General Assembly: 53rd plenary meeting, 80th session

Good morning. The 53rd plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will consider agenda item 35, entitled Question of Palestine. The documentation under this item is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. I will now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, For 78 years, the question of Palestine has been on the agenda of this General Assembly, almost as long as the institution itself. Resolution 181 was adopted by the General Assembly on November 29, 1947, laying the foundation for the two-state solution and calling for the establishment of both an Arab state and a Jewish state in Palestine. But while the Jewish state, the State of Israel, is a recognized member state of the United Nations, the Arab state, the State of Palestine, is not. 78 years later, Palestine has still not been admitted to the UN as a full member. For 78 years, The Palestinian people have been denied their inalienable rights, in particular their right to self-determination. Now, it is high time that we take decisive action to end this decade-long stalemate. The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 set off one of the darkest chapters in this conflict. Two years of war in Gaza have left tens of thousands of civilians killed, including many women and children. Countless more have been injured, maimed, and traumatized for life. Communities are starving. Civilian infrastructure is in ruins. Almost the entire population is displaced. Children, mothers, fathers, families, Like us. The hostages who have been finally released and reunited with their loved ones are slowly recovering from captivity under extremely dire conditions, while other families are mourning over the returned bodies. Again, children, fathers, mothers, families like us. And while the horrors of Gaza have dominated the news for two years, settlement expansions, demolitions, and increased settler violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continue to undermine the prospects for a sovereign, independent, and contiguous, viable Palestinian state. Palestinian communities are bifurcated by the rapid expansions of settlements. Movement, communications, and access to essential services and livelihoods are severely restricted for Palestinians by checkpoints, confiscations, and demolitions. While in my previous capacity, I visited a small village in the West Bank to actually meet with Palestinian farmers and a teacher who wanted to show me what settlement expansion and settler violence meant for their daily lives. As we stood on the hillside overlooking their farmlands, a drone from an Israeli settlement began hovering above us, circulating in the air, monitoring what we were doing and probably saying. We know what happens when foreign people and cameras are no longer there. It's not just a drone watching, it's outright violence. including farmers being attacked as they try to go to work, as they try to harvest. Beyond the violence itself are daily indignities in confronting the residents of the West Bank, including children getting to school or thousands of pregnant women rushing to hospital to receive care or give birth, only to be stopped at checkpoints or by road closures. Excellencies, all that has happened in the last two years, and it all underlined what we have known since decades. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be resolved through illegal occupation, de jure or de facto annexation, forced displacement, recurrent terror, or permanent war. This only adds to grievances and fuels the flames of conflict. Israeli and Palestinians will only live in lasting peace, security, and dignity when they live side by side in two sovereign and independent states with mutually recognized borders and full regional integration. As outlined in the New York Declaration, which is indeed a ray of hope, and the adoption of resolution 2803, in which the Security Council endorsed the comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, we see, unfortunately, again on a daily basis, that these are only words on paper if we do not deliver. We need to ensure that the ceasefire is consolidated and becomes a permanent end to hostilities. Since the ceasefire, at least 67 children have been killed. And again, we see children being left without parents or left in the rubble. This has to end. And as we brace for increasing cold here in New York ourselves, imagine what winter means for the people of Gaza. Tents collapsing under rain, families shivering without shelter. Children facing the night with nothing but thin fabric between them and the wind. And the countless people still going to sleep hungry. If we want to live up to our commitments, we need humanitarian agencies on the ground without hindrance and without excuse. And we need to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered throughout all Gaza in a full, safe, unconditional, and unhindered manner, in full accordance with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. And this includes delivery through UNRWA. As outlined in the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligation of Israel in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations in the occupied Palestinian territory, allowing UNRWA to fulfill its mandate and continue operation, there's not only a merely gesture of goodwill, it is a legal obligation. Excellencies, both the General Assembly and the Security Council have been consistent on the parameters that must guide any peaceful resolution of the conflict. So we know what we have to do. These parameters are again reiterated in the draft resolution before this Assembly today, relating to the New York Declaration, which was endorsed by a vast majority of Member States and identified a comprehensive and actionable framework, including tangible, time-bound and irreversible steps for the implementation of the two-state solution. In particular, that resolution underlines that Gaza must be unified with the West Bank, There must be no occupation, siege, territorial reduction, or forced displacement. It underlines that Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian authorities. It makes clear that the Palestinian Authority must continue implementing its credible reform agendas, focusing on good governance, transparency, fiscal sustainability, fight against incitement and hate speeches, service provisions, business climate, and development. And it calls on the Israeli leadership to immediately end violence and incitements against Palestinians and immediately halt the settlement, land grabs, and annexation activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. It makes clear that it has to end the violence of the settlers. As diplomats, we all know this is hard diplomatic work. And therefore, Excellencies, I want to be frank and clear. The quest for peace, stability and justice in the Middle East needs our United Nations. It needs this Assembly to play a meaningful role. It requires every Member State to walk the talk, to engage in this process, to uphold the United Nations Charter. to adhere to international law and the promise this institution made to all the people of the world 80 years ago. Let us recall once more, self-determination and the right to live in one's own state in peace, security, and dignity, free from war, occupation, violence, is not a privilege to be earned, but a right to uphold. I thank you. I now give the floor to His Excellency Ahmad Faisal Mohamad of Malaysia, in his capacity as rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, to introduce the Committee's report.

Madam President, Excellencies, Allow me first to thank esteemed delegations for their dedication to the question of Palestine, including for their support during the high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, the endorsement of the New York Declaration, as well as the GA vote on the UNRWA resolution on 19 November. The Committee also welcomes the adoption on 17 November of Security Council Resolution 2803 concerning the Gaza Strip and calls on all parties to respect the ceasefire and comply with its implementation and their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, most notably with regard to the protection of civilians. The Committee also appreciated the high turnout of delegates and civil society at the meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People held at UNHQ on 25 November. We express our gratitude to Member States and international organizations for the 44 messages of solidarity received for the occasion. Similar successful events took place at UN of Geneva, UN of Nairobi, and UN of Vienna. As part of the commemoration of Solidarity Day, we invite member states to attend the screening of the film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, telling the devastating story of a Palestinian girl trapped and dying under Israeli military fire, and the first responders who tried to save her. The screening will take place on 4 December at 1:15 pm at the Trusteeship Council Chamber, to be followed by a panel discussion with the film director, actor and producers at 3 pm. Additional information can be found on the Committee's website, www.un.org/unispa. It is now an honour in my capacity as rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to present the annual report of the Committee, contained in document A/80/35. The report covers developments relating to the question of Palestine, as well as the work of the Committee between 2 September 2024 to 31 August 2025. The report is organized in seven chapters. Chapters one and two contain the introduction to the report and a brief overview of the major political developments during the reporting period. The referenced developments served as the context for the Committee's evolving program of work and activities during the reporting period. Chapters 3 and 4 outline the mandate entrusted to the Committee by the General Assembly and contain information on the organization of the Committee's work during the year. Chapter 5 features the work of the Committee, as well as the activities carried out on its behalf by the Division for Palestinian Rights around four major aspects of its mandate: 1. Mobilization of the diplomatic community; 2. Raising awareness on the question of Palestine; 3. Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and UN entities; and 4. Capacity development. Chapter VI reports on the activities of the Special Information Programme of the Department of Global Communications on the question of Palestine. The last and final chapter 7 of the report contains recommendations of the Committee to this Assembly and other relevant actors, which are based on the international consensus and the Secretary-General's known position on the question of Palestine. Specifically, The committee demands actions to address war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, including by investigating the weaponization of starvation as a method of warfare and other actions prohibited under international law. The Committee urges Member States to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow safe, unimpeded access for UN agencies, including UNRWA, and international aid organizations delivering food, water, medicine, fuel, and other supplies essential for the survival of Palestinians, and to stop any actions obstructing aid to the Palestinian people. The Committee calls on Israel to halt and reverse its ongoing annexation, home demolitions, settlement expansions, and the forced displacement of Palestinians, including women and children. The Committee urges Israel to reverse punitive measures against the Palestinian Authority, cease the disproportionate use of lethal force, and protect Palestinian civilians, including from Israeli settlers, in line with its obligations under relevant UN resolutions and international humanitarian law. The Committee calls on Israel to respect the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, ensure peaceful religious practices, and lift the ongoing land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza. The Committee deems unilateral decisions taken by Member States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as null and void, and urges Member States to officially recognize the State of Palestine in order to promote the two-state solution. The Committee calls for an immediate end to the excessive use of lethal force by Israeli forces and armed settlers against Palestinian civilians, including children, which has risen to alarming levels in 2025. It further calls on Israeli government officials to halt their provocations, rhetoric, and incitement in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The Committee urges the General Assembly and the Security Council to ensure the implementation of the long-standing parameters for peace in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, and calls on the Secretary-General to continue to leverage his good offices in support of a political horizon and a two-state solution. The Committee also calls on the General Assembly and Security Council to urgently implement the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 including through the adoption of modalities to bring an end to the unlawful Israeli occupation. The Committee urges the Security Council to recommend admission of the State of Palestine as a full UN member, aligning with the broad international consensus and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. The Committee conveys its gratitude to the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs for its support for the Committee's work. Excellencies, in closing, I would like to seek the support of my esteemed colleagues for the draft resolution on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and for its adoption by the General Assembly. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the rapporteur of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Senegal to introduce draft resolution A/80/L.16.

