18.03.2025 Statement by Denmark at the UNSC briefing on Gaza
Checked Against Delivery
I would like to join colleagues in thanking USG Fletcher for his sobering briefing and his very detailed description of the many achievements achieved during the ceasefire.
At the outset, let me express Denmark’s shock and sadness over the news coming from Gaza about the many civilian casualties following the Israeli airstrikes last night.
Let me be clear, this violence must stop and the terms of the ceasefire must be respected. A ceasefire that can pave the way for the release of all remaining hostages and ensure much needed humanitarian aid to the civilians of Gaza.
We urge all parties to show restraint. Denmark has repeatedly underlined the need to ensure the protection of civilians in line with International Humanitarian Law. We reiterate this call today.
Colleagues, as we have heard several times this morning, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. The recent Israeli decision to block all further humanitarian assistance and to cut electricity to the enclave is rendering the situation even more desperate and threatens to reverse progress made during the first phase of the ceasefire.
The consequences are already starting to emerge; The lack of supplies has meant that humanitarian partners are reducing food rations. UNICEF reports that roughly 1 million children in Gaza are now once again living without basic necessities for survival. The recent resumption of hostilities will only worsen this suffering.
Denmark continues to condemn Hamas’ terror attack on 7 October 2023 and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining hostages. The safety and well-being of these hostages is of grave concern, and we regret that Hamas has failed to allow humanitarian access to them.
Colleagues,
International humanitarian law is clear: humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip or a political tool. This applies to all parties in the conflict.
As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure the protection of civilians and ensure that the civilian population does not lack food or other basic needs, including water.
Civilians of Gaza have suffered enough. The sustained supply of aid is indispensable to the survival of over 2 million Palestinians. They have the right to receive humanitarian aid, they have the right to clean water, to food, to medicine.
We call on the government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza and to ensure the protection of civilians and other protected persons, including humanitarian workers in line with international humanitarian law.
The immediate threat of malnutrition in Gaza is already affecting thousands of children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. The decisions to withhold humanitarian aid and limit the production of clean drinking water are likely to have long-term consequences for the health of Gaza’s population, as well as longer-term prospects for socio-economic recovery.
Colleagues,
The massive task of reconstructing Gaza lies before us. We need a permanent ceasefire as a first step to be able to address this challenge. We call on parties to find a way forward to the next phases of the ceasefire agreement that should hopefully lead to a permanent ceasefire.
We commend the regional efforts through the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan presented at the recent Cairo summit. We maintain that any plan for the future of Gaza must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israeli security, and must not displace Palestinians from Gaza.
In closing,
The civilian population in Gaza have already endured too much suffering, for far too long.
They are looking to this Council for support.
Around this table, we have a responsibility to act.
To urgently work towards the two-state solution - the only viable path to lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Let me reiterate Denmark’s unwavering commitment to this goal.
Thank you.