President,
Thank you – and many thanks to Deputy Special Coordinator Alakbarov for his briefing.
Let me start by expressing Norway’s deep concern over the current instability in the Middle East. Recent developments have once again demonstrated how quickly tensions can escalate.
We urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, to respect international law and to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
In the context of rising regional tension, we cannot forget the situation in Palestine.
Despite the ceasefire in Gaza, civilians are still being killed. The humanitarian situation remains desperate. Far too little medicine, essential goods and emergency aid is reaching an already severely affected civilian population. Despite improvements since the ceasefire, acute food insecurity remains widespread.
Furthermore, Israel has voiced ambitions to control up to 70 percent of Gaza and an earthen barrier to entrench the division of Gaza is being constructed.
This underlines the importance of moving forward with the implementation of the 20-point plan and Security Council Resolution 2803.
Norway reiterates that international humanitarian law must be respected by all parties.
Humanitarian assistance must reach those in need safely, rapidly and without obstruction.
The situation in the West Bank is equally concerning. Military operations, continued settlement expansion, extreme levels of settler violence, demolitions and displacement undermine trust and threaten prospects for lasting peace.
Such Developments in the West Bank are in breach of international law and further erode the foundations for the two-state solution.
The Palestinian Authority’s worsening fiscal crisis, caused in large part by the continued withholding of revenues that rightfully belong to Palestine, as well as other economic restrictions, are bringing essential public services to the brink of collapse.
We call on Israel to urgently release revenues that rightfully belong to the Palestinian people.
In this context, we cannot ignore Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention without formal charge. Thousands of Palestinians are being detained in Israeli prisons without charge or trial.
Human rights organisations describe prison conditions for Palestinians as severe and life threatening, citing inadequate food, denial of medical care and abuse. We urge Israel to uphold its human rights obligations towards detainees under international law, including by granting the ICRC immediate access to all detention facilities, as stipulated in the recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling.
President,
We need renewed efforts to ensure Palestinian institutions are strengthened, concrete and timely recovery and reconstruction, respect for international law, and accountability.
Norway remains firmly committed to the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.
Thank you.