security Council, however, its inability to uphold its primary responsibility and its lack of a clear position because of some parties' double standard, We say the General Assembly is capable of upholding the responsibility and taking matters into its control and to lead towards a lasting permanent peace and fair settlement. We must end this crisis and tragedy that has continued for more than 600 days. The Security Council is responsible at the least of implementing its own decisions and especially in particular Resolution 2735, which calls upon, inter alia, an immediate and full ceasefire and a return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and their neighborhoods throughout Gaza. the effective and safe distribution of humanitarian aid at scale, and the rejection of any attempt at altering the demographic reality of the Gaza Strip, including any measures that may reduce the size of Gaza. It also calls for a commitment to the two-state solution as per international law and UN resolutions. In this context, we appreciate The GCC appreciates the tireless efforts by the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt, in addition to the United States of America, in attempts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire deal and to secure the release of hostages and prisoners and to guarantee the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza safely and permanently. Mr. President, in this context, next week the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question will be held, and the two-state solution under joint Saudi-French chairmanship. And we call on the member states to participate at the highest level, and we urge everyone to recognize the state of Palestine. feasibility and the benefit of recognizing Israel has become multifold now, and it's high time for the state of Palestine to become a full-fledged member at the United Nations. Until when will the international community accept the double standard? The It is Palestine is such an exception. We recall here that the resolution to accept the Israeli membership at the United Nations would only be complete at the establishment of a Palestinian state. The member states who will participate in the conference must come with tangible mechanisms to hold Israel, the occupying power, accountable. with regards to the killing and destruction that it has inflicted, the scale of which has exceeded all imagination. We call for the implementation of international law and international humanitarian law and the GA resolutions and Security Council resolutions and Human Rights Council resolutions and ICJ rulings. the occupying power must also end its continued occupation that has continued through since 1967 immediately and end its arbitrary practices against the Palestinian people and return property to the rightful holders and provide reparations to everyone who has been harmed by their illegal practices, and we also emphasize the illegality of Israeli settlements. In conclusion, Mr. President, the Gulf Cooperation Council reiterates its firm position that supports the Palestinian right, and we emphasize that the lead cause of this conflict is and an endless occupation. If we desire peace and security, we must resolve the Palestinian question by guaranteeing the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the borders of June 1967. And as per the relevant UN resolutions, and the Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002. We also emphasize the need to develop a full plan for the Palestinian Authority to return to the Gaza Strip, and we reject any attempt to split the Gaza Strip from the West Bank. And we emphasize that any settlement must be in the context of a unified Palestinian state, and we must adopt a comprehensive pathway in order to implement the two-state resolution. Thank you, Mr. President, and may the peace of God be upon you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen, who will speak on behalf of the Arab Group.

Mr. Philemon Nyannga, President of the General Assembly, I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the Arab Group, and I express our deep appreciation for your swift response to hold this emergency special session in light of the continued suffering of the Palestinian people as a result of the brutal Israeli aggression. And as a result of the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, we meet today once again under the dome of this General Assembly, not to repeat words about the tragedy, but to put an end to the tragedy. We meet because on the 4th of June, the Security Council was unable to adopt a purely humanitarian draft resolution because of the veto. And despite the wide support for the draft resolution, the draft resolution demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and to lift the blockade and release the hostages and guarantee humanitarian access in unhindered form to more than two million persons under siege for months, Mr. President, for more than 600 days. The Gaza Strip is facing a genocide that has taken multiple forms of bombardment and destruction and deliberate starvation and forcible displacement. And since March, Israel, the occupying power, has imposed a full blockade that has prevented the entry of food, water, fuel, leading to full paralysis of life in the Gaza Strip. Civilians today face this risk of famine in light of full deprivation of the necessities for life and in absence of any form of human dignity. We have seen images that have shaken human conscience and that have exceeded all Words can describe thousands of exhausted civilians crowd under bombardment to points of aid distribution managed by an illegal Israeli mechanism that is not committed to humanitarian action principles. in search for the needs to stay alive. And there they face humiliation and maltreatment and in many cases fall dead as a result of deliberate gunfire. UN reports and other international organizations reports and the media have documented these serious violations against unarmed civilians in a clear and blatant violation of international humanitarian law and international law. The Arab group. reiterates its full support for the UN aid distribution mechanism that is based on the respect for the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. And we call for enabling this mechanism to fully access the Gaza Strip. And we warn against the use of assistance as a means for forced displacement and to redraw the demographic reality and to forcibly annex land. This is a violation of international law and these are crimes that amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic conditions that we can no longer ignore. Civilians face complete deprivation of the basics of life. The infrastructure has fully collapsed, as well as basic services, including health care, water, education, and power grids. The UN has warned that the levels of deprivation in the Gaza Strip have become unprecedented, and that the Israeli blockade is a collective punishment that is unacceptable against a complete population in violation of international law and international humanitarian law. Mr. President, the Arab Group reiterates that what is taking place in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered a traditional armed conflict. It is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent, effective action from the United Nations and, in particular, from this august General Assembly. The inability of the Security Council to undertake its responsibility because of the use of the veto does not relieve the international community or other states from the need and the duty to act. In fact, the duty becomes more pressing and urgent in order to maintain international peace and security and to respect international law and justice. In this context, we applaud the legal, political, practical measures taken by some states, um, on the basis of their commitment to international law, including imposing sanctions and restricting travel. relations with the occupying power Israel in response to the serious crimes in Gaza. The Arab group calls on other states to follow suit and to take tangible measures that guarantee accountability for the perpetrators of crime. and that contribute to the efforts to end the violations and lift the blockade and protect the civilians as per the UN Charter and international law and the principles of international justice. The Arab group emphasizes the need to continue to hold Israel accountable as the occupying power and to guarantee that it abides by international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We call on all member states to take all necessary measures as per paragraph 10 of the draft resolution today in order to guarantee that Israel abides by its obligations and end its violations and to hold the Israeli officials accountable and to respect the international rule-based order. In this context, we commend the tireless efforts by Egypt, the state of Qatar, and the United States of America in order to reach a comprehensive ceasefire deal and to secure the release of hostages and prisoners and to guarantee the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza safely and permanently. We emphasize the need to build on these initiatives and strengthen them to end the continued humanitarian crisis and to pave the way to addressing the root causes of the conflict through ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state as per UN resolutions and international consensus. Mr. President, the Arab Group reaffirms that any fair settlement for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation of all occupied territory and Arab occupied territory and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights at the forefront of which is the right to self-determination and to an independent state on the borders of June 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital as per the UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. And we must also emphasize the need to respect the status quo for the Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. The Arab Group expresses its full appreciation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France for their co-presidency of the high-level conference upcoming on the two-state solution. And we applaud their diplomatic and political efforts in order to revive the process for peace and a fair settlement of the Palestinian question. We also applaud the working groups working to finalize and draft a final document that will hold tangible outcomes with time-bound commitments. We emphasize that we must revive the horizon for the establishment of a Palestinian state, we also applaud the practical approach adopted by the conference through the eight working groups that have comprehensively covered the different aspects, including reconstruction. as an integrated framework to build trust and to strengthen the chances for a fair peace. And we emphasize that the results of the conference must be translated into tangible measures that revive the political process and that help restore the credibility of the rule-based international order. The Arab Group calls on all member states of the General Assembly to vote in favor of the draft resolution today that reflects the collective will of the majority of the member states and the international community and that demands urgent humanitarian action represented in an unconditional and permanent ceasefire and the release of hostages and prisoners and a full lifting of the blockade and the guarantee of unhindered humanitarian access and the restoration of basic services and the full withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from the as per international humanitarian law. It also calls for an end of these policies of starvation and annexation and settlement expansion and home demolitions and to eventually end the… occupation and achieve peace. We emphasize that voting in favor of this resolution will deliver a strong message from the international community that the people, the world has not forgotten and the voice of the conscience is alive and that the Palestinian people are not alone. Ladies and gentlemen, populations cannot be obliterated by force and their rights cannot be wiped away. Human dignity can, is not lost by blockades. This General Assembly, as the living conscience of the United Nations, is called upon today to uphold the law and justice and the humanitarian principles that underpin its establishment. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Yemen. The Assembly will now proceed to consider draft resolution A/ES/10/L.34/Rev.1. For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Mr. President, I should like to announce that.