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, distinguished ambassadors, dear colleagues. In this period marked by profound human suffering and serious violations of international law, particularly in the Gaza Strip, the recent developments provide a glimmer of hope that should lead to specific measures to bring an end to the illegal Israeli occupation, should guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the right to self-determination, and repair this historic injustice. The progress remains fragile, but opens the way to a de-escalation that is likely to save lives and to establish a fair and lasting peace. Senegal calls on the international community to preserve the political will that has been expressed and to follow up on the implementation of all relevant UN resolutions and the commitments already made here. It is in this context that my delegation submits for consideration the draft resolution on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question this updated text welcomes recent developments particularly the international high level conference on the peaceful settlement the recognition of the state of Palestine by several states the Sharm El Sheikh agreement resolution 2803 of the Security Council and the icj's advisory opinion of the 22nd of October this year the text reaffirms legal, diplomatic, and operational bases that are essential for a just, lasting, comprehensive, and peaceful settlement to the Palestinian question. It reaffirms the overwhelming need to protect civilians and guarantee humanitarian access in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant advisory opinions. And it calls on member states to fully respect their international obligations. Madam President, dear colleagues, The resolution underscores that despite the progress made, this conflict remains tragically unresolved and demands action in accordance with the Charter, international law and UN resolutions. To bring an end to an injustice that has lasted for decades and create lasting peace, all aspects of the conflict must be addressed together, both political, diplomatic, bringing an end to the illegal occupation, ensuring the self-determination of the Palestinian people, the recognition and full accession of the State of Palestine to the UN, without forgetting the humanitarian, legal, security, economic and financial dimensions. In conclusion, we reaffirm that true peace is indivisible from justice and rights. Such peace involves respecting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the establishment of a sovereign state in accordance with the two-state solution based on the situation before 1967.

Thus, while responding.

The urgent needs in Gaza, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where military operations, settlement building and violence against civilians are ongoing, our action must be part of a political dynamic that is in line with UN resolutions and the New York Declaration in order to reach the only viable outcome, which is a two-state solution. We call on Member States to support this draft resolution, which reaffirms the principles of international law and our collective determination to have a peaceful, equitable and lasting settlement. It provides a clear framework to transform our solidarity into a strategy and to guarantee the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, particularly self-determination, freedom and the independence of the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Thank you.

Thank the distinguished representative of Senegal. I now give the floor to the observer of the observer state of Palestine.

Madam President, Excellencies, friends, Madam President, I thank you for convening this debate on the question of Palestine at a crucial moment for the Palestinian people, for the region, for the international community, and this organization. Allow me also to thank His Excellency Ambassador Kholi Sech, the Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, for introducing draft resolution L16, and also to thank His Excellency Ambassador Ahmad Faisal, Ambassador of Malaysia, who is the Vice Chair of the Committee and the rapporteur for introducing the report of the Committee to the General Assembly. Madam President, 80 years since the establishment of the United Nations, The question of Palestine and the injustice against the Palestinian people tragically remain unresolved, compelling this Assembly's continued attention and efforts to contribute to a just and peaceful solution. Madam President, the survivors of a genocide are still victims of an ongoing war against them, against their existence, their presence in their land, their human dignity. And yet, against all odds, they are trying to heal and restore life while death continues to surround them. Students resuming their education in the midst of ruins. Collapsed hospitals resuming their operations after hasty preparations. Parents trying to offer temporary shelters to their children in a harsh winter. Rains drawing their meager belongings, cold spreading more trauma and illness. Palestinians in Gaza welcomed more than anyone around the world. the announcement of the ceasefire agreement. But Palestinians are still being killed and maimed, while life-saving aid remains restricted and reconstruction delayed. And the UN, notably UNRWA, and other humanitarian organizations still denied the conditions to deliver on their mandates. Palestinians want all of this to end, and they don't want to lose half of Gaza in the process. The ceasefire must be upheld and respected in full. Nothing can justify that 1,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured since the onset of the ceasefire. Nothing can justify this continued cruelty and disregard of human life. Every single day since the start of the ceasefire, two Palestinian children are killed by Israel. Every single day, every single day. I cannot fully convey what it actually means for a parent to see their child survive two years of genocide, only to witness them killed during a declared ceasefire. Madam President, enough agony, enough pain, enough suffering, enough humiliation, enough death. Palestine together with the region and the world welcomed the Trump plan as a means to end the war. It did so fully aware of Israel's intentions. Israel seeks the collapse of the ceasefire as it continues to pursue the three things that President Trump's plan denied it, forced displacement, occupation, annexation. It is trying to achieve this aim by stalling the entry of humanitarian aid, by resuming its attacks, and most importantly, by trying to entrench the so-called yellow line, or even to advance beyond it. The mere reference to Palestinian self-determination and statehood in Security Council Resolution 2803 drove the Israeli government crazy. Netanyahu felt compelled to come out publicly to say, "No Palestinian state under any circumstances." This was followed by a renewed call by the Israeli Prime Minister for the displacement of our people from Gaza. Gaza is not only a part of Palestine, Gaza is the bleeding heart of Palestine, like Jerusalem is its beating heart. Israel wants to partition Gaza, to annex it, to separate it from the West Bank, to annex the West Bank, as it did East Jerusalem, and to destroy the state of Palestine and to destroy the Palestinians as a nation. Everywhere in the region, the same policy, land grab disguised under security pretext in Palestine, in Lebanon, in Syria. This is a recipe for perpetual occupation perpetual bloodshed, perpetual war, instead of shared peace, shared security, shared prosperity. Madam President, the General Assembly is adopting today a landmark resolution that reaffirms the rules that need to be observed even in war and the conditions of peace. Let me repeat, the General Assembly, you, is adopting today a landmark resolution that reaffirms the rules that need to be observed even in war and the conditions of peace. The draft resolutions recalls that the ICJ considered the right of the right to self-determination in the case of the Palestinian people as a peremptory norm of international law, the highest level of norms to which all others must obey, a norm from which no derogation is permitted. The court concluded that Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign state over the entirety of the occupied Palestinian territory, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognized borders. and that it is for all states to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end. The draft resolution before you stresses that protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention may in no circumstances renounce, in part or in entirety, the rights secured to them by the Convention, and that protected persons who are in occupied territory shall not be deprived, in any case, or in any manner whatsoever of the benefits and of the protection of the Convention. This protection to the Palestinian people must be availed to our people suffering from the constant attack by Israeli occupation forces and settlers. The draft resolution reiterates this Assembly's call for the achievement, without delay, of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, including the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative. the Arab Peace Initiative. Let me repeat. The draft resolution reiterates this Assembly's call for the achievement without delay of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace and the Arab peace initiative, and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, including of East Jerusalem. It unequivocally reaffirms in this regard its unwavering support in accordance with international law for the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders based on the pre-1967 borders. It welcomes the convening of the high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, and the endorsement by the General Assembly of the New York Declaration and mandates the co-chairs of the conference, in consultation with the co-chairs of the working groups, to follow up on the objectives of this conference and the commitments made therein, including through the Global Alliance, and notes the historic recognition of the State of Palestine announced at the occasion of the conference in recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independence. It demands that Israel, the occupying power, comply strictly with its obligations under international law, including to bring an end to its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as rapidly as possible and to put an end to this unlawful acts, including its settlement activities. The draft resolutions further welcomes the ceasefire agreement achieved on the basis of President Trump's comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict and recognizes the constructive role played by the mediators, while clearly and explicitly rejecting any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza. It stresses that the Gaza Strip constitutes an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, and reaffirms the vision of the two-state solution with Gaza Strip as part of the Palestinian state, and emphasizes, in this context, the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian National Authority without delay. The draft resolution also calls for an immediate halt to all settlement activities, land confiscation and home demolitions, for the pursuit of measures to ensure accountability, and for the release of prisoners and an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions. that the draft resolution finally calls unequivocally for the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state, and calls for a just resolution for the plight of the Palestine refugees in accordance with Resolution 194, a plight and suffering more compounded by the day. The resolution calls on third parties, on you, to uphold their obligations, third parties in their national capacity here I'm referring to, to uphold their obligations including of non-recognition of and non-assistance to Israel's unlawful presence and illegal occupation, as well as their obligation of distinction and of advancing compliance with international law through accountability. This is our call to you to act, to uphold your obligations towards the question of Palestine and towards ending this historic injustice. Forgive me, my brother, Ambassador Kolic, for going into at length and trying to highlight a number of provisions of this historic resolution that will be adopted, most likely this afternoon, to constitute a very important base for resolving the question of Palestine. Madam President, this landmark and framework resolution comes at a critical juncture where it is imperative to reaffirm the fundamental norms that govern our international law-based order and identifies the means to pursue their implementation when it comes to the question of Palestine. These norms must serve as compass for the achievement of just and lasting peace. We call on all member states to vote in favor of this critical resolution at this historic, decisive, and tragic juncture to advance freedom, justice, and peace. Madam President, Palestine shall be free. Free from occupation, free from oppression, free from fear and want. and peace shall prevail, not at the expense of our rights or of our existence, but through respect for them. Let me repeat, Palestine shall be free, free from occupation, free from oppression, free from fear and want, and peace shall prevail not at the expense of our rights or of our existence, but through respect for them. I thank you very much, Madam President.

I thank the observer of the observer state of Palestine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kuwait on behalf of the Arab Group.

