Check against delivery! 

Opening remarks 

Mr President, Honourable Members

I am replacing now the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, who could not be here today because he is in the G7 Ministerial meeting in Rome.  

In fact, we do not have words to describe the unprecedented level of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The Israeli operation in Northern Gaza continues, leading to more casualties among civilians, a blockade of aid, and people being prevented from returning to their homes. 

There have been several mass casualties, bombings and attacks on healthcare facilities and workers. The United Nations has warned that famine is imminent in areas within the northern Gaza Strip which have practically received no humanitarian assistance for over a month. Either convoys are not allowed to enter or if they are, looting prevents people from accessing the assistance provided. 

We therefore need an immediate ceasefire and release of all remaining hostages. We regret that the efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt did not bear fruits yet.

At the October plenary, you expressed clear support towards the United Nations [Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] (UNRWA) and the rule-based international order. We are gravely concerned about the impact of the laws voted in the Knesset on the 28^th of October, which can effectively obstruct UNRWA’s activities in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 

Israel’s continued attacks against the United Nations must stop. We have to defend our vision of a rules-based global order, especially when the United Nations Secretary-General [António Guterres], peacekeepers or a humanitarian agency are being threatened. 

UNRWA provides essential services to millions of people in the region – not only the West Bank and Gaza, but also Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. In addition to the delivery of life-saving support, UNRWA also plays a fundamental role in providing daily education, health and social services.  

No United Nations agency can take over UNRWA’s special mandate, as repeatedly repeated by UN officials. It provides services to individuals based on their status, register Palestine’s refugees in several human development fields, namely education, health, relief and social services and emergency assistance. 

Let us stress that no other UN Agency is specifically mandated to directly operate health or educational facilities. This Israeli legislation could directly impact UNRWA’s delivery of essential education and healthcare services, leaving about 340,000 students and over 1,000,000 patients without access to schools or clinics over the occupied Palestinian territory.  

Additionally, more than 14,500 local jobs in education and healthcare, key for both service delivery and community stability, are at risk.  

Recognising the disastrous consequences that this legislation would have for UNRWA’s operations, the European Union reached out in advance of the vote in the Knesset to persuade the Israeli government to reconsider.  

First, the European Union, through its Delegation in Tel Aviv, made an outreach to the Israeli authorities, to which 17 Member States and 6 like-minded partners were associated. 

On the day of the vote, the High Representative [Josep Borrell] issued a statement urging the Israeli authorities to review its plans to adopt the bills.    

Following the vote, the High Representative/Vice-President [Josep Borrell] issued a statement on behalf of the European Union in which he once again condemned any attempt to abrogate the agreement between Israel and UNRWA, reflecting what was agreed at the October European Council. The European Union also reiterated its firm support to the United Nations. 

Now that the laws have been adopted, we have called on Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue carrying out its crucial work in line with its mandate adopted by the UN General Assembly. We believe we have to continue our strong advocacy efforts with key like-minded partners – including the United Nations and G7 – towards the Israeli government. UN Secretary General António Guterres has sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu requesting him not to implement the legislation. 

The legislation is due to enter into force in less than 90 days. As the United Nations itself has relentlessly expressed, there is no alternative to UNRWA. 

Thus, it is essential that we continue reaffirming our strong support to UNRWA – further to the clear language in the European Council Conclusions. As a sign of our support, the European Union disbursed its entire financial support of €82 million for 2024.

Finally, on the International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued on the 21^st November against the Israeli Prime Minister [Benjamin Netayahu] and his former Minister of Defence [Yoav Galant]. We would like to call for European Union unity. Now more than ever, we need to uphold the multilateral order and continue calling for respect to and implementation of the decisions of the International Criminal Court.

Thank you very much. 

Link to video (starting at 4:00): https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-264345  

Closing remarks  

President, Honourable Members, 

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Too many people are dying. 
We believe that the European Union cannot stay silent. Last week at the Foreign Affairs Council, the High Representative/Vice-President proposed to the European Union Foreign Ministers to suspend the political dialogue with Israel. Member States did not agree with this proposal. 

We do hope that Member States will be able to agree on sanctioning violent settlers, and those that enable them in the West Bank as well as Hamas supporters.  

After the United States election, European Union engagement on the two-state solution will be all-the-more important, including through the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State solution. Some 100 states and international organisations participated in the initiative. The recent meeting in Riyadh, which gathered nearly one hundred representatives of states and international organisations, demonstrated the broad interest in this platform.  

The High Representative/ Vice-President will chair , with the Belgian Foreign Minister, incoming Commissioner, Hadja Lahbib next meeting of the Global Alliance in Brussels on 28 November at the invitation of Belgium and the European Union.  Our intention is to use the meeting to push for more structured cooperation on practical contributions to help protect and advance the two-State solution.  

We should try to reinforce this Alliance as we know well that only a political solution with the deep involvement of Israel and Palestine’s neighbours will bring peace and stability in the Middle East. 

Thank you very much. Muchas gracias, presidente.  

Link to video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-264347