Since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/ES10/L34/Rev.1: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Maldives, Mauritania, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Senegal, Sudan, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Yemen.

If any other countries wish to co-sponsor A/ES.10/L.34/Rev.1, please signify by pressing the microphone button now.

Mr. President, I see Guinea, Denmark and Somalia. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. The Assembly will now proceed to take action on draft resolution A/73/100, slash ES10 slash L34 slash revision one. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, over the 20 months of the ongoing hostilities in the Gaza Strip, in this hall, as part of the meetings of the 10th Emergency Special Session, We have already heard the expression of all of our assessments and we have most likely used all possible epithets to describe the inhuman tragedy that is unfolding in the enclave. There was a time when the world was still horrified that the number of those killed in the Gaza Strip was approaching 15, 20 or 30,000 people. Now that number is almost twice that, 55,000. 125,000 have been wounded, of which at least 50,000 are children. The number of humanitarian workers that have been killed is approaching 450 people. These figures are simply unfathomable, particularly since the people behind those figures are far from being fighters armed to the teeth that are threatening Israeli civilians. They are ordinary Palestinians taking shelter in schools, hospitals, and refugee camps, and standing in line for humanitarian assistance. All of them are the innocent victims of the merciless military operation of Israel that has sworn to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip at any cost with no regard for the suffering of the Palestinian population. At the same time, Israel has not managed to deal a military defeat to the Hamas movement, which remains the only real force that is in control of the situation in the enclave. As experience has shown, military methods will also not help to ensure the release of the hostages, the majority of whom were freed from captivity through negotiations. Unfortunately, Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have also stalled. This illustrates the diametrically opposed approaches to modalities for possible agreements on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In these circumstances, the duty of the international community is to do everything necessary to rapidly stop the bloodshed in Gaza. We value the determination and perseverance of the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council who last week proposed a draft resolution aimed at an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the release of all hostages and forcibly detained persons, and also ensuring unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza in accordance with the norms and principles of international humanitarian law. This was a worthy document that could have led to truly positive change on the ground. Russia, like the other responsible members of the Security Council, supported it. We were bitterly disappointed that, because of another veto by Washington, the Council was not able to adopt it. At the same time today, the international community has another opportunity to send the proper signal to the parties to the conflict, albeit in the form of a General Assembly resolution. This draft presented by Spain contains the main provisions from the document that was vetoed last week, a demand for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and lifting the blockade on Gaza. Its aims are exclusively humanitarian in nature and focus on the most important thing, ending the slaughter that is claiming more and more human lives in the Gaza Strip. It is also important that this document goes outside the bounds of the paradigm of the current spike in the Israeli Palestinian conflict and outlines the vision for the international community of the only possible future, one in which there will be no repeat of the armed confrontation. namely the reconstruction of Gaza on the basis of the Arab Islamic plan and the realization of the two-state solution in accordance with the universally recognized international legal basis in which Israel and Palestine will live in peace with one another. In that future, there is no place for forced displacements, demographic or territorial changes, the construction of illegal settlements, just as there is also no place for terrorism and violence. Mr. President, Russia will vote in favour of this draft resolution and calls for the same from all those who, not in words but in deeds, are in favour of a prompt resolution of the most protracted conflict in the world, without which achieving a lasting peace and prosperity in the Middle East will remain a mirage. Moreover, the adoption of this document will give the right momentum to the high-level conference on the Middle East peace process that will begin next week. We all hope that it will provide concrete and practical results. We intend to most actively participate in it. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Thank you, President Yang. Today's emergency special session marks yet another failure on the part of the United Nations to condemn Hamas. We remain incensed that just yesterday Hamas murdered five Palestinian civilians working to distribute aid for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The resolution being considered does not does nothing to free the hostages improve the lives of civilians in Gaza or bring us closer to a ceasefire and is yet another performative action that erodes the credibility of this body this draft resolution sends an unacceptable message to Hamas and other Iran backed terrorist proxies and that message is You will be rewarded for taking hostages, diverting aid, and launching attacks from civilian areas. Mr. President, colleagues, blind support to Hamas by the members of this body further undermines the meaningful diplomacy underway to free the hostages and emboldens Hamas as the terrorist group continues to reject ceasefire proposals accepted by Israel. As the United States has made clear time and time again, we do not support one-sided measures that fail to condemn Hamas. We will not support resolutions that do not call for violent terrorist groups to disarm and leave Gaza and fail to recognize Israel's right to defend itself. It would be a better use of time for this body to support the diplomatic efforts currently underway to free the remaining 53 hostages, many of whom are nationals of member states of this body and remain in deplorable conditions for the last 615 days. Instead, the UN is wasting valuable time, energy, and resources on yet another biased resolution that rewards Hamas. Let us be clear, this resolution does nothing to bring calm to Gaza. It also does nothing to advance a realistic diplomatic solution to further the cause of peace. It is rife with serious defects. This resolution fails to acknowledge Israel has the right to defend itself. As we have made clear, any measure that undercuts our allies' security is a non-starter for the United States. This resolution draws false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, which is not only morally reprehensible, but also naive and dangerous. This resolution seeks an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire that would leave Hamas in a position to carry out future October 7th attacks. Mr. President, no one wants to see Palestinian civilians in Gaza go hungry or thirsty. Yet this resolution fails to acknowledge the shortcomings of the prior method of aid delivery, which allowed Hamas to enrich itself at the expense of the Palestinian civilians it purports to represent. We reiterate our call for the UN, NGOs, and partners to support the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to help it safely deliver aid without allowing Hamas to pilfer those resources. Hamas continues to weaponize the suffering of civilians in Gaza, murdering Palestinians as they did just yesterday and injuring many others, in another desperate bid to obstruct the delivery of aid and maintain control. This resolution falsely accuses Israel of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, while at the same time ignoring Gaza Humanitarian Foundation efforts to cut out Hamas and deliver aid consistent with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. This resolution callously demands that Israel end its blockade on Gaza while conveniently ignoring the fact that Hamas, which committed the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and abducted 251 people on October 7, 2023, continues to pose an active threat to Israeli civilians and to brutally suppress protests against its own despotic rule. It also fails to recognize the extensive measures undertaken by Israel to mitigate harm to civilians in Gaza, even as Hamas continues to use noncombatants as human shields. Mr. President, the United States will support a future for the people in Gaza that is free of Hamas and full of opportunity. We will do our part to help forge this new reality alongside Israel and our Arab partners. A durable peace between Israelis and Palestinians and a more prosperous future for all of the region's people will only be possible through direct negotiations between the parties and not unilaterally imposed from afar. We urge fellow members to call out Hamas for what is the biggest impediment toward a life of prosperity for the people living in Gaza. We urge members to vote against this biased resolution, which will further inflame tensions at a time when negotiators are continuing their efforts to secure a durable ceasefire in Gaza. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Libya.