In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful. Madam President, Excellencies, the State of Kuwait, as chairman of the Arab Group for the month of December, is honored to make this statement on behalf of the Arab Group. At a time when our region is facing critical conditions because of persisting Israeli occupation and its aggressive policies, which continue to undermine peace, security and stability in the Middle East, the Arab group stresses the centrality of the question of Palestine. It is the substance of the conflict. The Palestinian people alone has the right, the inable right to determine its own future and establish its own sovereign state on the borders of June 4th 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital in this context the group commends the international momentum of the conference on the two-state solution held in New York last September under the co-chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic. It was an important step to revitalize the political effort and to consolidate international unanimity on the two-state solution. We welcome the agreement of a ceasefire in Gaza which promoted the entry of aid, which is so much required by civilians, as well as the freeing of the hostages and detainees, and the horizon of future peace. We welcomed President Trump's declaration for peace and prosperity, signed at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit. And we appreciate the mediation efforts of the Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar, as well as Turkey and the United States of America. They led to a ceasefire agreement. The Arab group stresses that consolidating this agreement in a comprehensive, durable way is a collective duty. We stress the importance of Israel's full commitment to the agreement, and we condemn any Israeli violation which is likely to undermine Regional and International efforts to achieve peace and lessen the humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people then pave the way to the political process based on the relevant International resolutions we stress the need for humanitarian Aid to enter Gaza without impediment or obstacle in accordance with the norms of as well as the need to open all crossing points permanently to ensure that food, water, fuel and medicine flow in. and reach all civilians in the Strip without discrimination or delay. The group also calls for enabling international humanitarian United Nations organizations and partner organizations to work without impediment or threat. We stress that current Israeli impediments and limits on aid are a flagrant violation of the obligations of the occupying state and merely exacerbates the terrible humanitarian conditions in the Strip. The group looks forward to effective participation in the reconstruction conference to be held in Cairo. We stress the need for wide international support for reconstruction. quickly so that basic services can return to the Strip and can enable the Palestinian people to live in dignity on its own land. The group stresses that the success of the conference requires true commitment by the international community, as well as the financial and technical resources necessary without political considerations that may delay reconstruction or harm Palestinian rights. We stress that impunity cannot be part of international law. The deprivation of water, medicine and aid are a violation of international law. We stress in our opinions the consultative opinion of the ICJ in July of 2024. on the illegitimacy of Israeli occupation. That opinion clearly stated that continuing occupation, settlement activities, forceful displacement are a flagrant violation of international law, that Israel has to immediately end this occupation unconditionally. It also called on all states not to recognize such occupation or assist it. We also stress the mandate of UNRWA. It is the lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees in its five operational areas. It is a UN-mandated organization. We reject any efforts to marginalize it. And in addition, we agree with the court in its October ruling that it is inadmissible to target UNRWA financially or politically, and that this is part of international commitment to Palestinian refugees Its replacement is a violation of humanitarian and legal obligations and runs counter to the will of the international community. We express our deep concern vis-a-vis the continuing violence in the West Bank, including attacks by settlers. protected by the occupying forces. This is a breach, a clear breach of international law and IHL. The group also stresses its full rejection of forcible displacement. This is prohibited in accordance with Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. We reject any effort to change the demographic or territorial character of the occupied Palestinian territory. We repeat, the Gaza Strip is an integral part of this Palestinian territory. Madam President, when it comes to the sister state of Lebanon, We condemn daily infringements by Israel of its sovereignty, including thousands by air and land. Five border posts in the south are occupied. there is a buffer zone created inside Lebanese territories the so-called buffer zone this also a clear violation of resolution 1701 of the Security Council and a violation of the ceasefire agreement that such violations have prevented the Lebanese Army from deploying south of the Litan river they also hamper the operations of UNIFIL and prevent UNIFIL from reaching its posts on the southern border of Lebanon and are a threat to international peace and security. The Arab group also stresses the need Israel to put an end to the illegal situation of all sacred religious places in the occupied territories. We condemn attacks against Christian and Muslim sites. We also condemn illegitimate practices by Israel attempting to change the demographic and legal character of Jerusalem in clear violation of relevant United Nations resolution. When it it comes to the sister state of the Syrian Arab Republic, we also condemn the vile crime perpetrated by the Israeli occupying forces in the Syrian village of Beit Jine, where 13 civilians were martyred, dozens were injured, and led to vast displacement. We call on the international community to shoulder its responsibility to end continued Israeli aggression against Syrian territories and reaffirm the need to respect international resolutions that condemn and reject the annexation of the Golan, including 338, 242, 497, and 2334. We also reject any Israeli measures to annex the Golan or spread its sovereignty upon it, and we condemn continued incursions by Israel into Syrian territory. It is a clear violation of international peace and security. Madam President, continuing Israeli occupation, continuing practices by Israel is the fundamental reason for chaos and instability in the region. Regional and international stability will not be achieved without a durable final solution in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Peace will remain an illusion as long long as international legitimacy is not translated into facts on the ground that guarantee the rights of the Palestinian people and puts an end to the sufferings of all the peoples of the region. We stress our support of any sincere effort to restore the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. We call on the international community to shoulder its legal and moral, as well as humanitarian humanitarian obligations and put an end to conditions that have allowed this tragedy to continue for decades. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kuwait. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the UN.

Madam President, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honour to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations, whose member states take note of the reports presented under agenda items 34 and 35. We express our thanks to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for all of the efforts that they've made to uphold their solemn mandate to assist the Palestinian people in the realization of their inalienable rights, foremost the right to self-determination, and to promote a just, lasting, comprehensive and peaceful solution to the question of Palestine in all of its aspects. Madam President, as we are meeting today, the Palestinian people continue to be denied their fundamental rights and to face an unprecedented human catastrophe. Over two years since the dramatic escalation of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, the situation on the ground remains dire, and the extent of human suffering inflicted on the Palestinian civilian population continues to be a stain on our collective conscience. Entire communities have been devastated. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, the majority of them women and children. Countless others remain missing under the rubble, and millions are displaced, starving, facing the collapse of all essential services, including the decimation of the healthcare system, deliberately depriving the sick and wounded of care. We condemn all these crimes perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. Madam President, The current Israeli occupation, its illegal settlements, the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, the forced displacements, the collective punishment and all other systematic violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, constitute an intolerable and unlawful reality that must end. We must bring an end to the impunity of the occupying power. It is time for accountability to once and for all bring an end to these violations and to deter the commission of more crimes. Madam President, we express our deep alarm at the repeated actions of the occupying power aimed at expanding the conflict across the Middle East region, including through continued violations of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of other states in the region, and aggressions against other states, as demonstrated, for instance, by the direct attacks committed in June this year against Iranian civilians in residential areas, as well as air strikes targeting Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities. All of these are incompatible with international law and run counter to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Such actions seriously endanger regional peace and stability and risk igniting a wider confrontation with devastating consequences for the entire region and beyond. Similarly, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to condemn all attacks against civilians, civilian objects, and UN facilities and personnel, especially those directed at UNRWA, which remains indispensable to providing humanitarian assistance and protection to millions of Palestinian refugees across the region. Attempts to undermine, weaken or dismantle UNRWA constitute an assault on the multilateral system itself and thus must be unequivocally rejected. Our Group of Friends therefore once again calls for full, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access under UN leadership and in line with the mandates conferred by this General Assembly, including UNRWA. We stress that humanitarian aid must never be instrumentalized or militarized, nor must it be weaponized as a tool of coercion or collective punishment. Madam President, we underscore the urgent need to ensure the implementation and respect of the ceasefire agreement reached in the Gaza Strip. And at the same time, we appeal firstly for a cessation of hostilities to become permanent and for it to be extended to the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Second.

We call for the cessation of the transfer of arms, munitions, and related equipment to Israel in all cases where there are reasonable grounds to believe they may be used in the occupied Palestinian territory, consistent with General Assembly resolution ES.10/24 and following up on the 19th of July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Third, We call for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from the Gaza Strip, imperative for the protection of the civilian population and to facilitate desperately needed recovery and reconstruction work. Madam President, We reiterate the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including to the independence and sovereignty of their state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and on the basis of the two-state solution. In this context, we reaffirm the role of this General Assembly vis-a-vis this injustice and we stress the importance of fulfilling the permanent responsibility of the United Nations towards the question of Palestine until it is justly resolved in all of its aspects. We further emphasize that the immediate admission of the State of Palestine as a full member state of the United Nations constitutes a concrete and essential step towards rectifying decades of dispossession and injustice. The State of Palestine must without further delay, take its rightful place among the community of nations. Further, we insist that attempts to alter the demographic or territorial character of the occupied Palestinian territory, including through settlement expansion, land confiscation, de facto annexation plans, and forced displacement, are null and void and must cease immediately. We recall in this regard the determinations made by the International Court of Justice that all such Israeli policies and practices are illegal and that the Israeli occupation in its entirety is unlawful and must be brought to a rapid end. Madam President, the Security Council, for its part, must fully and effectively shoulder its responsibilities. The recurrent and selective use of the veto by the United States of America has for too long only serve to shield the occupying power from accountability, thus prolonging the injustice against the Palestinian people, which undermines international law and erodes the credibility of our multilateral system. We take this opportunity, therefore, to refer to the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted on the 17th of November this year, of which we have taken note. In that regard, we expressed substantive concerns regarding significant ambiguities and omissions in the text. These were also raised by several Security Council members, including the lack of a clear reaffirmation of well-established, long-standing international legal principles, as well as for transparent and accountable mandates for the proposed governance and security mechanisms that are envisioned. We thus underscore that this latest resolution shall not be interpreted or implemented in a manner so as to violate the rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination and the right to their independent state of Palestine, or in a way that would entrench division, undermine sovereignty, diminish Palestinian ownership, undermine the oversight role of the Council, and diminish the role of the UN as a whole. Nor should it be implemented in a way so as to deviate from the imperative of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, ultimately realizing its right to live as an independent and sovereign state. It is also essential that the right of return for the Palestine refugees be guaranteed. We further stress that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of Palestinian people, whose unity and territorial integrity must be fully preserved. As underscored by many Security Council members, no annexation, occupation, or forced displacement pursuant to this resolution should be permitted or justified. Madam President, the Middle East will not know peace, stability or security until the illegal Israeli occupation ends fully and unconditionally. This includes an end to the occupation of all occupied Arab territories in accordance with Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 497, among others. We reaffirm in this context our unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence, political unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and Lebanon. Any recognition of Israeli sovereignty over occupied territories, including by external actors, has no international legal effect and must therefore be rejected. Finally, we emphasize that our group stands united in reaffirming its principled, historic and unwavering support for the Palestinian people. and at the same time we reaffirm this just cause while reasserting at this critical juncture all core principles universally recognized by the international community to redress the Palestinian question we reiterate at last that we will continue to work both actively and constructively together with all peace-loving nations to end this grave and historic injustice to uphold international law to defend the United Nations Charter and to advance a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in both Palestine and across the Middle East as a whole. Thank you very much, Madam President.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Egypt.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is held at a critical time for the Palestinian people and regional stability alike. Successive experiences have proven that the continued occupation and a political impasse would lead to more suffering and conflict. Based on Egypt's principled position to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and to end the cycle of violence and devastation in the occupied Palestinian territory, Egypt reaffirms that the starting point towards security and peace in the region starts with enabling the Palestinian people to realize their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and their sovereign state on the 4th of June 1967 borders, and with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions. Here, we commend the positive outcomes of the New York conference on the two-state solution, and we value the increasing international momentum with regards to the recognition of the state of Palestine as a basic and important step to give the peoples of the region a real opportunity for peace. Madam President, the military operations in the Gaza Strip has led to an unprecedented devastation that has left much suffering. As for the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the illegal policies continue settlement demolition and on the daily lives of Palestinians, which undermines on a daily basis the opportunities for stability and leads to more tensions. And in this context, Egypt continues its close coordination with the U.S. and regional partners to guarantee the full implementation of the Trump peace agreement and international consensus that was pronounced in Sharm el-Sheikh, which paves the way towards a comprehensive political process that would return the the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Here we stress the following points: One, the importance of the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803 and the second phase of the peace plan, and to enable the International Stability Force to work towards more stability in the ceasefire and no return to violence. Second, unhindered safe access of humanitarian assistance towards Gaza in the quantities that meet the needs of the Palestinian people and supporting un agencies and humanitarian agencies to do their job including on here we stress the importance to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers Israel the occupying power should um comply with its relevant obligations in accordance with IHL and human rights law. Here, we call upon all actors to increase their financial commitments to meet the needs of the Palestinian brothers and sisters, to provide them with decent living, and opens the door for reconstruction as Egypt continues its intensive efforts in this regard in cooperation with all partners to prepare for the reconstruction of Gaza conference. Three, rejecting all unilateral measures by Israel to change the demographic situation and the geographical one in Gaza and any ideas for the displacement of Gazans out of their land. 4. the need to intensify support for the PA so that it would shoulder its national responsibilities to manage the affairs of the Palestinian people towards the embodiment of the legitimate country in accordance with international references. These are main pillars to make the political track a success and towards a lasting and just settlement. In closing, Egypt would like to stress its conviction that commitment to UN resolutions and international legitimacy is the only path to end this conflict, and that comprehensive and lasting peace will only be possible as we address the root causes of the crisis. And Egypt will continue to engage in all sincere efforts to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and to regain their rights and to achieve security for all, I think.

thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Madam President, For nearly eight decades, the question of Palestine has remained the longest unresolved issue before the United Nations. Generation after generation of Palestinians have lived under occupation, sufferings, and injustice. Despite our repeated commitments, we continue to fall short of fulfilling our collective promises to the Palestinian people. This trajectory must be reversed. We must make sure that progress will be made on the question of Palestine. as we are bound by the UN Charter and international law to guarantee the right to self-determination. The unprecedented scale of longstanding atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories is a direct appeal to our moral duty and political responsibility to act with urgency and clarity. In this context, allow me to pose three critical questions to guide our actions. First, are we willing to take the necessary political steps to rectify our shared failures? Indonesia welcomes the statements of recognition by Member States as a renewed momentum. Nevertheless, recognition alone is not enough. We must continue to push forward this momentum and see to it that permanent ceasefire is in place, full and unrestricted humanitarian access is ensured, and a just and lasting political solution towards the achievement of the two-state solution is secured. Second, are we willing to confront the politics of apartheid and oppression? Apartheid and oppression should have no place in modern history. Decisive actions must be taken to ensure accountability for all violations and crimes and that impunity be brought to an end. These are crucial to transform decades of injustice into a pathway toward freedom, peace, and security? And third, are we willing to turn the current momentum into meaningful actions? The adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2803 provides a glimmer of hope. Equally important is the adoption of the New York Declaration that charts a way forward towards the two-state solution. Our task now is to ensure their full and effective implementation with a view to cease all hostilities, to end the occupation, and to fulfill the Palestinians' inalienable right to self-determination. Madam President, as one of the earliest beneficiaries of the international order established after the post-Second World War, Indonesia stands in total solidarity with the Palestinian people in their legitimate aspiration to achieve a free and sovereign state of Palestine. We call upon all nations to uphold our shared responsibility to finally resolve the question of Palestine and ensure justice, peace, and security in the region. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Qatar.

Madam President, we thank you for convening this important meeting, and we align ourselves with the statement of the Arab Group. We thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his continued effort and his reports to the General Assembly, and the Chairman and members of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People for their and comprehensive report. Madam President, the General Assembly meeting is being held today following the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution, chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France in New York in July of this year. This conference resulted in the New York Declaration adopted by the General Assembly on the 22nd of September, which affirmed the firm international commitment to the two-state solution. charting a clear path towards building a better future for the entire region. Here, we commend the effort of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France in presiding over and making this conference a success. And within the framework of the effort of the State of Qatar to mediate to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, the State of Qatar participated in the meeting called for by His Excellency the U.S. President, Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, on the sidelines of the high-level week of U.N. in New York. And on the 29th of September, the State of Qatar, among the eight Arab and Islamic countries participating in the meeting, expressed its appreciation for the leadership role of President Trump and welcomed his announcement of a plan to end the war in Gaza, as well as deliver humanitarian aid, reconstruct the Strip, prevent displacement of Palestinians, and push forward for a comprehensive peace process. And as a result of the efforts that the State of Qatar continued make with the United States, Egypt, and the Republic of Turkey, a ceasefire agreement was reached in Gaza and approved in the summit of Sharm el-Sheikh, which was held on October 13. 2025. And in the context of the State of Qatar's endeavor to support the consolidation of the gains represented by the ceasefire, we stress the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution 2808 -- 03, 2803, corrects the interpreter, adopted on November 17, which welcomed the comprehensive plan to end the war in Gaza Strip dated 29th of September 2025, and President Trump's declaration for enduring peace and prosperity dated 13 October ensure a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, the delivery of adequate humanitarian assistance without restrictions or obstacles, as well as the destruction of the strip and the full Israeli withdrawal and not taking any steps that threaten security and safety of civilians, and non-displacement of Palestinian people, paving the way for the achievement of a just, sustainable peace in the region. And in the context of the developments in the Gaza Strip, the State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the brutal attacks of the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip last week, which is considered a serious escalation that threatens to undermine the ceasefire agreement. We stress the need for concerted regional and international efforts to maintain and abide by the ceasefire agreement. Madam President, the State of Qatar has long stressed the need for interdependence of stability factors in the region. Here, we condemn in the strongest terms the incursion carried out by the Israeli occupation forces last week in the Damascus countryside and the accompanying shelling that resulted in a number of civilian casualties. This attack is a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and of international and humanitarian law. The State of Qatar also strongly condemns the Israeli raid that targeted the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain al-Hilwa near the city of Sidon in southern Lebanon, causing claiming lives and injuring countless individuals. We affirm that this represents a brutal assault on the unarmed Palestinian, defenseless Palestinian people and the sovereignty of the sisterly Lebanese Republic and a flagrant violation of IHL. We call on General Assembly to address the unprecedented crisis faced by UNRWA, which is indispensable in assisting the Palestinian people. Under Resolution 302, we affirm the right of the Palestinian refugees to return in accordance with resolution 194 of the GA and Security Council resolution 237 we renew our support for the convening of the international conference on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip which will be hosted by Egypt in cooperation with Regional and International Partners in coordination to coordinate humanitarian efforts to ensure the improvement of living conditions for the people of Palestine in the strip in closing we stress on our our unwavering commitment to support the brotherly Palestinian people until they all their legitimate rights, foremost of which the right to self-determination, ending the occupation, ending settlement activity, and establishing their independent, fully sovereign, and viable state in accordance with the vision of a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines.

Madam President, for eight decades, the question of Palestine has been one of self-determination, of justice, of dignity, of security, and the universal right of peoples to live in peace. The resolution to the question of Palestine will be the ultimate triumph of multilateralism, that peaceful dialogue and negotiation in accordance with the international law and the UN Charter can rise above cycles of violence. In this regard, the Philippines would like to reiterate the following. Firstly, reaffirm our unwavering conviction that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only come through a negotiated two-state solution. The two-state solution indeed is not simply a diplomatic formula. It is a reflection of the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, self-determination, sovereignty, and respect for human dignity. Secondly, the Philippines supports renewed diplomatic efforts grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions aimed at achieving, without delay, a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East. We therefore commend and support the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Norway, and the European Union for spearheading the global alliance for the implementation of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution. We will also support the implementation of the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, and commend Saudi Arabia and France for leading this diplomatic initiative. Thirdly, the recent adoption by the UN Security Council of a resolution that endorses a peace plan for Gaza provides a basis for consolidating the ceasefire and rebuilding Gaza after two years of war. We commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in brokering the recent ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza through intensive diplomacy. We hope that these agreements will be implemented expeditiously to stop the fighting and violence in Gaza, scale up the delivery of sustained and adequate humanitarian relief, and advance recovery and the reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In this regard, the Philippines will do its efforts within our capacity to contribute to the implementation of the peace plan for Gaza. Fourthly, we support the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, as a strategic investment in peace and stability keeping in mind the findings of the Colonna Report and the strategic assessment commissioned by the Secretary-General under the UN80 initiative. UNWRA faces challenges, but abandoning it would mean abandoning millions of civilians who have nowhere else to turn. UNRWA's operations often represent the only functioning humanitarian infrastructure able to deliver aid rapidly to Palestinians and refugees due to its local networks and pre-established facilities. Finally, we must recognize that sustainable peace requires not only agreements between leaders and governments, but building and enhancing trust between peoples and investing in initiatives that will expand the space for dialogue and mutual understanding. The road to peace in the Middle East faces uncertainties and challenges, but they are not impossible to overcome. The Philippines will remain a committed partner in all of these cooperative efforts. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Philippines. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Namibia.

