The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question - Security Council, 9881st meeting

Resumed Hostilities, Blocked Aid Destroying Ceasefire Gains in Gaza, Security Council Hears

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 02:31:18
• Production Date: 18 March 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: THOMAS FLETCHER; CHRISTINA MARKUS LASSEN; DOROTHY SHEA
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: ARMED CONFLICTS; CONFLICT SITUATION; PALESTINE QUESTION; MILITARY ACTIVITY; AERIAL BOMBINGS; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; NEGOTIATION; DESTABILIZATION; CEASEFIRES; PEACE AND SECURITY; PEACEBUILDING; HOSTAGES; ABDUCTION; DEATH; CIVILIAN PROTECTION
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; GAZA; PALESTINE; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3352531
• Parent Id: 3351868

Description

As Israel resumes airstrikes over Gaza and blocks entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, the modest gains made during the ceasefire are being destroyed, Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the Security Council today.

However, Israel’s representative stressed that “the return to fighting is a necessity”, reaffirming his country’s commitment to bring home its hostages and defeat Hamas.  For months, Israel took unprecedented steps to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza, he asserted, adding that these efforts are “not speculation, not political rhetoric”; they are “documented, verifiable and confirmed by the organizations distributing and supplying the aid”.  The hostages still held in brutal captivity by Hamas should be paramount for those truly concerned about humanitarian crises, he said, adding:  “Any discussion of humanitarian suffering that does not begin with the hostage release is not an honest discussion.”

Related Sites and Documents

S/PV.9881

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