Mr. President, Libya would like to thank Spain and the core group for presenting this draft resolution in this timely manner. Ladies and gentlemen, the world stands yet again to be tested in a moment of truth, as it is being on the edge of moral collapse. A nation buried beneath rubble and ash for over 600 days Gaza has been subjected to a brutal onslaught, a genocide broadcast in real time, yet unanswered by the consciousness of humanity. Over 55,000 souls extinguished, 125,000 wounded, and generations scarred beyond recognition, wounds that will never heal. If I would name the names of all of those, I would need days to do so. If I would have bring pictures of those, this chamber would not be enough to show them. This is not collateral damage. This is not a tragedy of war. This is a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing and calculated dismantling of a nation. These are the words of officials from the occupied Israeli forces many have been sanctioned by countries in this world. The bombs do not discriminate. Tents, hospitals, homes, aid convoys, nothing is spared. Children buried beneath rubble, entire families burned alive and vaporized, some with not a single survivor to carry their names forward. Talking about stories, a mother, Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, You all know her story. Returns from saving lives at a hospital to find her own nine children and husband massacred. Her story is not an exception. This became the norm, and the list goes on. This is not a war. It is an annihilation in daylight, a genocide emboldened by political shields and the deadly comfort of inaction. The international community watches paralyzed, as a veto in the Security Council strangles justice. Gaza is now a wasteland and a mass grave for children, its people displaced from north to south and back again with nowhere safe to go. Starvation is not a byproduct. It is a weapon of war. Food and water are withheld. Malnutrition is weaponized against newborns. And aid is turned into bait in a concentration camp where fathers are executed for chasing a bag of flour to go back to their hungry children. And still, no accountability and no justice. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the moment of moral reckoning, and silence is complicity. Humanity is bleeding in Gaza, and the world must choose to uphold the law dignity and life or to betray them all. It is time. It is time to break the silence. It is time to end the siege. Time to stop this madness and time to stand with Palestine. History did not start on October the seventh. This is a struggle of seven decades and still ongoing. Libya asks you to vote in favor of this resolution to help end this vicious cycle. Those pressing on the red button today to vote against this resolution will become a blood stain on their fingers. This is going to be registered on this voting table in front of you, and it will be a testimony of your moral compass and double standards. This is not only a Palestinian tragedy. It is a global moral emergency to stop this 21st century genocide. All lives matters. All innocent lives matter, no matter which part you're from. So will you be on the right side of history, or will you let Gaza be your generation's shame for eternity? The choice is yours. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Libya. I give the floor to the distinguished representative for Paraguay.

Thank you, Mr. President. Paraguay believes in the role of this Assembly to search for peaceful solutions based on a sustainable long-term view. We have the firm and legitimate will to express ourselves without dual standards. In this case, we need the real cessation of hostility, the protection of all civilians and humanitarian personnel. Paraguay will vote against the draft resolution today with dismay, but with conviction. We are sorry to do this because we long for peace, but with conviction because we believe that this text will not help us achieve this. Our rejection is based on a substantive argument. This resolution was not part of inclusive negotiations. It lacks the necessary minimum balance to be useful in the search for peace. Firstly, the conflict in Gaza involves more than one party, but the text gives exclusive responsibility for this to Israel. This is not an interpretation, it is a simple statement of fact. The name of Hamas does not appear anywhere in the document. Despite them violating international norms of humanitarian law, this selective silence undermines the credibility of the text and undermines any aspirations to a lasting solution. In this regard, Paraguay has been clear in its position. In 2019, we designated Hamas as a regional terrorist organization as part of our fight against terrorism and in defense of international humanitarian law. It's difficult for us to understand how a resolution that aims to contribute to peace does not mention this party and its role in the prolongation of this tragedy. Secondly, Although a ceasefire is mentioned, the predominant language is condemning and it's repeating a narrative that has been put forward in the past without results. It does not attempt to avoid conflict or human suffering. On the contrary, it helps to continue the paralysis. It's not up to us to judge people's intentions. What we should do is evaluate the consequences And the consequences of this text being voted on today is clear, political stagnation and the growing delegitimization of the General Assembly as a force for peace. We all have the right but also the obligation to contribute to long-term and medium-term solutions. We know that there is a willingness to reach these solutions, but unfortunately the text today does not reflect that collective will. That is why we recognise the negotiating efforts carried out by Egypt, Qatar and the US to make progress in this difficult situation, and we hope that this will see success soon. It is difficult to attain tangible results. We understand the concerns of those in the conflict who need to be represented for the purposes of peace in this organisation. Paraguay would like to see an end to this violence, the return of hostages and the influx of humanitarian aid. We feel that this resolution also aspires to these goals, but we recognise that the that draft will fail because it is only presenting a partial view. Finally, having said all of that, allow me to reaffirm that Paraguay will continue to support effective, balanced solutions for the protection of all civilians. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Paraguay. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia.

Mr. President, despite our reservations on some paragraphs, Tunisia will vote in favor of this resolution, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade on Gaza, and the guarantee of the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as the complete withdrawal of the occupying army from the Gaza Strip. Adopting a resolution of this sort is very important. What's even more important is for it to be applied together with the preceding resolutions. We reiterate our call for effective and responsible international action, far from tailored solutions. Humanitarian affairs are making more progress than the political side of things. We must alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and hold accountable those that are perpetrating these crimes. At a time when the United Nations is celebrating its 80th anniversary, it is deplorable that settlement building and occupation continue. and that all of these principles are being trampled in the context of continued violations by the occupying forces and those that support them. Some of them have indeed been the victims of settlement building. The daily crimes committed by the occupying forces against Palestinians They have as their objective genocide and to annihilate the will for liberation, and this runs counter to the principles according to which this organization was created. No one should knowingly ignore the fact that occupying Palestinian territory and settlement building did not begin in 2023. The historic reasons for this colonisation and the objectives of it are known by everyone. However, some parties have not yet learnt the lessons of history. This history is now repeating itself. in the face of powerless powerlessness that has been imposed on the international community without reason. Tunisia reiterates its unconditional principled support for the Palestinian people and their struggle to recover their legitimate rights, their inalienable rights to the right to a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tunisia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Mr. President, dear colleagues, Canada will be voting in favour of this resolution today. We will be voting yes because of the urgent need to secure a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the resumption of UN-led humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza on a scale that will actually meet the need of a people that have been deprived of adequate food for many months. It is incontrovertible, undeniable, that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable and has to be addressed immediately. The level of civilian casualties is abhorrent. The politicization of aid, of humanitarian assistance of any kind, is unacceptable, and the blockade of aid is illegal. All parties have to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, as do all of us. including the protection of civilians. United Nations and humanitarian personnel must be protected. The parties to this conflict, and again, all of us, have an obligation to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians that are in need. The fighting must stop. The hostages must be free. The real negotiations about the future must start just as we deliver humanitarian aid to all who need it as quickly as possible. Having said this, Canada once again must say that we profoundly regret that this resolution does not, with explicit language, condemn Hamas's horrific terrorist attacks on October the 7th, 2023. in which over 1,200 people were killed. The taking of hostages, many of whom were killed, still remain in captivity and is entirely unacceptable to us, and frankly, I think to this Assembly. The first time we voted on this issue, Canada moved an amendment to include reference to Hamas. It was supported by over 60% of the people who were voting, representing countries in the Chamber. It should be possible for us to do it again, and I'm sorry we're not possible for that to happen today. For our part, we continue to condemn Hamas unequivocally. It is a listed terrorist entity in Canada for its acts of terror, and we call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

It is clear that Hamas must disarm. and that the organization cannot have any role to play in the future governance of Gaza. All Palestinians deserve to be governed by a legitimate government that is representative of them without the participation of a terrorist organization. Our vote There's nothing to move against Israel's right to defend itself. We continue to stand with Israel based on our links, values and common commitment to its security and its future and the future of its neighbor.