Madam President, distinguished delegates, Namibia stands before this Assembly to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations in addressing the question of Palestine. We reiterate that Israel's acquisition of Palestinian territory by force is inadmissible, and that the Palestinian people possess the right to inalienable self-determination and statehood. We have consistently urged an immediate cessation of all settlement activities, the lifting of restrictions that perpetuate humanitarian suffering, and full compliance with relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. We affirm that commitment and will persist in all these calls until peaceful, just, and equitable resolution of the question of Palestine is achieved, namely, a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, with internationally recognized borders. It goes without saying that the recognition of the State of Palestine by the growing number of UN member states is testimony to the international community's resolve to uphold justice and the right to self-determination. Madam President, Namibia also stands before this Assembly today deeply concerned by the devastating economic and humanitarian toll of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian people. These decades-long and ongoing restrictions of movement, trade, and access to resources imposed on Palestinians have not only led to significant humanitarian challenges, but have also systematically inflicted severe economic costs. that continue to hinder the prospects of peace and stability in the region. Palestine's economy has been described as one of the most severely constrained in the world, with growth stifled by closures, checkpoints, and blockade of Gaza, eroding the foundations of the viable and sustainable Palestinian economy. The blockade in place since 2007 has confined over 2 million people to a narrow strip of land, cutting them off from the outside world and reducing the flow of essential goods to little more than basic humanitarian supplies. This situation has resulted in widespread unemployment, food insecurity and the collapse of a productive sectors that could otherwise sustain the livelihoods and Foster resilience in this regard Namibia calls up calls on all member states to to hold accountable those who violate international law and to support initiatives aimed at ending the occupation since October 2023 The situation has deteriorated dramatically. We have all witnessed how escalating military operations and tightened restrictions by the occupying power have reduced Gaza's infrastructure to rubble. Homes, schools, hospitals, and water systems lie in ruins, leaving entire communities displaced and dependent on scarce aid. Livelihoods have collapsed as Palestinian workers are barred from employment in Israel and the West Bank, while farmlands and industrial facilities are destroyed. The humanitarian crisis has deepened, with severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel pushing Gaza to the brink of famine. Namibia views these actions violations of international law and of the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The occupation and its associated measures are not temporary or incidental. They are systematic and deliberate, designed to weaken the Palestinian economy and perpetuate dependency. This Assembly must recognize that The economic devastation inflicted upon Palestine is inseparable from the broader struggle for justice and peace. Without addressing the economic dimensions of the occupation, there can be no meaningful path towards a just and lasting resolution. Madam President, Namibia also, particularly alarmed by Israel's continued practice of withholding Palestinian tax revenues, which are collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority under existing regimes. We condemn these practices in the strongest terms. Tax revenues constitute a critical lifeline for the Palestinian economy, just like for any country in this hall, funding salaries, public services, and essential social programs. Their arbitrary suspension and diversion exacerbates the fiscal crisis of the Palestinian Authority, undermining governance and deepens humanitarian suffering. Such measures are not only punitive but also unlawful, violating the agreements under which they were collected. and further destabilizing an already fragile situation. Namibia calls on Israel to cease this practice immediately and to release all withheld revenues without condition. Beyond the tragic loss of life, the destruction of productive assets and the restrictions have erased decades of development against development gains in Palestine. The cumulative effect of these measures is not only economic strangulation, but also deliberate denial of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and sustainable development. Namibia, therefore, calls upon Member States to support urgent humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to address the destruction since October 2023, and to reaffirm the Palestinian people's right to sovereignty, development, and dignity. We believe that the path to peace lies in ending the occupation, restoring justice, and enabling Palestinians to build a future free from dependency and despair. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Maldives.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, Madam President. All protocols observed. The question of Palestine has been on the UN's agenda for over 77 years. The last two years alone have seen over 70,000 Palestinian deaths, over 154,000 injured, a vast majority of these figures women and children. This must not continue. Ceasefire is not peace. Peace must not be conditional. The global consensus is clear. Israel is in clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights laws and the UN Security Council resolutions on Palestine. Despite the overwhelming evidence of its continued aggression, occupation, and annexation, Israel continues to avoid accountability and responsibility. Impunity must end. The ICJ in its advisory opinion is clear. Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories constitute an obstruction to the exercise of Palestinian people of their right to self-determination. The court also found that Israel is under an obligation to provide full reparation for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts to all natural or legal persons concerned, including returning the land seized since 1967. Justice delayed is justice denied. For over 77 years, the Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in Gaza have been denied justice. This must not continue. Israel must withdraw its forces from Gaza, stop the indiscriminate attacks against its civilian population and infrastructure, allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid, and assistance into Gaza, and stop the illegal settlements and attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Those are the first steps toward peace. The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and its historic New York Declaration was an undeniable show of support for the recognition of the State of Palestine. Let us be clear. The state of Palestine exists. There is no question about this. From Gaza to the West Bank to East Jerusalem, Palestinians have the inalienable right to remain, to return, and to govern a state of their own, freely and fully. This is why the Maldives continues to believe in one just, lasting solution-- two states, two peoples, one peace. We reiterate our support for efforts to reconstruct Gaza, ensure a durable and lasting peace, and most importantly, in ensuring that the Palestinian people are able to live in peace, dignity, and serenity with hopes for the future they deserve. I thank you.

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

President, for over seven decades, the Palestinian-Israeli situation has repeatedly fallen into turmoil, with the Palestinian people suffering from displacement, oppression, and occupation. Last week, the United Nations held a commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Chinese President Xi Jinping, for the 13th consecutive year, sent a congratulatory message to the meeting, comprehensively elaborating China's position and proposals on resolving the Palestinian question. President Xi Jinping noted that the Palestinian question lies at the heart of the Middle East issue. It is a matter of international fairness and justice and has a bearing on the situation in the region. The Palestinian question is also a test of the effectiveness of the global governance system. Under the current circumstances, the international community should further build consensus and take more proactive actions to restore regional peace. First, a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire should be achieved in Gaza to prevent the resurgence of conflict. The first phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza has been in effect for nearly two months, yet regrettably, violations of the agreement occur almost daily, which continue to cause heavy casualties among innocent civilians. Military means cannot solve the problem. Violence for violence will only intensify the vicious cycle. China calls on parties concerned to fully comply with the requirements of the ceasefire agreement, to refrain from actions that exacerbate tensions, and to promote the realization of a genuine, comprehensive, and lasting ceasefire. Relevant mediators should take concrete actions to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement. Second, the humanitarian situation in Gaza should be improved swiftly to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people. Despite the recent increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, it remains far below the levels stipulated in the ceasefire agreement and is far from sufficient to meet urgent humanitarian needs. With winter approaching, the people of Gaza living amid the rubble are about to face an even greater crisis. We urge Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as the occupying power, open all border crossings, lift restrictions on humanitarian access, and ensure aid delivery by UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies. We also call on the international community to increase financial support for UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies. Third, the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine should be upheld in the post-conflict governance and reconstruction of Gaza. Any post-conflict arrangements concerning Gaza must follow the principle of Palestinians governing Palestine, respect the will of the Palestinian people, and accommodate the legitimate concerns of regional countries. Last month, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2803. Relevant countries should act responsibly towards the Palestinian people, the Security Council, and the international community by promptly briefing the Council on relevant developments, ensuring the effective engagements of the Council and the United Nations, and respecting Palestine's sovereignty and leadership. Fourth, the overarching direction of the two-state solution should be followed to promote an early political settlement of the Palestinian question. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict takes place again and again simply because the two-state solution is only half achieved. The state of Israel has long been a reality, but the state of Palestine is still far beyond reach. Israel must cease settlement activities in the West Bank and stop undermining the governance's foundations of the Palestinian Authority. The international community should build on the positive momentum of the New York Declaration, seek viable pathways to advance the two-state solution, and support the independent statehood of Palestine and its full membership in the United Nations at an early date. President, China calls on the international community to face up to the root causes of the Palestinian question, demonstrate responsibility, take effective actions, rectify historical injustices, and uphold fairness and justice. As a permanent member of the Security Council, China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. China will continue to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis, and a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date. Thank you, President.

I thank the Distinguished Representative of China. I now give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of Pakistan.

Madam President, Pakistan appreciates the convening of this meeting at a critical moment for the Palestinian people and their just struggle for inalienable rights and self-determination. It is especially important as we collectively advance the work launched by the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the implementation of the two-state solution, and follow-up on implementation of Security Council Resolution 2803 which endorsed President Trump's comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. Madam President, the Palestinian people have braved illegal Israeli occupation for decades. It is an exceptional story of resilience, sacrifice, and quest for justice and peace. And for more than two years, The people of Gaza in particular have endured death, destruction and deprivation on an unimaginable scale. Over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children. Despite repeated calls for full cessation of the brutal onslaught by the occupying power and international accountability for its actions, including by this Assembly, the suffering continued. In the middle of this tragedy emerged a glimmer of hope. The conference held at the ministerial level in July and at the summit level in September, and the General Assembly's endorsement of the New York Declaration, created a structured, time-bound, multilateral track to advance the two-state solution. And President Trump's peace plan and the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit that followed brought regional and international partners together behind the goals of maintaining the ceasefire, addressing the humanitarian emergency, reuniting families with loved ones that were detained or held hostage, and opening a credible political pathway towards Palestinian self-determination and statehood. We laud the efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for facilitating this outcome. These efforts resulted in the adoption of Resolution 2803 by the Security Council, which Pakistan supported as part of the group of eight Arab and Islamic countries who were engaged with this process since its inception. during the High-Level Week in September, and in line with the position of the State of Palestine and the Arab Group. Pakistan's position has been clear and consistent. We reiterate that the occupation of the Palestinian territory must end, and Palestinian people must be allowed to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish their independent state. We support all sincere efforts that help in ending the bloodshed, protect civilians, prevent displacement, rebuild Gaza, and advance a comprehensive peace grounded in international law. This requires sustained international attention and concerted efforts going forward. The situation on the ground, however, shows how far We have still to go. Ceasefire violations continue, with Israeli strikes taking hundreds of Palestinian lives. And in the West Bank, settler violence has risen to its highest levels. Entire communities have been uprooted. The July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice makes clear the obligations arising from Israel's unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the immediate cessation of all settlement activity, the evacuation of settlers, and the repeal of measures sustaining the unlawful situation. Pakistan will vote in favour of the resolution currently before the Assembly on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, a reaffirmation of our long-standing and principled position on this matter. Pakistan also welcomes the proposal contained in the resolution to mandate the co-chairs of the New York Conference to follow up on the objectives of the conference and commitments made therein, including through reconvening the conference or by convening follow-up meetings, as well as through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. Looking ahead, Pakistan wishes to highlight the following key priorities to ensure success. First, Security Council Resolution 2803 must be implemented in good faith. Momentum generated at Sharm el-Sheikh must be sustained, particularly by advancing Palestinian-led governance, reconstruction and institution building. The Palestinian Authority's role is central in this regard. Peace cannot be shaped without the direct involvement and ownership of the Palestinian people. This should proceed in parallel with structured follow-up to the two-state conference mandated by the General Assembly. Second, the ceasefire must be implemented fully, with no unilateral actions or military activities. Withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza remains essential. Third, full humanitarian access must be guaranteed. With winter approaching and large parts of Gaza destroyed, the population needs sustained, life-saving assistance. Any obstruction of aid violates international humanitarian law and must not be allowed under any pretext. Fourth, reconstruction must begin without delay. Fifth, there must be no annexation, no forced displacement, and no division of occupied lands. Gaza's territorial integrity and its contiguity with the West Bank are fundamental to a viable, sovereign, and independent Palestinian state. Sixth, settlement activity must stop. Efforts to change the demographic or legal character of the occupied territories, including around al-Haram al-Sharif, are illegal and must end forthright. Seventh, accountability is essential, for without justice there can be no durable peace. Eighth, to break the cycle of violence, it is necessary to end the Israeli occupation of all Arab territories, including in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. And lastly, the imperative of a political horizon. A credible, time-bound political process anchored in the relevant UN resolutions, leading to a sovereign, independent, and contiguous state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. The International Conference on the Two-State Solution, its New York Declaration, and the peace plan should serve to advance concerted and coordinated action to implement commitments for the realization of the ultimate shared goal, that is, the establishment of the Palestinian state in accordance with international legitimacy. This is imperative for durable peace and stability in the Middle East. President, today's resolution is more than a statement of principle. It is a reminder that the world must now turn promises into action. Pakistan's solidarity with the Palestinian people is steadfast. And we stand with them in their legitimate struggle for dignity, justice, and self-determination, and for the realization of an independent Palestinian state. And I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka.

