Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question - October 23rd, 2025

Mr. President,

Brazil welcomes the announcement of an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a new ceasefire in Gaza, with the implementation of the first phase of a plan to end the conflict in the Strip, after two long years. We recognize the key role played by the United States and value the mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.

We strongly hope that this ceasefire will bring tangible relief to the civilian population. The agreement must halt the Israeli attacks that have caused more than 68,000 deaths, many of them women and children, and the forced displacement of nearly two million Palestinians. They also caused unprecedented destruction of Gaza`s civilian

infrastructure and the highest ever recorded number of deaths of humanitarian personnel.

Brazil underscores the irreplaceable role of UNRWA and the importance of guaranteeing full, immediate, safe, and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance at scale, including for UN personnel. As an occupying power, Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, as stated in the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 22 October.

We urge the parties to fully comply with the agreement and to engage in good-faith negotiations toward the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the restoration of Palestinian governance over its territory. The inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination must be realized.

These measures are essential to enable the urgent recovery and reconstruction of Gaza. The international community must step in to support this effort under Palestinian coordination and supervision. This process must be Palestinian-owned and Palestinian-led.

We remain gravely concerned by the continuous expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, in violation of international law and in defiance of the 2024 Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, which found Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to be unlawful and concluded that the country must immediately cease any new settlement activities.

A just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through the two-State solution, with an independent and viable State of Palestine living side by side with Israel, in peace and security, within the 1967 borders, which includes the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

All violations of international and humanitarian law committed in Gaza cannot go unaccounted for. Ensuring justice is imperative to prevent such crimes from happening again in Gaza and elsewhere.

Any international stabilization force eventually deployed in Palestine must have a carefully crafted

mandate and be duly authorized by this Council. Such a mission should sustain the ceasefire, facilitate reconstruction, and help create the conditions for a lasting political settlement. Any such force should act in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the parties concerned, in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions.

Mr. President,

Brazil acknowledges the participation of Syria in the general debate this year. We recognize the efforts of the Syrian government to ensure an inclusive and peaceful political transition, which must count with the full respect for the independence, sovereignty unity, and territorial integrity of the country, in accordance with Resolution 2254 (2015) of this Council.

Brazil condemns the Israeli occupation of the demilitarized zone in Syria, in violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, and deplores the continued Israeli attacks against Syria as it prepares for reconstruction

and reconciliation. We welcome the lifting of unilateral sanctions against Syria, which should have a positive impact on the country’s economy and enable its urgent reconstruction efforts.

Brazil welcomes the Security Council’s renewal of the mandate of UNIFIL and reiterates its support for the mission’s essential role in preserving stability in southern Lebanon. With strong human ties to Lebanon and having led the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force from 2011 to 2021, Brazil remains committed to the mission’s objectives.

The full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006) continues to be hindered by the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory and repeated violations of the ceasefire agreed in November 2024 and of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Finally, Brazil expresses grave concern over reports of the detention of additional UN staff in Yemen. We call for their immediate release and reiterate that protecting UN personnel is a fundamental obligation under international law.

Mr. President,

Peace, stability, and respect for human dignity must prevail across the entire region. In a world marked by conflict and tension, we hope the Middle East can finally find a political path to peace in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Let the people of Palestine finally know peace, and let this peace extend throughout the region.

Thank you.