Committed to the two-state solution, the only viable pathway to the enduring peace and security that Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve. We will be discussing these issues in greater depth next week. But we believe firmly that the day in which two states can live side by side in security must come soon and must come closer. A day when we can speak the words shalom and salaam together in peace, in respect, in dignity and security. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq.

Thank you, Mr. President. Allow me at the outset to thank the Spanish delegation for introducing the draft resolution. Iraq reaffirms its constant position of principle with regard to the Palestinian issue. We are attached to the principles of the UN Charter and of international law. Iraq will vote in favour of the draft resolution A/ES/10/L.34, which represents the clear will of the Palestinians for their self determination as well as an end to the occupation. The vote of Iraq confirms our call for a ceasefire that is immediate and permanent in Gaza and in the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as to guarantee the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance immediately unhindered without conditions in line with the principles of international humanitarian law. Moreover, Iraq would express its reservations with regard to certain terms in certain paragraphs because of their contradiction with national Iraqi law and the position of principle of Iraq. President, the Israeli occupation has gone beyond All limits, all weak, no weak excuses can any longer justify what happens when houses are transformed into a pile of rubble, when hospitals are transformed into cemeteries. And that's been very clear in recent days that what is happening is emptying this territory and making life impossible in Palestine. What is international law? What are the principles that allow for the killing of an entire population, to destroy hospitals, to starve a population? Where is the conscience of the world, which is not moving in the face of these children destroyed by these bombings? It's genocide, not a conflict. The figures are clear in this regard. Iraq reiterates its full support for international efforts aimed at putting an end to the Israeli aggression. And we support the Palestinian people in their right to self-determination to create an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Iraq. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Mr. President, this resolution comes against the backdrop of the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. India is deeply concerned at this deepening humanitarian crisis and we condemn the loss of civilian lives. I would like to stress that India has always been on the side of peace and humanity. We have repeatedly called for protection of civilians and upholding of humanitarian obligations. We call for safe, sustained and timely supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. On our part, India has always provided humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, both bilaterally and through the United Nations. We also believe that release of remaining hostages and a ceasefire are important to ameliorate the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Our collective voice should echo this. India's abiding commitment to dialogue and diplomacy is well known, and we firmly believe that this is the only way forward. Continuing accusations and argumentation hinder the path to peace. India has always supported a negotiated two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine issue leading to the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine living within secure and recognized borders, side by side in peace with Israel. For this, we need to work towards creating conditions for early resumption of direct peace negotiations. We hope this August assembly will send a clear message to expand the prospect for dialogue and diplomacy towards restoration of peace and bringing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to an end. Mr. President, India had earlier abstained in the vote on resolutions A/RES/77/247 and A/RES/79/232. Our vote today is in continuation of this in the belief that there is no other way to resolve conflicts but through dialogue and diplomacy. A joint effort should be directed towards bringing the two sides closer. For these reasons, we would abstain on this resolution. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of India. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Latvia.

Ms. President, Today Latvia will vote yes on the resolution A/ES/10/L/34/Rev.1 on the protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations because we strongly support the humanitarian principles enshrined in this resolution. We regret that the resolution adopted does not include a clear and direct condemnation of Hamas, designated terrorist organization by many UN member states. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal and discriminate attacks of Hamas across Israel on 7 October 2023. And we call for the immediate release of hostages without preconditions. We also reiterate our recognition of the right of Israel to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. Mr. President, the ongoing deadly violence only corroborates the need for a political horizon ensuring lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Latvia continues to believe that the two-state solution in line with international parameters is the only sustainable way to ensure peace, security, and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians. The international community should strive to create the conditions for resuming direct negotiations towards the same. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Latvia. Ladies and gentlemen, we suspend for five minutes. any other country. Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is resumed. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. I have been informed that the State of Palestine would like to speak on a point of order. Palestine, you may take the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the floor. I would ask you to give the people two minutes to get back to their seats. in a point of order so that we can make sure that those who went for a few minutes for the short break that you requested to be able to assemble back in their seats. And I thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. We'll give them two minutes. You can begin to count the minutes now. I repeat what I said. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. Before proceeding to take a decision on the draft resolution, I wish to address the question concerning the majority required for the adoption of the draft resolution. Considering Article 18, paragraph 2 and 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, is there any objection to taking action on draft resolution A/ES.10/L.34/Rev.1 by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting? I see no objection. The two-thirds majority of members present and voting is therefore required for the adoption of the draft resolution A/ES/10/L.34/Rev.1. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/ES/10/L.34/Rev1 entitled, and I quote, "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations." End of quote. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favour of draft resolution A/ES.10/L.34/Rev.1, Please signify those against, abstentions.

The General Assembly is now voting on draft.

Resolution A/ES/10/L.34, revision 1, entitled "Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations".

Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed.

Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favour 149, against 12, abstentions 19. Draft resolution A/ES.10/L.34/Rev.1 is adopted. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of vote are limited to ten minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I wish to convey our appreciation to the Kingdom of Spain for its leadership. This initiative is timely, particularly at the moment when the people of Gaza have been enduring unconscionable human suffering marked by ever-intensifying hostilities and restrictions on humanitarian aid. Japan voted in favor of the draft resolution as its core values are in alignment with the steadfast position of my country. Namely, it is imperative to achieve an immediate ceasefire, immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access throughout Gaza. Moreover, we must uphold the relevant principles of international law, especially the obligation to protect civilians, an essential principle rightly underscored in this resolution. That being said, the present resolution should have contained an unequivocal condemnation of heinous acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas and other militant groups. We must not forget the suffering of the innocent victims of this barbaric crime and that of their loved ones. Japan supports the mediation efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, and urges all parties to return to negotiations and make sincere efforts to end an unfolding nightmare. From this standpoint, Japan has been taking concrete actions, including minister-level communication with Israel. During the meeting of the Japanese and Israeli foreign ministers in Tokyo last month, Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi directly conveyed Japan's serious concerns to his Israeli counterpart, urging full adherence to international law, including international humanitarian law. Mr. President, resolutions remain mere words on paper if they are not properly implemented. It is our sincere hope that today's adoption will translate into meaningful and tangible progress on the ground. But ultimately, the only viable path to resolving this tragic decade-long conflict is a negotiated two-state solution where Israel and the independent Palestinian state can coexist side by side in peace and security. In this regard, Japan looks forward to the forthcoming high-level conference on the two-state solution. We are honored to co-chair one of the working groups alongside our esteemed Norwegian colleagues, and we remain firmly committed to contributing to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein.