Madam President, Sri Lanka is grateful for this opportunity to address the General Assembly on the question of Palestine. We reaffirm our unwavering support for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace grounded in international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. At the outset, I convey the appreciation of the delegation of Sri Lanka to Ambassador Colic of Senegal, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and Vice-Chairs of the Committee, for its valuable work during the period under review. I also thank Ambassador Ahmad Faisal Mohamad of Malaysia, the rapporteur of the Committee, for his statement to introduce the Committee's report. Sri Lanka also speaks here from the perspective of its role as chair of the Special Committee mandated by this Assembly to monitor the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan. Madam President, as a country that was impacted by the scourge of terrorism for over three decades, Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. and committed by any person or group, irrespective of their origins and/or their allegiances. At the same time, Sri Lanka has continued to express its grave concern at the continuing violence in the Middle East and the ceaseless attacks against civilians in Gaza. The immense loss of civilian life, the destruction and suffering caused over the past few years is unacceptable and unjustifiable. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of the dead are women and children. The humanitarian emergency in Gaza continues to inflict profound suffering. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, families displaced again and again, hospitals, schools and shelters rendered unsafe. We must not allow the frequency of our debates to numb us to the human devastation behind the numbers. families, homes, and communities that suffer. Even with the current ceasefire, the situation remains fragile. Restrictions on humanitarian access, intermittent strikes, and rising tensions in the West Bank show how unstable the situation remains. Sri Lanka reiterates that all parties must fully comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and ensure sustained, unimpeded humanitarian assistance. Madam President, Sri Lanka has taken note of recent deliberations in the Security Council, including the adoption of resolution 2803. We welcome all efforts that maintain the ceasefire, expand humanitarian access, and create space for diplomacy. There is no room for ambiguity. Transitional arrangements must be guided by clear and credible timelines for humanitarian access, for the return of Palestinian government governance structures, and for the withdrawal of occupying forces. Sri Lanka affirms that international stabilization forces or interim governance structures must be rooted in international law, reflect the will of the Palestinian people, and lead toward a political settlement that guarantees their inalienable right to self-determination and statehood. We also recall recent advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice in this regard. Madam President, the only sustainable path to peace remains a negotiated two-state solution based on relevant UN resolutions, pre-1967 borders, and the establishment of an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and prosperity. Such a path requires the participation and consent of the Palestinian people. It cannot be imposed without their consent. As Chair of the Special Committee, Sri Lanka has consistently observed that the continuation of occupation, settlement expansion and displacement further diminishes prospects for peace. We urge all parties to refrain from measures that alter the legal status of the occupied territory. Madam President, Sri Lanka's position remains firm. We stand for diplomacy, for the rule of law, and for a political solution that ends the occupation, ensures Palestine's right to self-statehood, and allows both the people in Palestine and Israel to live in dignity and security. Let this Assembly reaffirm that attaining sustainable peace demands a just and comprehensive settlement that restores the full rights of the Palestinian people. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka.

And it is my pleasure to now give the floor to the permanent representative of Tunisia.

Mr. President, Tunisia salutes the resilience of the Palestinian people. We stand in admiration of their sacrifice, of the blood that has been shed in confronting the machinery of destruction and death, and not just for the last few years. to obtain their right to full freedom. As Tunisia expressed its satisfaction at the reaching of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and as it commended Arab and international efforts towards the agreement, we have always warned that the occupier continues to break its promises, to disregard and completely breach the ceasefire daily by killing civilians. In this context, Tunisia calls on the international community to shoulder their responsibility in ensuring the permanence of the ceasefire in Gaza, to break the siege completely, to accelerate the entry of humanitarian assistance without impediment, and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its right to rebuild its land and to ensure its security and dignity. My country also calls on the international community to obstruct any planned for forcible displacement and the imposition of the fait accompli and we call for the respect of the sovereignty of the state of Palestine Mr. President the daily crimes perpetrated by the occupation forces against the Palestinian people aim at genocide at suffocating the will to be free this is a totally and to the reasons why the United Nations was created. In conclusion, we renew our support of the Palestinian people in its resilience to restore its inalienable rights and to establish its own independent state on all of the land of Palestine with Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, as its capital. Thank you.

It is my pleasure to thank the representative of Tunisia and give the floor to the representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Jordan, first and foremost, supports the statement by the representative of Kuwait on behalf of the Arab group. Let me also thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Secretary General for his report. Allow me to take up the following five points. One. It is imperative for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities vis-a-vis the suffering of the Palestinian people. After two wars of a fierce Israeli war against Gaza, our people continue to suffer the consequences of a war that led to tens of thousands of victims and a total absence of the basic fundamental needs. this war must end and its consequences humanitarian political and social must be confronted second Jordan appreciates International Arab and Islamic efforts particularly Qatar Egypt the UAE and the United States that led to the end of the war in Gaza we stress the need for all efforts to be made to consolidate the ceasefire this is the first fundamental step to implement and the peace plan launched by His Excellency, the President of the United States, endorsed by the Security Council, as well as sufficient humanitarian, unimpeded aid to the Gaza Strip and a path towards peace for both states. As we commend the New York Declaration towards a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, supported by Saudi Arabia and France, we stress the centrality of an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza to be held in Egypt. Jordan will continue its humanitarian commitment through supplemental humanitarian assistance to our brethren in Gaza, in parallel with the major efforts made by our doctors in field hospitals inside the occupied Palestinian territory, as well as treating children and injured civilians in Jordan. Three, we stress the centrality of UNRWA's role in providing essential assistance to millions of Palestinian refugees. There is an urgent need for continued international support to UNRWA so that it can fulfill its mandate in its five operation areas, including Gaza. We value the opinion by the ICJ, which stressed that Israel must, as the occupying power, abide by its obligation to ease the entry of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, particularly by the United Nations, specifically by UNRWA, and not to impede arrival of such assistance. Four. In parallel with the suffering of our people in Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem are suffering the consequences of unilateral illegal measures by Israel, including an attempt to widen settlements, to deport Palestinians, and strangle the Palestinian economy, as well as continuing attacks by fundamentalist settlers against Islamic and Christian holy sites in the occupied land. Jordan is keen to maintain the current status of religious sites in Jerusalem. and this in light with Jordanian mandate on such shrines. Five and last, Jordan fully supports the efforts by our Palestinian brethren to achieve their full inalienable rights to establish their independent state on the 4th of June 1967, border lines with East Jerusalem as its capital towards peace and security and stability in the region and the world. Israel, as occupying power will continue to be responsible morally, politically and legally for all its illegal acts. Until it ends its occupation of Arab land, the international community, including this forum, will continue to abide by the Charter of the United Nations and its fundamental principles, particularly the right to self-determination and for the Palestinian people. I thank you, sir.

I thank the permanent representative of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for his statement.

The distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan.

Mr. President, at that said, allow me to express my gratitude for convening today's plenary at the question of Palestine, an issue of urgent concern to the international community. Kyrgyz Republic welcome the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza by the leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in Sharm el-Sheikh. The ceasefire regime based on the peace plan proposed by the U.S. President Donald Trump is largely holding. This has led to the reduction in intensity of hostilities and has enabled the commencement of large-scale humanitarian operations. Today, we are observing new and encouraging signs of stabilization in Gaza. We express the hope that the parties will approach in the implementation of the agreements with the full responsibility. The Kyrgyz Republic welcomes the release of hostages, an important step toward reducing tensions and creating conditions for further de-escalation. We also support the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to organize local elections, which may constitute a significant step in strengthening the state institutions and advancing necessary reforms. In addition, we note that thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to Gaza following the ceasefire agreement. We welcome the adoption on November 2025, the Security Council resolution endorsing a comprehensive plan to ending the conflict in Gaza. Mr. President, in full solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Kyrgyz Republic has consistently supported their right to self-determination, the establishment of independent states, and becoming as a full member of the United Nations. We advocate for the consolidation of efforts by the international community, first and foremost the Security Council, to achieve an early and complete cessation of hostilities, address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, launch a credible political process, and reach a just, lasting, and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions and the principles of two states for two people. We call on all parties to fully and faithfully implement their commitments and to refrain from any actions that could undermine the agreements achieved. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kyrgyzstan, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua.

