President,
For decades, Norway has sought to contribute to a just and lasting solution to
the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Both the Israeli and Palestinian
people deserve peace now.
Norway reiterates its support for Security Council Resolution 2803 and the 20-point plan. We underscore the need for all parties to uphold the ceasefire in Gaza and for the plan’s second phase to proceed without delay.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains deeply concerning. Aid and personnel must have safe, rapid, and unhindered access to all areas. Israel’s obligations in this regard were clearly expressed by the ICJ in its Advisory Opinion of 22 October.
Humanitarian assistance to Gaza must be delivered in line with international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles. Aid systems resulting in
forced displacement is unacceptable. In addition to improving the lives of the
people in Gaza, aid should be in line with Palestinian priorities.
President,
In line with international law, Palestine’s future should rest in Palestinian hands. Palestinian participation and ownership are also essential for the 20-point plan to succeed. This means meaningful involvement of the Palestinian Government and visible, on-the-ground presence of legitimate Palestinian institutions with mechanisms for broader engagement of the Palestinian people and civil society.
Norway condemns the recent surge in settler violence across the West Bank. The UN has documented more than 250 attacks in October alone. Israel’s illegal occupation, settlement expansion, and system of closures and restrictions are making the situation increasingly unbearable. These destabilizing actions threaten to undermine both the 20-point plan and the two-State solution. We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion, release tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority, and comply with its obligations
under international law.
Norway firmly maintains that only a two-State solution can deliver lasting security and freedom for both Palestinians and Israelis. In this context, we emphasize that Gaza is an integral part of Palestine, and steps must be taken now to ensure that Gaza and the West Bank can be reunited under the governance of Palestinian authorities.
As chair of the International Donor Group for Palestine (AHLC) and co-initiator of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, Norway stands ready to help implement the 20-point plan and follow up on the objectives of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution endorsed by the General Assembly.
Thank you