'Alleviate This Horrendous Suffering': UK UN Rep Barbara Woodward Calls On Israel Allow Aid In Gaza

Forbes Breaking News

During a United Nations security council on Tuesday, the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Barbara Woodward called on Israel to end their blockade of some routes into Gaza.

Transcript

00:00I want to reassure Mr. David through the Israeli delegation that the UK stands with your family

00:07and the families of all those who have suffered due to Hamas' inhuman and cruel actions,

00:16including British citizen Ditsa Orr, whose son, Avinathan, remains in captivity.

00:23This Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages

00:33in all four of its resolutions since October 7th, and I repeat that call today.

00:42As my Foreign Secretary has said, the images of Eviatar and other emaciated hostages

00:50paraded in front of cameras for propaganda are depraved.

00:58Hamas and its terrorist ideology can have no place in the future governance of Gaza

01:06and should never again threaten Israel's security.

01:10President, the ceasefire at the beginning of this year was a rare moment of hope,

01:20which allowed hostages to be released and the UN to surge aid into Gaza.

01:28Since the ceasefire ended, the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians

01:35has plumbed new and shocking depths.

01:41Israel's aid restrictions have led to famine now unfolding in Gaza, as reported by the IPC.

01:51Last week, I spoke with doctors who had served in Gaza.

01:56They had seen children so malnourished that their wounds festered for months without healing.

02:03They had seen baby formula confiscated by the IDF at the border,

02:11depriving newborns of the basic essentials for life.

02:17I call on Israel now to act to alleviate this horrendous suffering.

02:24We need to see restrictions on aid delivery lifted in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.

02:39And the UN must be able to operate safely and at scale.

02:45We also call for all land routes to be opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and clean water.

02:59We call for Israel to ensure the protection of civilians, medics and aid workers.

03:08And we are appalled that another Palestinian Red Crescent worker was killed this week by an Israeli strike on its headquarters.

03:19Israel must investigate this and other similar incidents.

03:22President, as I said, the ceasefire earlier this year showed what can be achieved when there is political will.

03:34And last week's Two-State Solution Conference showed what can be achieved when the international community comes together.

03:42We urge the parties to reinvigorate their efforts to secure a ceasefire deal and an end to the conflict.

03:54As my Prime Minister set out last week, the UK is ready to play its full and historic part in achieving a plan which ends the bloodshed,

04:06brings the hostages home and lays the foundation for a Palestinian state.

04:11Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and is essential to the long-term security of Israel.

04:21I thank you.

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