Mr. President, Nicaragua aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. Our thanks to Malaysia for the presentation of the report of the Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, of which Nicaragua is a member. echoes the voices calling for truth, justice, and life in Palestine, and the voices that condemn the atrocious crimes committed against our Palestinian brothers and sisters. The world is demanding moral and legal clarity. The Israeli occupation must end, and with it, the blockade of Gaza, the forced displacement, and collective punishment. to which the Palestinian people have been subjected for almost eight decades across all of the occupied territories. We must bear in mind that all of this suffering and the ongoing pain of the Palestinian people have been enabled by the impunity enjoyed by Israel, always backed and supported militarily, politically and economically by Western countries. This Assembly must uphold a firm, unequivocal and urgent demand for a permanent, unconditional and verifiable ceasefire that will once and for all bring an end to the ongoing massacre and genocide, and that will guarantee full, safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to a people that is being deliberately subjected to starvation, siege and systematic destruction. State terrorism against the Palestinian people is evident in the rubble, in the destroyed hospitals, in the eyes of the children going without food, in hunger used as a weapon of war, in the children killed under the indiscriminate bombings. With every Palestinian child that is killed, our humanity also dies. The facts on the ground are undeniable and demand a response from this Assembly. The population urgently needs food, water, shelter and medical care. Defending humanitarian assistance is defending life. President, Nicaragua reaffirms its support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their freedom, self-determination, independence, return to their ancestral lands, and to a free and sovereign State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The world is also demanding that peace be built in good faith, without delay, veto or conditions that hold hostage the overwhelming will of Palestine and of the international community. Peace and stability in the Middle East will be possible once the occupation ends, along with the theft of land, demolition of homes and the apartheid regime that Israel has established in Palestine. Peace will only be born out of faithful compliance with the Charter of the UN and full recognition of the State of Palestine, free and sovereign, without any conditions, with the Palestinian people deciding their future without external interference or imperialist imposition. Nicaragua fully joins the peoples of the world that are demanding the immediate end to genocide, aggression, and all forms of occupation and colonialism in Palestine.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua, where certainly an and it.

Is my pleasure to now give the floor to the permanent representative of the United Emirates.

Mr. President, at the outset, let me commend the efforts of Senegal as chairman of the Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. We appreciate the draft resolution before us on the settlement of the question of Palestine. participated in the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, where His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Head of State, may God keep him, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Committee, stressing the important role of the Committee in the exceptional circumstances currently being lived by the question of Palestine. We have been welcoming the positive developments during the past two months following the ceasefire and the flow of assistance after two years of unprecedented suffering and destruction. We value the diplomatic efforts led by His Excellency President Donald Trump and the central role played by Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in reaching this agreement. In this context, we support the adoption by the Security Council of resolution 2803, my country will continue to closely participate in international efforts to ensure full respect of the comprehensive plan through consolidating the ceasefire, the return of the displaced to their homes, and going back to rebuilding and towards peace and stability in the region. We stress the importance of unimpeded humanitarian assistance in opening all the crossing points and intensifying humanitarian efforts. We believe that UNRWA has a central role that is indispensable, and it is very important to cooperate with all humanitarian organizations in light of the exceptional needs. Mr. President, the state of the UAE believe that the two-state solution is the only way towards a comprehensive and permanent peace. Any future arrangements in Gaza and the West Bank must be coordinated with this objective. In conclusion, we believe that the Palestinian state, an independent state, a sovereign state, with its capital in East Jerusalem, is essential. In conclusion, we continue our call to end the expropriation of Palestinian land and the abrogation of all laws that entrench settlement and occupation, as well as an end to all violent acts by settlement settlers against Palestinian civilians, as well as the restoration of all Palestinian tax revenues to the PA. We stress that East Jerusalem is part and parcel of the occupied Palestinian land. The legal and historical status of the city must be maintained, as well as Jordanian mandate over the holy shrines in the city the state of the UAE fully believe that the two-state solution is the only way to adjust peaceful and a permanent peace any future arrangements in Gaza and the West ban must go in parallel with this objective it must lead to a Palestinian independent state a fully sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capital in conclusion we renew our call to the international community to promote all efforts towards a just, comprehensive, and permanent solution to the question of Palestine and an end to decades of continuing suffering for the Palestinian people. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the UAE.

To the distinguished representative of Mexico.

Senor.

Mr. President. Mexico. Welcomes the fact that the ceasefire in the Middle East has held. While at the same time, it is regrettable that several incidents have all too often put it to the test. We are grateful for the negotiation efforts undertaken by Egypt, the United States of America, Qatar and Turkey in reaching this agreement. Any international effort aimed at ending the hostilities that manages to alleviate bring an end to the human suffering, lay the foundations for progress towards peace, and bring an end to conditions that risk a resurgence of violence must be recognized. Despite the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation remains alarming and continues to be marked by unprecedented destruction. The Deputy Special Coordinator of the UN for the Middle East peace process recently noted that two years into the conflict, 80% of the 250,000 buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. In addition, 1.7 million people remain displaced without adequate access to food and water, while the prices of basic goods have increased, deepening the humanitarian emergency. Furthermore, the World Bank estimates that the reconstruction of Gaza will amount to $53 billion. We recognize the fact that the General Assembly has renewed UNRWA's mandate until June 2029, considering that it plays an irreplaceable role in providing essential services and protecting civilians in Gaza and across the region. Its work represents an indispensable pillar to address immediate needs and preserve minimum conditions for human dignity. The efforts of the international community must focus on guaranteeing the restoration of a quality of life for the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. We express our concern at acts of violence that threaten to reignite hostilities. We call on all parties involved to respect the commitments reached and we call upon the United Nations and the Security Council to guarantee compliance with the ceasefire. These challenges underscore the urgency of advancing towards a clear political horizon for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on agreed parameters and a shared vision of stability and coexistence. Mexico believes that the New York Declaration adopted at the International Conference on the Two-State Solution in September this year marked a turning point in how Member States envisage the consolidation of a Palestinian state living in coexistence and security with Israel. It is time now to implement the commitments agreed to in that declaration. We have taken note of the various reactions following the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2803 just a couple of weeks ago. For Mexico, it is extremely important that in the implementation of this resolution effective mechanisms for oversight and accountability be established for all institutions and entities provided under the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. Furthermore, it is essential that these be understood unambiguously as clear transitional arrangements while the Palestinian Authority is being strengthened so as to fully take up its responsibilities. Furthermore, it's necessary to specify that the UN must play a significant role in this new post-hostilities stage as a guarantor of international legitimacy, and that it should not be relegated merely to validating decisions taken by other parties. It is true that it's time to look ahead, but this should never mean leaving behind the agreed parameters, those agreed within this same organization to achieve a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution, two democratic and sovereign states, Palestine and Israel, within secure and recognized borders based on the 1967 lines. including with respect to Jerusalem, remains the only way to achieve long-term peace that we so deeply desire for both peoples. Let us recall that the principle of the right to self-determination is enshrined in the UN Charter and exists irrespective of any transitional arrangement or form of governance. The Palestinian people has the right to decide for itself. Mexico also reiterates its support for Palestine's aspiration to become a fully fledged member of the United Nations. Mr. President, I conclude with an appeal that as an international community, we must not forget as our responsibility to promote and generate narratives for peace that foster recognition of others, of peaceful coexistence, and that stress dignity, shared humanity, mutual understanding and justice. all elements that will ensure the non-repetition of other acts of barbarity such as those that we have witnessed in recent times. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. President. Turkey firmly supports the resolution on peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question, which is scheduled for action today. We call on all member states to vote in favor of the resolution and work diligently toward its implementation. Mr. President. Since we last held this debate, developments in Gaza have continued at an alarming pace. That toll in Gaza, which stood at over 40,000 last December, has now surpassed 70,000. Entire neighbourhoods have been levelled, and the Strip's already fragile infrastructure has been pushed to collapse. At the same time, there have been encouraging signs. The high-level conference on the two-state solution convened in this hall in July represented a significant step forward. This was followed by a head of state-level meeting in September, during which 11 countries recognized the state of Palestine, reaffirming the growing international consensus that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to a just and lasting peace. Turkey was honored to co-chair the Working Group 6 on preserving the two-state solution during the high-level conference. Successful adoption of the New York Declaration by the General Assembly further underscored the long-standing and widely shared commitment to the two-state solution. Mr. President, after two years of devastating conflict and immense human suffering in Gaza, we welcome the establishment of a ceasefire. As a mediator, Turkey calls for full and faithful implementation of the ceasefire agreements, including Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20-point peace plan. Preserving this long overdue and hard-achieved ceasefire must be our foremost priority. It is equally essential to prevent any further spillover of violence into the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, or the wider region. With the hostilities halted, humanitarian assistance must reach Gaza without obstruction and at the necessary scale. Early reconstruction efforts should commence immediately to restore basic services and prevent further deterioration of living conditions. Mr. President, While we focus on consolidating the ceasefire and enhancing humanitarian support in Gaza, the situation in the occupied West Bank remains deeply concerning. Rising violence, settlement expansion, and shrinking civic and economic space threaten to stabilize the environment and erode the prospects for any political horizon. Turkey strongly condemns continuing expansion of illegal settlements, settler violence, as well as actions violating the historical status of Haram al-Sharif. In this regard, Turkey welcomes the advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice on 22nd October concerning Israel's obligations in occupied Palestinian territory. We also recall the Court's 2004 advisory opinion on the wall and the 2024 advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, both of which remain authoritative. Mr. President, a just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a political solution based on the two-state vision and the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of an independent, southern and geographically contiguous state of Palestine. Turkey reaffirms its readiness to actively support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and contribute to all sincere and coordinated efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive political settlement. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Turkey. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bangladesh.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank you for convening this important meeting. I also thank the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the UNCTAD for their reports. Mr. President, despite numerous resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Human Rights Council, as well as the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, it is a matter of deep regret that we have been witnessing Israeli aggression in Palestine for about eight decades. The reported death toll of more than 61,000 Palestinians, 154,000 injuries, imminent famine affecting over 1.1 million people, mass displacement since October 2023, as well as the estimated $49 billion conflict-related damage highlighted in the UNCTAD report, illustrate the devastating humanitarian and economic consequences of this protracted crisis. Bangladesh has consistently been supporting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and statehood. While we appreciate the ceasefire in Gaza and the role of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in facilitating the ceasefire, Bangladesh calls for the establishment of clear benchmarks and timelines across political, financial, security, humanitarian, and economic dimensions to support the Palestinian people in line with the New York Declaration. We reaffirm that the only viable solution to the crisis is the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and economically viable state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Mr. President, we highlight the following key priorities to ensure lasting peace in Palestine. First, for achieving a peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine, Israel needs to immediately stop aggression, killing, and all other illegal practices including settlement activities, land confiscation, and home demolitions in the occupied Palestinian territory, and comply with all UN resolutions and the recent advisory opinion of the ICJ. Second, ensuring full, immediate, and sustained humanitarian access through UNRWA and to restore basic services, including fuel, food, medical supplies, and commercial flows in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza. Third, mobilizing new resources and funding through an effective and sustainable reconstruction plan for Gaza, such as the Arab-Islamic Reconstruction Plan. Fourth, ensuring accountability is a must to bring an end to such grave crimes against humanity. We express full support for the proceedings before the ICJ under the Genocide Convention. Finally, renewing international commitment to achieve an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, we urge the Security Council to take immediate actions to recommend the admission of Palestine as a full member of the UN. I thank you all.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bangladesh. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Brazil.