Mr. President, we thank you for your timely convening of this emergency special session after the veto cast by the United States on a resolution supported by the other 14 members of the Security Council last week. We appreciate the special report adopted by the Council after that veto and hope that the Council will continue to demonstrate its continued accountability to the membership when it fails to uphold its primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security set out in the Charter. I want to take this opportunity to explain Liechtenstein's vote in favor of the resolution just adopted entitled, "Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations." Mr. President, Liechtenstein thanks Spain and Palestine for bringing forward the draft text and for the constructive spirit of negotiations which have allowed for changes to be made to it over the past week. Indeed, we believe that the ongoing conflict is an overwhelming failure of civilian protection. As we speak, Palestinians are starving in conditions close to famine under a blockade imposed by Israel in violation of its obligation under international humanitarian law with no recognizable plan to get humanitarian aid into the hands of civilians. Hostages still languish in the detention of armed groups in furtherance of a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The situation so clearly demonstrates the obvious, there is no military solution. There is only a political solution. This is why we meet here today. Mr. President, Liechtenstein again calls on all parties and all those with influence on them to let the UN do its job. This organization has the ability fundamentally to keep people alive. The last few weeks have demonstrated that it is not possible to replace or substitute the life-saving work of UNRWA at scale. All United Nations and humanitarian personnel must be able to do this work. It is the least that can be done to save the civilian population in Gaza. All actors must fulfill their obligations under international law, notably international humanitarian law, in this regard. Liechtenstein also notes the importance of the upcoming advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice proposed last year by Norway and with Liechtenstein's support in this regard. Mr. President, the membership will discuss the two-state solution at greater length at next week's summit meeting. But let us remind all actors, including those looking to effect demographic change, the two-state solution is not up for debate, only its implementation is. In partial fulfillment of its own resolution 181, this Assembly has indeed recognized the existence of two states, Israel and the State of Palestine. Attempts to change this reality by force are in opposition to the purposes and principles of this organization and the expressed will of its membership. Liechtenstein looks forward to working with all states to protect civilians and to uphold international law. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Liechtenstein. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, President. The United Kingdom voted in favor of this resolution in line with our unwavering determination to end the suffering in Gaza, bring the hostages home, and move towards lasting peace in the region. Let me start by repeating our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and their despicable actions on and since the 7th of October. They must be held accountable and can play no role in the future governance of Gaza. The UK's commitment to Israel's security is resolute. President, The text of this resolution is clear that both Israel and Hamas need to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, that Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release the hostages, and that Israel, as the occupying power, must end its blocks on aid and ensure unhindered humanitarian access. And crucially, there must be an end to any actions that stand in the way of a two state solution and the best chance for peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people. That is why this week, the UK, along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, sanctioned Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir. These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank with their extremist rhetoric. Attacks by violent settlers have led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole communities. We will not stand by. while Israeli actions attempt to entrench a one-state reality. The UK is deeply concerned by ongoing Israeli operations in the West Bank, including incidents where children have been killed. This is appalling and unacceptable. President, there can be no military solution to this conflict. Over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed and the IPC have been clear that half a million people are facing starvation. Israeli government policies which have completely blocked or severely restricted humanitarian aid are unacceptable. That civilians have been killed while desperately trying to feed their families is inhumane and the UK rejects any attempts at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip. While the UK voted in favour of this resolution, we wish to clarify that our longstanding position remains that common article one of the Geneva Conventions does not impose a legal obligation on states to ensure respect for international law by third parties. President, a two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace. This is the fundamental principle that we must continue to strive for, to end the cycle of violence and give Palestinians and Israelis alike a better future. We welcome the leadership of France and Saudi Arabia in convening next week's conference in pursuit of this. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, as a Security Council member, The Republic of Korea has reiterated its deep concerns over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. We have also stressed that it is an obligation of the occupying power to allow full and unimpeded humanitarian aid for innocent civilians in Gaza, in full cooperation with the UN and other humanitarian agencies. We have also strongly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and expressed our steadfast support for the ongoing efforts by mediating countries, U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, to secure a deal for a ceasefire and release of all hostages. Mr. President, today we voted in favor of the resolution tabled by Spain based on our principled and rule-based positions. We viewed the important elements included in the text of the resolution, including the demands for a ceasefire and release of all hostages.

Held by Hamas, for compliance.

With the obligations under international law, and for the full and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid, as well as.

An unwavering commitment to the two-state solution. While we voted for the resolution adopted today, we understand its final text.

Was a result of a compromise among member states to garner support as widely as possible.

Thus, we would like to reaffirm our consistent position condemning the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7th.

Heading toward the high-level conference.

On the two-state solution to be held next week, we hope that the efforts by the international community including the General Assembly, will contribute to restoring peace and stability in the region, as well as to enhancing the political horizon for a better future for both Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution.

I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Seychelles.

Well, thank you, Mr. President, and allow me first to express our deep concern regarding the grave humanitarian situation unfolding in Gaza. Czechia supports efforts to find a meaningful and durable resolution to the fighting on the ground, including the swift release of all hostages. The tragic developments we are witnessing clearly demonstrate that this protracted conflict cannot and will not be resolved by force alone. At the same time, I wish to reiterate my country's firm commitment to Israel's right to defend itself in full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law. Nevertheless, we cannot remain silent in the face of the dire reality on the ground. And we urge all sides, including the Israeli authorities, to take every measure possible to facilitate the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza. Mr. President, we indeed support many aspects of this resolution, particularly those explicitly aimed at addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza. Yet, the resolution regrettably goes well beyond its stated humanitarian objective by incorporating some highly politically charged and even one-sided assertions. First and foremost, while we acknowledge that for the first time this General Assembly resolution explicitly refers to Hamas, specifically in relation to the hostages currently held captive, We deeply regret that the text once again fails to unequivocally condemn Hamas' unspeakable atrocities of 7 October, carried out with the deliberate intent to murder innocent civilians, including women and children. Let us be absolutely clear. Hamas bears responsibility for countless atrocities, including perpetrating violence against Gaza's civilian population, cynically using civilians as human shields and diverting humanitarian aid for its own ends. Mr. President, the irrefutable truth remains that Hamas terrorists could immediately bring this brutal conflict to an end by laying down their arms and releasing all remaining hostages. Mr. President, in light of these considerations, we decided to abstain from voting on this resolution. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Zechia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative from New Zealand.

Thank you, President. New Zealand supported this resolution after careful consideration. We did so because a ceasefire in Gaza is desperately needed. Hamas's actions on and since 7 October 2023 are completely unconscionable and must be condemned unequivocally. Hamas's continued refusal to release the hostages they are holding is immoral and a barrier to progress on the situation. New Zealand has rightly designated Hamas in its entirety as a terrorist entity. At the same time, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable and the world's patience has run out. As New Zealand has said consistently, this crisis must end. The excuses Israel has used for the ongoing suffering of innocent civilians are no longer credible. It is imperative that all parties comply with their obligations under international law. Israel is clearly required by international humanitarian law to provide for the basic needs of civilians in Gaza, and to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access. The protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel, and medical workers is essential. Like many members of the international community, New Zealand has already taken a range of measures in respect of this conflict. This resolution does not impose any new obligations on New Zealand. We reiterate our call for the parties to urgently return to a ceasefire. New Zealand will continue to advocate for meaningful progress towards a two-state solution, which remains the only blueprint for peace we have. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of New Zealand. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative for Bulgaria.

