23.09.2025 Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark at the UNSC briefing on MEPP
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Thank you, Mr. President,
At the outset, I want to thank Mr. CHO Huyn, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea for convening this meeting.
I also want to thank the Secretary General for his very insightful briefing.
Through the chaos of this abhorrent war, he has consistently raised his voice, and that of the United Nations, in support of peace.
Denmark commends this kind of leadership, and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the tireless efforts and sacrifice of the UN staff on the ground.
Colleagues,
I am speaking to you today not only as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and by so a politician responsible to the people of Denmark.
But also as a member of this Council, responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
And as a grandfather, responsible to my grandchildren, who I am totally convinced one day will ask what I did, what we did in the face of such immense suffering.
Colleagues, I ask you today, how will we answer them? That we stepped up and met the challenge of peace? Or that we idled in inaction, and watched helplessly as the horrors unfolded?
Mr. President,
Nearly two years have passed since the war in Gaza began.
It was unleashed by the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7th. An attack that tore through Israeli families.
That left parents without children.
Children without parents.
A nation wounded to its core.
Hostages and their families going through unimaginable suffering.
Denmark has condemned this attack in the strongest terms possible. And we will continue to do so. Just as we will continue to insist on the immediate and safe release of every hostage.
Denmark considers itself as a long-standing friend of the people of Israel.
Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism.
This I have always supported.
And this I will continue to support.
But friends also have to speak the truth to each other. And today, we must face the fact that Israel’s war in Gaza has created a humanitarian catastrophe of unbearable scale. Israel must comply with international law, including international humanitarian law.
The human suffering in Gaza must be brought to an end. And it must happen now.
Tens of thousands of civilians have already been killed, including over 18.000 children. This constitutes a classroom of children every day. It constitutes a humanitarian and human failure of unprecedented scale.
We are witnessing an ongoing expanded military operation in Gaza city.
Children starving, with no access to clean water or medicine.
Doctors forced to amputate without sedation.
Mothers powerless to feed their babies.
A famine unfolding before our eyes. While the World Food Programme alone has enough food to feed Gaza for months waiting at the border.
This is also why Denmark – on behalf of the E10 – coordinated a resolution for this Council just last week.
The resolution demanded a ceasefire; the release of all hostages, and; that the Government of Israel immediately lifts all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in line with international humanitarian law.
These are demands that the international community has reiterated on multiple occasions, including just yesterday in the General Assembly. I deeply regret, that the resolution did not receive the support of all 15 Council members.
But today, I restate these demands.
Israel must change its course.
Immediately.
The war in Gaza must end.
The Security Council, as the body responsible for international peace and security, should be able to make these demands.
Indeed, this should be the bare minimum that we can do.
But around this table, that means all of us, every single member, working in concert and common cause towards this goal.
It means setting aside political differences to save lives.
Last week, 14 members of this Council were willing to do this. We hope that this can soon become all 15.
So, to our American friends, just this morning President Trump said that we have to stop the war in Gaza, immediately. He said we have to negotiate immediately. To negotiate for peace.
Denmark continues to support the dedicated efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to mediate a ceasefire.
Your unwavering commitment to find a path to peace is critical in the context. But we count on you in this Council too. Your leadership is critical in our joint aspirations of bringing peace and stability to the region.
Mr. President,
Denmark has consistently contributed to ease the suffering through humanitarian contributions.
Together with [24] other countries and the EU, we have called on Israel to resume medical evacuations from Gaza to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. And we stand ready to support the treatment of those patients.
Mr. President,
Two weeks ago, I visited the region, which I have done several times since 7 October.
I have met with Israeli families of hostages.
Their pain is real. Their demand must be immediately and unconditionally answered.
I also met with Palestinians in the West Bank who face checkpoints, settlements, settler violence, destroyed property and land grabbing.
Their pain is real as well.
Their longing for freedom and dignity is evident.
Mr. President,
The two-state solution remains the only solution to lasting peace.
For two peoples.
Both deserving of security.
Both deserving of dignity.
This was confirmed during the high-level conference on the two-state solution yesterday.
It is clear that the momentum is growing.
That we are witnessing a renewed energy and enthusiasm for peace based on the two-state solution. A solution that Denmark is prepared to build on.
This is why I said yesterday and that I repeat today, the keys to recognition of a Palestinian state should no longer lie in the hands of the Israeli government.
The Palestinians themselves must become masters of their own destiny.
The time for the end of this decades long struggle is now.
The only path to lasting peace is the two-state solution.
For both Palestinians and Israelis.
Thank you