Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em debate aberto do Conselho de Segurança sobre a situação no Oriente Médio, incluindo a Questão Palestina - 22 de dezembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the UNSC Open Debate
on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
November 22nd, 2023

Mister President,

Brazil thanks the Chinese Presidency for convening this meeting, as well as the UAE and Malta for their timely request. We also thank today's briefers for their detailed updates on the reality faced by hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza, particularly women and children. We highlight that more than an appalling 5 thousand children have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks.

We gather here under the shadow of a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions. Since the terrorist attacks of Hamas on October 7th, and the subsequent military escalation, Gaza has been in the epicenter of an appalling humanitarian tragedy.

The toll is heart-wrenching: over 14,000 lives lost, countless injured and missing, and critical infrastructure has been destroyed. Essential supplies such as food, water, and medical items are scarce. The collapse of power and communication networks has plunged the region into darkness and isolation. The displacement of 1.5 million individuals has led to overcrowding and heightened the risk of widespread disease. These conditions are not just dire; they are catastrophic.

Also of continued great concern is the situation of more than two hundred people being held hostage by Hamas, including women and children. We reiterate our call for the prompt and safe release of all hostages and we welcome the four-day truce and hostage release deal approved yesterday. We acknowledge the mediation efforts and express our hope the deal will be upheld and immediately followed by new releases.

Brazil mourns the overwhelming loss of lives in the conflict on both sides as well as of more than 100 United Nations staff and humanitarian workers who have perished since the conflict escalated.

The situation in the Gaza Strip, especially for women and children, is nothing short of a calamity. Among the most at risk are newborns and infants, and pregnant women, many of whom enter labor each day under appalling conditions, without adequate medical care. This crisis is exacerbated for those experiencing complications during delivery. This has led to distressing reports of women undergoing C-sections without proper anesthesia. This situation exposes continuous violations of human rights.

Children are regrettably caught in this spiral of violence. They face constant threats to their safety and well-being. This conflict is stealing from them their childhoods, their future, their lives. The psychological and physical impact of this crisis on entire generations of Palestinian and Israeli children have long-lasting repercussions.

We deplore the recent attacks on two schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in less than 24 hours, resulting in the tragic loss of life and injury to many, predominantly women and children.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been compelled to seek shelter in UN facilities across Gaza. Brazil reiterates the inviolability of these premises as part of the imperative to protect educational institutions in conflict zones.

We urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities and all forms of violence. All parties must comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

Brazil calls for the swift and unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. This must be done through all available and secure crossing points. We appeal to all actors on the ground to work to ensure these lifelines remain open and functional.

Mister President,

As we confront this crisis, it is equally vital to prevent its escalation and spillover into neighboring areas, such as the West Bank and along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The risk of a regional spillover is real, and we must avoid further deterioration.

The international community cannot continue to overlook the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples to live in peace and security, which cannot be achieved without a sovereign Palestinian state. Our collective responsibility is to foster the conditions for dialogue and promote political pathways towards a lasting solution, in accord with International Law and this very Council`s decisions.

Brazil welcomes the adoption of Resolution 2712 as a positive first step, which must be fully and urgently implemented. However, more needs to be done. Brazil and a majority of UN Member States support an immediate, lasting and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.

Finally, we reiterate our unwavering support for a two-state solution. The establishment of a viable Palestinian state, coexisting in peace alongside Israel within secure, mutually accepted, and internationally recognized borders, is fundamental for the security and prosperity of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Thank you.