Insights from the UN Security Council: Addressing the Middle East Crisis

Comments at a UN Security Council Briefing Regarding the Situation in the Middle East

Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Chargé d’Affairs ad interim
New York, New York
January 20, 2024

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President, and my gratitude extends to Secretary-General Guterres for his earlier briefing.

Esteemed colleagues, a ceasefire and agreement for the release of hostages was significantly overdue. Due to the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, the involved parties have reached a consensus aligned with resolution 2735 to conclude the conflict instigated by Hamas over 470 days ago.

This accord will cease hostilities in Gaza, provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to Palestinian civilians, and most crucially reunite hostages with their families after over 15 months of captivity. It is the outcome not only of the severe pressure Hamas has faced and the altered regional dynamics following a ceasefire in Lebanon and the weakening of Iran but also of tireless and meticulous diplomacy.

This situation should have resolved itself much sooner. We must consistently remember the lives lost due to the brutal Hamas terrorist assault on October 7, along with the traumas suffered by many innocent individuals in the subsequent war. We can no longer permit Hamas to persist in undermining the Palestinian people. Not after it instigated this conflict through its barbaric actions on October 7 and its shameful conduct since then.

We have observed Hamas insidiously exploit the suffering of Palestinians by utilizing civilian infrastructure, like schools and hospitals, to stash weapons, shelter fighters, and coordinate assaults. We have also witnessed Hamas assume the role of the victim, appealing to the international community on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza while simultaneously making choices and employing strategies that jeopardize their safety. We can no longer permit Hamas to control the Palestinian political scene in Gaza.

We applaud the recent declarations from the Palestinian leadership that underscore how Hamas prioritizes the interests of Tehran over those of the Palestinian populace, consequently leading to the devastation in Gaza. Israel’s struggle is with Hamas, not with the Palestinian civilians that the terrorist group falsely claims to represent while frequently placing them in peril. No one gains from a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza—not least the millions of Palestinian civilians trapped in a conflict they did not ignite and are powerless to halt.

Esteemed colleagues, now is the moment for all parties to ensure that essential aid reaches those in need throughout Gaza. We encourage nations to support this initiative through financial contributions and resources and to assist in scaling up urgently needed humanitarian aid. As we all recognize, finalizing the ceasefire took significant effort. It was a lengthy process to achieve an agreement that would halt the bloodshed. In the coming days, the region’s leaders will require making difficult decisions to help establish a new reality. The ceasefire mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt serves as a foundation for a future that offers equal measures of security, freedom, and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis.

Despite the devastating consequences of the conflict that Hamas initiated, we have a historic chance to significantly transform the Middle East. It is far past time for the fighting to cease and for the endeavor of fostering peace and security to commence. To assist individuals in starting to rebuild their lives.

The United States will exert every effort to help Israelis and Palestinians capitalize on this moment collectively and to achieve peace through this agreement.

I appreciate your attention.

###

By United States Mission to the United Nations | 20 January, 2025 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks, Remarks and Highlights