Dmitry Polyanskiy at the UN Security Council: “We insist that Israel strictly observe international law and the established legal basis for the Middle East peace process, including the relevant UNSC and GA resolutions”

Photo: The Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations

Statement by Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Dmitry Polyanskiy at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue. Main points.

- The other day, the world found out the shocking news that Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet had decided to deploy troops in Gaza and bring the Strip under total control of Israeli security forces so as to – as the Israeli cabinet said – defeat Hamas.

- These actions by the Israeli leadership constitute a gross violation of international law, and demonstrate a blatant disregard for both the appeals of the international community and the decisions of the UNSC, inflicting a major setback on the prospects for the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. We firmly condemn the Netanyahu government's intention to seize Gaza. In this context, we align ourselves with the calls on Jerusalem to refrain from such extremely dangerous steps, which undermine the already fragile prospects for a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict.

- We insist that Israel strictly observe international law and the established legal basis for the Middle East peace process, including the relevant UNSC and GA resolutions. We also recall that Israel's plans run counter to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of July 19, 2024, which, inter alia, unequivocally stipulates that West Jerusalem must immediately put an end to the occupation of Palestinian lands.

- Furthermore, the adoption of such a plan essentially indicates the official and public recognition by Israel of its goals to seize and occupy the enclave. As is well known, after the disengagement from Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli settlements from there in 2005, the Israeli leadership claimed that there was no occupation in place, which was not the case in terms of international legal interpretations, given Israel's continued control over the perimeter of the sector, its airspace, and its coastline.

- Just a few days ago, here in the Council, at Israel’s initiative, we had a detailed discussion on the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Most members of the UNSC clearly and unequivocally stated that one of the prerequisites for the release of all detainees is an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. After all, it is the suspension of bloodshed and active diplomacy rather than reckless intensification of hostilities that helped to get over 140 people out of the enclave in the past year and a half.

- Unfortunately, West Jerusalem has once again heeded neither the appeals of the global majority nor the voices of reason within Israel, nor the calls from the relatives of the hostages. Instead of pursuing negotiations, the Israeli authorities have opted for escalating the violence, thereby jeopardizing the safety and lives of the Israeli hostages who are known to being held in unbearable conditions, which are further exacerbated by acute food and water shortages in Gaza.

- It turns out that the Israeli foreign minister – who was among us here on August 5, hypocritically shedding crocodile tears over the fate of the Israeli hostages – already knew then that the Israeli cabinet was about to take such a decision which would essentially rule out any possibility of the hostages returning home alive. Apparently, Mr. Saar was seeking to lay the groundwork for such a decision through creating a required media image of solidarity and sympathy among UNSC members only to continue killing Palestinians. Such an attempt to manipulate the Security Council for internal Israeli purposes is simply beyond comprehension!

- Nor can one comprehend how the Jewish people, who endured the Holocaust during World War II, can today put Palestinians in ghettos and seek their complete annihilation... How quickly one forgets the lessons of history!

- It is also clear that the implementation of the Israeli leadership's plans to fully cleanse the enclave will do nothing but further worsen the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Essentially, they announce new mass forced displacements, which is fraught with more suffering for the civilian population, new casualties, and increased bloodshed. Given the way the conflict in Gaza is unfolding, we have no reason to believe what the Israeli authorities publicly claim about their alleged intent to provide the civilians outside the combat zones with everything they need. The methods Israel uses to distribute food are notoriously known – they are inhumane, they contradict the norms of IHL, and lead only to the death of civilians. This is clearly exemplified by the activities of the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” with over 1,500 Palestinians killed at its food distribution points.

- We need to bear in mind that the plans for displacement of civilians in conditions of armed conflict, as well as the use of hunger as a weapon, are something that could be qualified as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Furthermore, such actions could fall under Article 2C, of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which Israel ratified in 1950.

- In conclusion, we would like to note that the day before yesterday, in an interview with an American television channel, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of his intention to establish an alternative administration in Gaza that would offer Gazans “a different future.” According to Netanyahu, this administration would not be Palestinian, which, in turn, contradicts numerous universally recognized international legal understandings of the Gaza Strip as an integral part of the future Palestinian state. For our part, we suggest reflecting on some rhetorical questions: what future can people have under occupation, and what can we say to the relatives of over 60,000 people killed who no longer have any future? How many more Palestinians must die before this inhumane slaughter ends? And how much longer will this outrage be overlooked by those who consistently and unreservedly support Israel and prevent the UNSC from acting?

- For our part, we consistently and unwaveringly have advocated a diplomatic solution to the Palestinian question on the basis of “two States for two peoples” formula, which, if implemented, would address both Israel's legitimate security concerns and the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations to have their own State. What we’ll have otherwise is nothing but death of another tens of thousands innocent people, including Israeli hostages who have been held captive for almost two years.

- The UNSC simply must not allow such a scenario to develop, and I hope that Washington will soon realize this as well. For now, as far as we understand, despite the assurances by the US Department of State about their continued “real and serious diplomatic efforts to end the suffering in Gaza, secure the release of the hostages, and achieve lasting peace,” the United States is simply “washing its hands” and giving West Jerusalem a free hand in Gaza.

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