Mr. President, this debate is held at a crucial moment for the Middle East, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territory. This Assembly must continue to use every opportunity to defend international law, including humanitarian law and human rights law. We yet again welcome the ceasefire in Gaza and hope it will provide meaningful and lasting relief to civilians who have been enduring catastrophic suffering. Even after the cessation of hostilities, civilians continue to pay the highest price. Their protection must remain at the center of all our decisions. In this regard, Brazil commands the explicit reference in the draft resolution to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which clearly affirm that the rights of protected civilians must be respected in all circumstances. Brazil also welcomes the strengthened language regarding respect for international law. We value the inclusion of the obligations listed in the July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. We welcome the reference to the most recent advisory opinion of 22 October 2025, particularly concerning Israel's obligations with regard to the presence and activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third States in the occupied Palestinian territory. These are fundamental elements to confront the normalization of illegality to ensure accountability, and to safeguard the integrity of the international legal system. Impunity cannot prevail over justice. Violations must be documented, investigated, and addressed. Respect for international law is not optional; it is a universal legal and moral imperative. Brazil also appreciates the reference to the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, as well as the mention of the endorsement of the New York Declaration by this Assembly. The commitments made in July and reaffirmed in September must not remain rhetorical. Effective follow-up mechanisms and monitoring of implementation are essential to translate words into concrete progress. Mr. President, Brazil reiterates its unwavering support for the establishment of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. We fully support efforts toward the unification of Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. We call once again for an end to the occupation and for the reconstruction and recovery of Palestinian institutions with the support of the international community. All illegal occupations must cease in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Only through justice, dignity, and equal rights will peace become possible. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Brazil. And I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Mr. President, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Venezuela. on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. The collective punishment that the Palestinian people have been subjected to by Israel represents an unprecedented act of cruelty and inhumanity.

Victim kindred people that has suffered for more than 75 years a colonial occupation flagrant violations of its legitimate rights as a nation and been subjected to aggression crimes against humanity and apartheid it's the lack of respect and disregard by Israel of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter international law international humanitarian law are clear following decades of illegal colonizing policies and practices by Israel on Palestinian territories, including the Israeli apartheid system, Palestinians continue to face a catastrophic humanitarian situation and remain without access to basic essential services, food, medication, electricity. We continue even to see the blockade on the entry of formula milk for babies and humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable in the Gaza Strip. Israel has violated the ceasefire in Gaza with full impunity. Since its signing, more than 240 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces. Israel must comply with the conditions that it accepted in the ceasefire and allow the free, unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. We reject the prohibition by Israel of UNRWA activities on its territory and contacts with its authorities, and we reiterate our for the essential work of UNRWA. We further condemn the military incursion by Israel in the north of the West Bank, which has led left several wounded and led to hundreds of arrests. Cuba reaffirms its round condemnation of the genocide, extermination and ethnic cleansing by the occupying power. Over the last two years, more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed. More than 1 million people have been displaced. The number of wounded has climbed to 170,000 in a health system that has been deliberately annihilated. In the Gaza Strip, more than 70% of the victims are women and children. Israel insists that it must control and destroy the Palestinian territory and exterminate its population to to avoid by force, as it usually does, the establishment and recognition of the independent state of Palestine. Cuba reiterates its full support for the immediate unconditional accession of Palestine as a fully fledged member of this organization. If the Security Council, which is powerless in light of the abuse of the veto, persists in being an obstacle to this aspiration, this General Assembly, as the most universal representative body of the international community, must unequivocally declare this right. It is without doubt very unfair for Palestine to continue to wait to become a full member of the United Nations when Israel did so 76 years ago in a resolution that provided for the creation of two states. We will continue to demand the two-state solution, which will allow the Palestinian people to enjoy an independent sovereign state within the pre-67 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, guaranteeing the right of return of refugees and the inalienable right to self-determination as indispensable conditions to the settlement of this protracted conflict. We reiterate that any ongoing initiative to bring an end to the conflict cannot in any circumstances be implemented in a way that would violate the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination and to exist as a sovereign and independent state. Palestinian ownership should not in any case be overlooked or minimized. Likewise, there must be no deviation from the path of achieving a broad, just and lasting peace. Gaza belongs to Palestinians. president. At the same time, we continue to see impunity for the aggression of Israel against other countries in the Middle East, such as Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Yemen. The violation of Qatari sovereignty, which has played a constructive role in mediation efforts in Gaza, represents just one more example of Israel's aggression and expansionist politics. Furthermore, we condemn the new continued attacks by Israel on Lebanon, which violate the ceasefire and international law. The Zionist regime must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and not interfere in its domestic affairs. It is unacceptable that we see the Israeli military occupation and have for more than 50 years over the Syrian Golan. This continues despite the sustained demands from the international community to bring an end to the imposition of Israeli laws, jurisdiction and administration over this territory. Actions that attempt to reconfigure the Middle East by force are a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and perpetuate the cycle of violence and insecurity in the region. Let us act now to change the course of history and to once and for all bring an end to the genocide against the Palestinian people, the aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations in the region, and the impunity of the occupying power. Only in this way will we be able to achieve peace and regional stability in the Middle East. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cuba, and I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Chile.

President, Chile welcomes the ceasefire agreement signed on 8 October, thanks to the mediation efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

We welcome the release of the hostages and express our solidarity with the families who continue to await the remains of their loved ones. Despite the progress made, the situation in the Gaza Strip remains extremely serious.

We call on the parties to comply with their commitments in good faith to protect the civilian.

Population, to meet humanitarian needs, and to restore dialogue as the only path towards achieving a just and lasting peace with the implementation of a two-state.

Solution in accordance with international law and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. In this regard, Chile believes that the future of Gaza calls for.

Sustainable reconstruction with inclusive processes involving women, young people, older persons and persons with disabilities in decision-making. President, we highlight the recent advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice. This reaffirms Israel's obligation to respect international law and guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, including the essential work of UNRWA. Chile reiterates its support for all humanitarian personnel. Their work is essential to protect the Palestinian population. We particularly highlight the work done by UNRWA on the ground. This is essential to ensure the well-being of refugees. As was mentioned by Commissioner General Lazarini in the Fourth Committee just two weeks ago, the agency remains key body for the appropriate delivery of education and health services. Proof of this is the almost 14,000 medical appointments that its staff carry out every day. That's why we welcome the renewal of UNRWA's mandate and we recognize the work of UNRWA personnel who, despite their physical and emotional exhaustion, continue to be committed to their work. Turning now to the occupied West Bank, Chile wishes to reiterate its deep-rooted concern at the uptick in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. As was highlighted by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the period from the 11th to the 17th of November saw 29 attacks by settlers in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. This caused harm to victims, property, displaced people, and caused the loss of livelihoods, particularly during the current harvest period. These attacks, many of which are systematic and organized, do not only have devastating humanitarian consequences, but also erode the very foundations of any path towards just and lasting peace. That is why Chile roundly condemns any forms of violence against civilians and recalls that, In line with international humanitarian law, the occupying power is obliged to protect the population under occupation. We urge the competent authorities to take firm, effective steps to prevent such abuse, to independently investigate the incidents and to guarantee accountability for those responsible. Furthermore, we express our serious concern at the continued expansion of settlements and the plans announced by Israeli authorities related to new settlement building in the West Bank as was indicated by the International Court of Justice in 2024 such act such illegal action represents a flagrant violation of international law and irreversibly change the demographic composition of the territory undermining the viability of the two-state solution leading it to demand Israel to bring an end to such activity as soon as possible. Finally, Chile stresses its belief that only through the end of the occupation, the cessation of all unilateral measures, and full respect for the resolutions of the United Nations will it be possible to forge ahead towards lasting peace based on the coexistence of the State of Palestine and State of Israel living side by side in peace and security. Today, just a few days after the commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we believe it's essential to reaffirm the international community's commitment to a political solution based on international law, the protection of human rights, and the principles of the UN Charter. This also means guaranteeing full respect for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, to live in freedom, security and dignity, and to build their own state. we reiterate our steadfast support for Palestine's entry as a full member of the United Nations. This is a belief that is not only a legal and moral imperative, but also a crucial step towards a just, lasting, and sustainable peace. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished Permanent Representative of Chile. We have heard the last speaker the debate on this item. I should like to inform members that action on the draft resolution will take place this afternoon, following the conclusion of the debate on agenda item 34, entitled "The situation in the Middle East". The meeting is adjourned.