Mr. President, Bulgaria supported the resolution on protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations, reflecting our deep concern with the ongoing violence in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis on the ground. The suffering of civilians, especially children and vulnerable persons, is unacceptable and must end. We fully support the language in the resolution on the protection of the humanitarian workers and the UN personnel. Bulgaria strongly condemns the attacks on the humanitarian personnel and recalls that civilian protection is a core legal obligation, not an option. We therefore call for all parties to respect and strictly implement the international law, including international humanitarian law. Bulgaria reiterates its unconditional condemnation of the heinous October 7th terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas. There can be no justification for such brutality. We insist on the immediate, dignified, and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist groups. We therefore welcome the language in the resolution reaffirming the legal prohibition of hostage taking under international law and the obligation to release hostages. We regret, however, that the resolution fails to unequivocally condemn Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on 7 October, which the international community must denounce without any ambiguity. The international targeting of civilians, use of terror and hostage-taking are blatant violations of international law and the perpetrators must be held accountable. Bulgaria adds its voice to the call for upholding international law, recalls the need to fully implement the decisions and orders of the international courts, and will continue to oppose any attempts to politicization of the international judicial institutions. In closing, allow me to once again reaffirm Bulgaria's longstanding principled support for the two-state solution. The vision of Israel and Palestine coexisting side by side can only be achieved if Hamas is excluded from playing any role in the future of Gaza. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bulgaria. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany.

Thank you, Mr. President. Germany voted in favor of the resolution. We took this decision after careful considerations and numerous consultations, including at ministerial level with partners. Some, such as Italy, will also take the floor later for an explanation of vote. We once again unequivocally condemn the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7th, 2023. Horrific attacks against innocent civilians. These attacks are unjustifiable. We call on the General Assembly to do the same, and we would have preferred to see corresponding language in this resolution. Mr. President, Israel has every right to defend itself against attacks within the limits of international law. It is our firm conviction in order to improve the situation in Gaza, three things are urgently needed: an immediate return to a ceasefire, the immediate release of the hostages, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. We are extremely worried about the fate of the hostages who continue to be held by Hamas and other terrorist groups in inhumane conditions. Hamas must release all hostages and Hamas must lay down its arms immediately and unconditionally. There can be no future for Gaza with Hamas, neither in government nor militarily, and Hamas must be held accountable for its crimes. The use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes and any misuse of humanitarian assistance is utterly unacceptable. But Hamas cannot be defeated by military means alone. What is needed above all is a long-term political plan for the future of Gaza after the war. We are convinced that the two-state solution is the only realistic path that can allow both Israelis and Palestinians to coexist in peace, sovereignty, security, and dignity, and it is also the only path towards lasting peace and stability in the region Germany fully supports the realization of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their legitimate aspirations to establish their own state our approach is to help build the Palestine state every single day by developing and strengthening its foundation and future institutions through financial and technical cooperation at the same time, Mr. President Germany bears a special responsibility for Israel and for Israel's security. We firmly believe that the vision of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state can only be achieved through negotiations. Germany is working actively and constructively with the international community toward this goal. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

President, I thank you for holding today's emergency special session of the GA. China voted in favor of the draft resolution. It has already been 19 months since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza. Over 55,000 people in Gaza have lost their lives. Over two million people are deeply trapped in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The conflict has become a stain on human civilization. Last week, the ten elected members of the Security Council put forth a draft resolution on humanitarian issues in Gaza, which enjoyed the support of 14 Council members, yet was once again vetoed by the US. China finds this deeply disappointing and regrettable. The draft resolution of the GA just adopted reflects the overwhelming call of the international community, sends a strong political message and embodies the solidarity and consensus among the overwhelming majority of Member States. We must not continue to allow innocent civilians to die. Israel continues to escalate its military offensive on Gaza and each day large numbers of innocent lives are lost. Whatever pretext will not make killing civilians noble or just. Cruel facts have already made clear that force will not bring peace and prolonging the war will only lead to more deaths and hatred. An immediate and permanent ceasefire is the right way to save lives and to get the hostages home. We urge Israel to immediately stop all its military operations in Gaza. The country with significant influence on the party concerned should adopt an impartial and responsible attitude and take effective and strong action. We must not continue to allow the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza to worsen The UN and other humanitarian agencies have sounded the alarm many times that large-scale famine is imminent in Gaza. In contrast, outside the borders of Gaza, massive amounts of food are piled in warehouses, yet it's impossible to deliver them to the starving civilians. Such forced deprivation of the right of the people to subsistence supplies is in violation of IHL, cruel and unacceptable. The UN has already pointed out that the mechanism for distributing humanitarian supplies promoted by the US and Israel goes against the principles of impartiality, independence, and neutrality. is inadequate for easing the humanitarian situation and will instead put civilians in greater danger. China firmly opposes the weaponization of humanitarian aid and urges Israel to fulfill its obligations as the occupying power by immediately lifting the blockade on Gaza, fully restoring access for humanitarian supplies, and supporting the UN and other humanitarian agencies in carrying out their work. We must not continue to allow the foundation of multilateralism to be eroded. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the GA and the Security Council have adopted multiple resolutions requesting a ceasefire, and the ICJ has issued multiple orders on provisional measures, yet none of them has been effectively implemented. Full implementation of Security Council resolutions is an obligation on all member states under the UN Charter. Abiding by international law and IHL is a responsibility incumbent on all countries. The international community should take necessary actions to stop all violations of law and ensure accountability so as to jointly uphold multilateralism and the authority of international law. President, implementing the two-state solution is the only viable way out for the Palestinian question. Next week, we'll witness the high-level conference for the implementation of the two-state solution. We expect the conference to adopt practical and effective outcomes and to inject fresh momentum into the prospects of realizing the two-state solution. China will join efforts with the international community to continue to work for a ceasefire in Gaza, ease the humanitarian catastrophe, and ultimately achieve the comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question. I thank you, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you, President.

Australia voted in favour of this resolution because we want to see an immediate return to a ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional and immediate release of hostages, adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties

and rapid, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access.

While we do not agree with

everything in this resolution, our vote today reflects our commitment to working with the international community to end this conflict.

Australia remains unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas and its abhorrent attacks on 7 October 2023 and all ongoing acts of terror.

Terrorist group Hamas must release all hostages immediately, unconditionally and with dignity.

And we demand the hostages are given humane treatment, including freedom from any form of torture or abuse and

access to health care.

