UN SECURITY COUNCIL MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS QUARTERLY DEBATE
23 January 2024
Statement by H.E. Mr James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you Chair.
We have chosen to intervene during this debate because we see this as a critical time as fighting continues and humanitarian suffering worsens in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This criticality was underscored by the visit of the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to the region last week. Action is needed now.
Australia unequivocally condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel – these were abhorrent acts of terror against innocent civilians. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
As Foreign Minister Wong stressed again last week, Israel has the right to defend itself, however the way it does so matters. All parties must respect international humanitarian law and protect civilian lives and infrastructure.
Australia repeats its urgent call for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access. We want to see further humanitarian pauses to enable the scaled-up delivery of aid, safe passage for civilians and the release of hostages.
Australia wants to see a sustainable ceasefire, and we see humanitarian pauses as important steps on the pathway to that goal. No ceasefire can be one-sided and no ceasefire can be unconditional.
Any solution in Gaza must not involve the forcible displacement of the Palestinian people, nor the use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism.
Australia urges all parties to prevent regional escalation and work towards containing the conflict. We express our deep concern at the dangerous actions of regional actors seeking to take advantage of the situation.
We unreservedly condemn Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. These attacks constitute a threat to navigational rights and freedoms, international commerce and maritime security. Australia remains committed to upholding the rules-based order on the high seas and the central principle of freedom of navigation.
Practical steps are urgently needed to find an enduring solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
It remains Australia’s view that achieving long-term peace and security for Israel in its region requires the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and we stress the importance of efforts to restart a political process which leads to a future Palestinian state.
We reiterate our commitment to working towards a just and enduring peace that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live side-by-side in security within internationally recognised borders.