President,
2024 was among the most violent years in three decades. 2025 has followed suit. There are few signs that this trajectory will ease in the year ahead. The situation
in occupied Palestine is a particular point in mind. In Palestine, despite some recent positive developments, the obstruction of humanitarian aid still prevents essential food and basic necessities from reaching a population in desperate need.
Civilians are paying the highest price. Respect for humanitarian principles is eroding. The most fundamental tenets of humanitarian law are under pressure.
President,
The United Nations and the wider multilateral system were built to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Central to this vision is fidelity to international law, overseen by the International Court of Justice.
However, this system does not act in and of itself. Only when we as member States make active use of the tools at our disposal can the system fulfil the promises on which it was built.
One of the tools offered by the multilateral system is advisory proceedings before The International Court of Justice to clarify specific legal questions that arise. In December last year, member States turned to the Court to seek clarity on fundamental issues pertaining to the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Palestine.
We commend the Court for acting swiftly and rendering its Advisory Opinion on 22 October this year.
President,
In Norway’s written and oral submissions to the Court we highlighted the particular and long-standing responsibility of the United Nations in relation to the Question of Palestine. This responsibility originated in the Mandate and the 1947 Partition Resolution, but also in early initiatives to provide relief following the large-scale displacement of Palestine refugees in 1948.
Those efforts laid the foundation for what would become the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East — UNRWA. We welcome the Court’s recognition of UNRWA’s indispensable role in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and essential services to civilians in Palestine.
President,
We, the member States of the United Nations, have an obligation to ensure the necessary conditions for safe and effective humanitarian operations. We cannot accept impediments that hinder humanitarian access and disrupt planned operations, be they in Palestine or anywhere else.
This is why Norway — together with a cross regional group of dedicated States, to which we owe our greatest gratitude, comprising Chile, Egypt, Guyana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Namibia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, and Spain — is presenting this resolution to the UN membership.
At its core, this is a resolution in favour of our international legal order, the wider multilateral system, and specifically our United Nations.
President,
The Advisory Opinion of 22 October provides valuable and important clarifications, specifically on Israel’s obligations in and in relation to Palestine. Sadly, recent developments highlight the urgency and relevance of the Court’s clarifications.
We recall, in particular, the recent condemnation by the Secretary-General of the unauthorized entry of Israeli authorities into the United Nations Sheikh Jarrah compound held by UNRWA located in occupied East Jerusalem. As stated by the Secretary-General, this is in clear violation of Israel’s obligations to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises as detailed by the Court in its Advisory Opinion.
President,
In closing, let me underline the following. The resolution which is now before the membership, is not directed against any state or entity. Instead, it is conceived to protect the most fundamental humanitarian norms and principles that we – all of us here – have set out to protect in the name of human dignity and the UN Charter. The foundational imperative that commands all of us to alleviate suffering based on humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence does not only underpin this resolution but transcend borders and begs for our unified and unwavering support.
It is on this basis I urge all member States to vote in favour of this draft resolution.
I thank you.