Australia is disappointed that today's resolution failed to condemn Hamas. There can be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza. President, civilians are being killed by the thousand. Children are starving. We need to come together to ensure that we support a two-state solution, which remains the only pathway to enduring peace and security for Israeli and Palestinian

people.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Sierra Leone voted in favor of the resolution. In doing so, we join the overwhelming majority in this Assembly in expressing deep alarm at the continuing and worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Over two million civilians have endured weeks of siege, bombardment, and blockade, with grave and devastating consequences. The territory now confronts the prospect of famine, after more than 11 weeks of total siege and severe restrictions on the flow of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. Humanitarian reports indicate that Israeli security forces, strikes, and ground operations have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, overwhelmingly civilians, including women and children. Under international law, No circumstance permits the deliberate starvation or collective punishment of a civilian population. The Fourth Geneva Convention and the established norms of customary international law strictly prohibit the use of starvation as a method of warfare. The systemic deprivation of basic life-saving resources is unequivocally unlawful. In this context, So, I only recall the binding provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa versus Israel. The court ordered Israel to allow the unimpeded provision of urgent humanitarian assistance and to refrain from any action, I quote, calculated to bring about the Palestinian group's physical destruction in whole or in part, end of quote. Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, All states are obliged not only to refrain from acts of genocide, but to prevent and punish such crime. The State of Israel is legally bound to comply with these measures. Any denial of life-saving aid or attacks on civilians constitute a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions and may amount to a war crime. Mr. President, in the Security Council, Sierra Leone has consistently underscored the gravity of this crisis. At our most recent briefing on the situation in the Middle East, we reflected on our national experience, and we affirm our deep understanding of the consequences of delayed or insufficient international action. We recall with solemn clarity the collective failure to prevent the atrocities committed in Rwanda and Srebrenica. now formally recognized as genocide by competent international courts. These painful precedents underscore the cost of inaction. The ICJ's rulings reaffirm the binding legal and moral obligation of all states to act decisively to prevent genocide. The duty to prevent genocide is not discretionary. It is a preemptive norm of international law, use cogent binding upon all states. This duty requires not only abstention from such crimes, but the taking of timely, active, and effective measures to avert them. Today, we face a moment of equal grave consequence. We are alarmed by credible and persistent reports of indiscriminate bombardment, the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure, the obstruction of humanitarian access, and inflammatory rhetoric. Together, these acts and omissions may contribute to creating conditions of life intended to bring about the destruction of a group in whole or in part, conduct expressly prohibited by the Genocide Convention. Mr. President, when CENL joined our elected council members in co-pending a draft resolution focused on addressing Gaza's worsening humanitarian crisis, We did so in full alignment with the ICJ's determination that Gaza's population must not be deprived of humanitarian assistance. Regrettably, despite its purely humanitarian focus, the draft resolution, aptly described by the E10 coordinator as the bare minimum, was vetoed by one permanent member, even as all 14 others voted in favor. Surely, silence or inaction in the face of mass atrocities must never be normalized. When the Security Council is paralyzed by the use of the veto, it falls to this General Assembly to act, and has rightly done so today. Sierra Leone fully supports the resolution's call for the protection of civilians and the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance. We also express grave concern at the recent interdiction of the United Kingdom-flagged humanitarian vessel Madeline by Israeli naval forces, reportedly in international waters. The ship carrying aid and civilian volunteers, as reported, was seized hundreds of kilometers from Gaza. Such actions violate the law of the sea and customary international law, which grant flag states exclusive jurisdiction on the high seas. Even where blockades are recognized under international law, they must not be used to starve civilian populations or obstruct humanitarian relief. Mr. President, accountability is essential. The deliberate use of starvation, attacks on medical personnel or UN workers, and the destruction of civilian infrastructures are not only violations of Geneva Conventions, but they also impose conditions of life calculated to bring about destruction, prohibited under international law. This assembly must therefore invoke all lawful means, all lawful measures to uphold accountability and show respect for international law. Let us be clear. The rules which we invoke are acceptable as the rules developed and codified by the international community to promote peace and security, cooperation for development, and the protection of human dignity. Sadly, we do not invoke the rules today with expectation of compliance. The experience of our tenure on the Security Council makes clear that compliance is unlikely in the absence of credible pressure from those with the means and leverage to ensure it. We therefore view with grave concern the growing practice of dismissing legal obligations as optional, of subordinating humanitarian imperatives for short-term political objectives, and of undermining the very institutions and instruments designed to uphold peace. Mr. President, throughout, Sierra Leone has reaffirmed the centrality of a political solution We reiterate our steadfast support for a genuine two-state solution, the only just and sustainable outcome. Ending the occupation and blockade and implementing a just peace in accordance with international law and UN resolution is essential. The state of Israel and the Palestinian state must live side by side in security and dignity. This is the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East. In closing, Tehran calls on all UN member states and parties to the conflict to honor their international obligations. We urge the state of Israel to comply fully with the ICJ's provisional measures, the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention, including by allowing full aid and the protection of civilians. We demand that Hamas and all armed groups to refrain from targeting civilians or using human shield or using them as human shields and to release the hostages. This Assembly must send a clear message that the protection of civilians and adherence to international law are paramount. The Assembly has done so by adopting the resolution. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sierra Leone. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Mr President, I thank you for convening today's ESS and I have the honour to deliver this explanation of vote on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom of the Netherlands voted in favour of the resolution. Our position is clear. The current cycle of violence is not the way forward, for the sake of the hostages, the Palestinians and for Israel. We therefore regret the veto cast in the Security Council. Mr. President, we condemn the humanitarian blockade of Gaza, which is contrary to international humanitarian law, and we call on Israel to immediately resume rapid, safe, and unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian aid and basic services, including electricity. Humanitarian aid should never be militarized or used as political leverage and should be compatible with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence. We underline the critical importance of full, safe access for professional mandated humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and their partners, to reach all people in need across Gaza. We urgently recall Resolution 2417, adopted with landmark expression of unity. This resolution strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law, and that it may constitute a war crime. This current resolution can be an important step towards a necessary permanent ceasefire. We urge all parties to commit to the continuation of the negotiations so that all hostages can be released immediately and unconditionally and humanitarian aid can be delivered to those in need. Only then can a lasting solution that has the support of both parties and for which the two state solution remains the basis be achieved. An independent, viable Palestinian state existing alongside a secure Israel is the only way this conflict can be resolved. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Italy.

Thank you, Mr President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. Italy voted in favour of the resolution before the General Assembly today on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We took this decision after careful consideration and consultation at ministerial level, including with some who already took the floor, such as Germany. It has been 20 months since the heinous attacks by Hamas against innocent civilians in Israel. Hamas is responsible for what is currently happening in Gaza. The strip is now only rubble, desolation, and despair. Hostages are still being held by Hamas and other terrorist groups while their families are wasting away, losing hope by the day to hug them again. Hamas does not care for the welfare of the people of Gaza. For years, it has abused the rights of the citizens of Gaza persecuted opponents and used their resources not to improve their lives but to prepare to unleash this tragedy on them. In the current crisis, Hamas is turning its people mercilessly into human shields and starving them. Let there be no mistakes about it. In this situation, the only solution to exit this deadlock is a diplomatic one. The only way to release the hostages passes through diplomacy. Here too, Hamas seeks to preserve its own rule, not to improve on the predicament of the people of Gaza. We recognize the inherent right of Israel to self-defense, and we strongly reiterate the imperative to take all the hostages back home. Such objectives could, however, be realistically achieved only with an immediate ceasefire that would also alleviate the immense suffering of the Gazan civilians. It is essential that the territories of the Strip are made accessible to the action of international organizations, making it possible to resume full and unimpeded humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza based on the respect of the rules of international humanitarian law. With today's resolution, the international community addresses those points, focusing on the indispensable humanitarian efforts to end the civilian misery, release the hostages and prevent further loss of life in Gaza. Of course, no resolution is perfect. We would have preferred to see in the text a clear condemnation of Hamas for all the above mentioned reasons, or a paragraph spelling that hostage taking and the use of civilians as human shields are unequivocally against international humanitarian law. Notwithstanding those lacunae, we decided nonetheless to vote yes because of the overarching objective to get an immediate ceasefire sparing innocent civilians, innocent women and children's lives, and making sure that humanitarian assistance is supplied immediately at scale and safely. Attaining this objective should also involve finding a solution to the Palestinian question. Italy firmly believes in a two state solution whereby two states, Israel and Palestine, live in peace, dignity and security within internationally recognised borders and two people, Israelis and Palestinians, have an equal right to exist and thrive. Italy will continue to work relentlessly towards this objective, also by co-chairing with Indonesia the working group on security for Israelis and Palestinians in the framework of the conference on the two-state solution from June 17 to June 20. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Italy Now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Mr. President, Thailand voted in favor of this resolution because of our firm conviction that to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not only a moral imperative, but also a fundamental responsibility of the international community. Thailand remains deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and echoes the urgent appeal for the immediate safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all civilians in need. The UN personnel and humanitarian aid workers must be protected by all parties. The role of the UNRWA is critical to providing essential services and much needed assistance, as well as to protect the rights and dignity of the Palestine people. We call upon the international community to render support for its vital work. As we strengthen our collective humanitarian efforts, Thailand reiterates the urgent need for the international community to adopt a constructive approach towards achieving a lasting and sustainable peace in the region. Thailand urges all parties involved in the conflict to engage in diplomatic efforts to secure an immediate and durable ceasefire. the unconditional release of all remaining hostages, and the resumption of meaningful dialogue. We support the continued efforts of all parties concerned towards achieving a peaceful solution to the conflict with the realization of the two-state solution by which the states of Israel and Palestine live side by side in peace and security in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. Lasting peace and stability in the Middle East must be supported by the creation of sustainable livelihoods and the promotion of the well-being of the Palestinian people. Thailand welcomes ongoing efforts toward the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our determination to take part in this reconstruction and long-term development endeavors. which are crucial for ensuring a viable and prosperous future of the State of Palestine. In conclusion, Thailand once again reiterates its unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts, as reflected in our vote today. We hope that this resolution will pave the way for an enduring peace and the end of the suffering of all peoples in the region. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cyprus.

