Insights from the UN Security Council: Unpacking the Middle East’s Complex Landscape

Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Deputy Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
January 3, 2025

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the United States, I commend Algeria on your presidency and warmly welcome, as you did Mr. President, the new members: Denmark, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia.

Thank you, High Commissioner Türk, Representative Peeperkorn, and Dr. Haj-Hassan for your impactful briefings.

Colleagues, throughout this conflict, Hamas has consistently exploited civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, to stockpile weapons, provide shelter for fighters, and organize attacks against Israel.

Hamas continues – day after day – to jeopardize civilians through their strategies and utilization of these facilities.   I urge my fellow colleagues in this room to denounce Hamas for these actions and call attention to their ongoing endangerment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Far too many still find it difficult to do so.

Israel’s struggle is with Hamas and not with the Palestinian civilians the terrorist organization falsely claims to represent.  According to the Israel Defense Forces, over 240 militants were detained at the Kamal Adwan hospital, including 15 individuals who took part in the October 7 massacre.

Even while combating Hamas, Israel has a moral obligation to mitigate civilian harm.  We do not wish to witness hospitals become battlegrounds.  No one gains from this – especially the civilians who neither instigated this conflict nor possess the means to resolve it – and who urgently require medical assistance. Civilians cannot be left without operational hospitals or sufficient medical care.

It is essential for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm, particularly concerning patients receiving treatment at Kamal Adwan hospital and medical personnel committed to caring for the community.

Regarding the reports about the Director of Kamal Adwan hospital, we in the United States government are in communication with the Israeli government as well as partners on the ground and are gathering information.

Colleagues, far too many civilians in Gaza are suffering from hunger, lacking medication, clean drinking water, or adequate housing.

Secretary Blinken has consistently stated:  We must end the conflict, bring all hostages home, including the seven Americans held by Hamas, and establish a path forward in the post-conflict phase that provides governance, security, and reconstruction in Gaza.

We must also urgently increase humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians throughout Gaza, or many will not endure the remainder of the winter.  We have made it clear to Israel that they must take further action to address these avoidable humanitarian deficiencies.

We have explicitly outlined the specific actions we require Israel to undertake; including significantly increasing the entry of food, medicine, and other essential supplies into Gaza given that winter has begun.

There should be no forced displacement, nor any starvation policy in Gaza – as this would have severe consequences under both U.S. and international law.

We need to see an immediate increase in humanitarian aid.  Only a continuous flow of assistance, food, clean water, and medical supplies into Gaza will provide relief and tackle catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

Colleagues, the task ahead of us to establish a ceasefire is challenging.  The difficulty of assisting a revitalized Palestinian Authority to reconstruct Gaza without Hamas is enormous.

Yet, we must first prioritize the urgency of the humanitarian crisis.  Because lives are on the line — the lives of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the lives of the hostages who have endured immense suffering since Hamas initiated this horrific conflict on October 7.

We need to offer Palestinians a future filled with self-determination, dignity, and security.

We need Israel to feel secure within its own borders.

The United States continues to advocate for a ceasefire and hostage release accord that allows for a surge in life-saving assistance to Palestinian civilians.  There are simply no alternatives that lead to lasting peace and regional stability.

Thank you.

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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 3 January, 2025 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights | Tags: Archive 2017-2021