16.07.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on the humanitarian situation in Gaza
Checked Against Delivery
Thank you, Mr. President,
Let me also thank USG Fletcher and UNICEF Executive Director Russell for their detailed and sobering briefings. And through you, our thanks go to your teams on the ground, working under such difficult circumstances.
Mr. President,
The situation in Gaza is nothing short of catastrophic. The level of human suffering, clearly outlined by our briefers today and many times before, is appalling. That is why, Denmark, together with France, Greece, Slovenia and the UK called for this urgent meeting.
Allow me to focus on three key concerns.
First,
Active hostilities continue to claim countless Palestinian lives.
Strikes on people sheltering in schools and tents and on those seeking food, water and other assistance continue to be reported, resulting in mass casualties. We call on all parties to protect civilians, humanitarian personnel, and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Since the establishment of the first GHF food distribution site on 27 May, more than 800 Palestinians have been killed and over 5,000 injured while trying to access food. Their lives cut short, while simply trying to survive.
We deplore the killing of starving civilians trying to get food and reiterate our call for transparent investigations into these incidents. The alarming frequency and scale of these incidents are wholly unacceptable.
Second, Mr. President,
As part of Israel’s expanded military campaign, Israeli forces have continued to issue additional displacement orders. Combined, these orders place more than 85% of Gaza’s territory under displacement orders. Civilians have no safe place to go and are instead confined into ever-shrinking spaces.
Denmark rejects any forced displacement and calls for the full respect for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Any unilateral attempts to alter the demographic or territorial status of the Gaza strip are unacceptable and constitute a clear violation of international law. Further, we stress that civilians must be able to return safely to their communities.
Third, Mr. President,
While some food assistance, fuel and medicines have been able to enter the Gaza strip recently, as we have heard the amounts remain nothing more than a drop in a vast ocean of desperate need. Nearly one in three people are going entire days without eating, while hospitals face imminent shutdown as fuel stocks run out. Under these conditions, children remain among the most vulnerable, with the number of malnourished children rising at an alarming rate, as we have just heard from Executive Director Russell.
Meanwhile, we have witnessed a side-lining of the United Nations and established international humanitarian organizations from operating in Gaza. Truckloads of much-needed aid deliveries are waiting just outside the border in order to deliver much needed aid to the Palestinian people.
From the EU’s side, we will follow closely the implementation of the recent common understanding with Israel on humanitarian access to Gaza closely with the aim of improving the situation on the ground.
Denmark’s position is clear: All restrictions on humanitarian aid must be lifted.
We reiterate Israel’s clear obligations under international law to ensure full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid – while observing the humanitarian principles of independence, impartiality, neutrality and humanity - to all Palestinians in need, half of whom are children.
Humanitarian aid must never be politicised, used as a political bargaining chip or as part of a military strategy. As we have stated before, this sets a dangerous precedent for the future of humanitarian work in warzones around the world.
This is why we support the UN’s Coordinated Plan to Resume Humanitarian Aid Deliveries to Gaza. The UN – including UNRWA – alongside their humanitarian partners must be allowed to do their job. To safely provide the necessary supplies as well as the uninterrupted delivery of services across Gaza. As USG Fletcher said, it doesn’t have to be like that.
Mr. President,
In addition to the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid, we urgently need an immediate ceasefire, and for Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the remaining hostages, held since the brutal terror attack on October 7th..
Meanwhile, the two-state solution remains the only viable path to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East. We welcome the recent announcement by France and Saudi Arabia that the high-level conference will be resumed on 28 July. We look forward to this opportunity for Member States to advance concrete measures for the implementation of a two-state solution.
I thank you.