As a matter of principle, Cyprus reaffirms its commitment to the full protection of all civilians. Moreover, Cyprus supports that all parties to armed conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. This is why we voted in favor of the resolution. Notwithstanding this, we wish to make the following points. Cyprus unequivocally condemns the heinous terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7th. And in this regard, we acknowledge the legitimate security concerns of Israel and its right to self-defense in line with international law. We also join the calls for the resumption of negotiations for a lasting and permanent ceasefire, which will entail the release of all hostages. All restrictions must be lifted to enable the immediate reestablishment of safe, sustained, and unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance at scale for the civilians in Gaza. Mr. President, ultimately, the only sustainable way forward that meets the security concerns and needs of the legitimate stakeholders is reviving the Middle East peace process on the basis of a two-state solution in line with the UN resolutions. We will continue actively supporting this aim of achieving enduring conditions of peace and dignity, equally for Israelis and Palestinians alike, as well as for fostering long-term stability in the Middle East as a whole. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cyprus. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands.

President, I wish to provide a short statement and explanation of our vote on resolution L34. This resolution is now inadequate and this continued undertaking now dysfunctional, where we vote on nearly the same words in repetition. Many in our remote Pacific Islands care deeply about what's happening and taking place in Gaza and Israel. Stories handed down by generations before us about World War II, the death, devastation, sufferings, and hunger visited upon our people and islands are part of our history. So while we may be a small speck of islands on the other side of the world and far from what's happening in Gaza and Israel, having experienced war, we know and we do care deeply about the humanitarian sufferings and the security issues raised in this resolution. Resolution 34 addresses the current humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestine and in particular Gaza. It calls for the ceasefire to resume and for accountability regarding violations of international law for all parties, including international humanitarian law with regards to the denial of access to humanitarian aid and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. Last year, the UN Security Council passed a resolution nearly identical to this one before the General Assembly today. This resolution today, just like the UN Security Council resolution, reflects a humanitarian and legal consensus. Consensus, and today we remain without a clear endpoint to a ceaseless civilian tragedy in Gaza, and the need persists to fully resolve kidnap hostages and their remains. This resolution clearly states the due obligation under international law to deliver humanitarian aid unrestricted and without prescribing the distribution channel. That such a fundamental need for humanitarian survival becomes a patrol mask killing as of grave concern. Yet also of concern is any potential for Hamas to take part in aid diversion. Months become years of a human rights crisis and violations remain without international accountability and the same objective and factual evidence demanded elsewhere. Neither does the resolution bring itself to adequately reference the violent actions of Hamas on 7 October 2023, an entity which a majority of this body wants to find as a militant and terrorist organization. The complexity of Gaza as both a security issue and as a humanitarian crisis has to be more clearly addressed. We too join the chorus in emphasizing a two-state solution, as does the resolution. But we aren't going to return to the 2000 Camp David summit, nor return to the ceasefire as called for in this resolution, without a significant step change in political will and perspective by all key and necessary actors. Simply put, as a General Assembly, we may not be able to easily wish or vote our way to a ceasefire. The Marshall Islands support any and all effective efforts to address recovery and reconstruction and urges continued dialogue towards the final and joint products as well as how to jointly implement such approaches. And this crisis deserves leadership and pragmatic results before it continues to worsen and dissent. The dramatic scale of suffering deserves a more effective response than institutional volley between the General Assembly and the Security Council. Mr. President, for the foregoing reasons, we voted abstain on resolution 34. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Marshall Islands. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ghana.

Mr. President, once again, the dire circumstances in the occupied Palestinian territory, especially the Gaza Strip, have imposed upon this Assembly the responsibility to resume the 10th Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly and the solemn duty to act, and act we have. Since the horrendous attacks by the Hamas militants against southern Israel on 7 October 2023, The world has witnessed with the greatest of concern the brutal, disproportionate, and inhumane response that has been rolled out against the entirety of the Palestinian population in Gaza. Indeed, Ghana condemned Hamas for the brutal killing of the 1,200 innocent Israeli citizens and continues to do so for its holding hostage many innocent lives. However, the response to the continued military hostilities against the people of Gaza and the blockage of humanitarian aid to almost two million people with grave consequences for their survival as a people can only be a resounding no more. Mr. President, for my delegation, the outcome of the vote this afternoon is a reflection that no matter how grim circumstances may appear to be, the world is always full of people ready to stand with what is right and to make their voices count. While Ghana takes careful note of the legitimate concerns of the State of Israel, the overriding interest of our common humanity and the necessity to restrain all actions within the limits of international law and the Charter of the United Nations compelled us to affirm strongly our unambiguous support for the resolution. We hold that this Assembly's decision today is a clear signal to Hamas that the international community does not tolerate its intransigent acts that run counter to the interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza. It must immediately and unconditionally release all hostages and take seriously all ongoing mediation efforts to activate the different phases of the broken ceasefire agreement that is now required more than ever. The future of the Palestinian people is at stake, and many of us here recognize it. But so also is the future of Israel and its people. Ghana therefore calls for both parties to seize the window of opportunity for peace that has narrowly been opened and to make determined efforts towards the immediate cessation of the conflict, the release of all hostages, the opening of access for humanitarian assistance, and the preservation of important pillars of promise that can restore a political horizon for a future dialogue, rebuilding and the creation of the foundations that would enable the evolution of a peace-loving Palestinian state to exist side by side with the state of Israel. Thus far, war, death and destruction have prevailed. But now, with the adoption of the resolution this afternoon, we must give peace its chance. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ghana. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote for this meeting. We shall hear the remaining speakers at a later date to be announced. The meeting is adjourned.