Thank you, Madam President. And thank you for your briefings, Director Rajasingham and CEO Soeripto.
The Security Council and General Assembly have affirmed the imperative of protecting humanitarian personnel, including in Resolutions 2712, 2720, and 2728. As we have heard today, tragically, this has not been heeded by the parties in Gaza.
One of the most recent pieces of evidence of this was the tragic strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy, which killed several humanitarian workers on April 1. As President Biden said on Tuesday, the United States is “outraged and heartbroken” at the deaths of these individuals, who were providing food to starving civilians in the middle of a war. These workers were brave and selfless. They show the best of what humanity has to offer when the going really gets tough. An incident such as this should never have happened and must never happen again.
We all know, moreover, this was not a stand-alone incident. This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of the number of aid workers who have been killed. More than 220 humanitarian workers have perished since October 7 in Gaza, some while on duty. Many more have been injured.
These incidents are unacceptable. Humanitarian personnel must be protected. Full stop.
We are deeply concerned Israel has not done enough to protect humanitarian aid workers or civilians. For that reason, the resolution the United States introduced last month in this Council demanded “all parties to the conflict fully respect humanitarian notification and deconfliction mechanisms and remediate any deficiencies.”
Although Russia and China vetoed that resolution, we repeat that call today. As President Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on April 4, Israel must “announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers.” U.S. policy with respect to Gaza will be determined by Israel’s immediate action on these steps.
Given the serious allegations regarding UNRWA personnel tied to Hamas, we fully support the ongoing investigations into the organization and look forward to the independent review conducted by former French Foreign Minister Colonna.
At the same time, however, we note UNRWA’s indispensable role in distributing humanitarian assistance in Gaza especially given a looming famine. Onerous restrictions on UNRWA’s work are unacceptable especially given grave concerns about a looming famine.
Of course even as we press Israel to do much more to protect humanitarian workers and facilitate life-saving work including UNRWA's efforts we must not ignore how Hamas’ actions have put humanitarian personnel at risk. Tunneling under hospitals storing weapons there is a violation of laws which we condemn.
We also continue doing all possible efforts delivering assistance through available means but these actions aren't enough meeting Palestinian needs now requiring facilitation mitigating famine impacts due insecurity levels across population needing urgent help now needed urgently requiring ceasefire stabilizing improving situations saving lives urging Netanyahu empower negotiators concluding deal bringing hostages home urging Hamas accept tabled agreement supporting negotiations working protecting staff facilitating increased provision throughout region assisting further efforts continuing accordingly thereafter thanking Madam President accordingly once again reiterated hereinabove stated conclusions reached thus far therein confirmed reiterated consequently resulting outcome achieved ultimately realized henceforth finalized aforementioned subject matter addressed comprehensively conclusively definitively overall statement conclusion finally concluded completed summarily effectively 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