Gaza: UN official calls for Aid access and revival of Two-State Solution - Briefing | United Nations

During today’s (23 July) Security Council meeting on Palestine, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon announced punitive measures against staff of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Khaled Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Gaza, saying that it is long past time for the fighting to end, for adequate humanitarian aid to enter the Strip, and for the recovery and reconstruction to begin in the context of a return to a political path towards a two-State solution. He said that today, the situation inside the Strip, especially for women and children, is more dire than at any other time during this crisis. Khiari also talked about the situation in the occupied West Bank, which he said remains deeply concerning, with high levels of violence driven by ongoing Israeli military operations, many involving civilian casualties and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, attacks by settlers against Palestinians, and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. He added that the upcoming ministerial meeting to support a two-State solution, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, is key to highlight international consensus around these goals, and reaffirm the principles of sustaining a two-State solution. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN said, “Israel has ravaged Gaza. It has destroyed nearly everything in that narrow strip of Palestinian land. But nearly 2 million human beings remain, including 1 million children. They must be saved.” Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, said, “Mr. Fletcher has not walked back the accusation that Israel is committing genocide. He knows it's not true. He knows it. There are facts, international law, you have to prove intention. Yet, he said it anyway. That word carries more weight than any other accusation. To use it falsely is to dishonor the memory of real genocide victims and to endanger more lives by fueling hatred. It is not too late to correct the record. Israel demands that Mr. Fletcher retract his statement publicly, unequivocally and immediately.” He then announced, “Today, I announce that Israel will take steps to ensure that what has been happening with OCHA will no longer continue. Hundreds of OCHA employees are undergoing security vetting. Key employees will not have their permits renewed following clear evidence of strong affiliation with Hamas. Some were even involved in the atrocities of October 7th. Israel will no longer grant automatic visas to OCHA’s international staff. Visas will now be limited to one month's terms. What was, will no longer be.” He also stated, “Jonathan Whittall, OCHA’s head of office for the so called ‘territories,’ has consistently and outrageously demonstrated his bias and agenda against the State of Israel. He will not have his visa renewed, and he will leave the country by July 29th.” He also said, “Israel is doing the job the UN was created to do. We are dismantling terror networks. We are protecting civilians. We are standing up for minorities under threat.” Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations called on Israel to end “these attacks, hold those responsible to account and to work with the UN to implement effective aid distribution in line with humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.” Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon addressed the press earlier this morning. Answering a question about allowing journalists to enter in Gaza, he said, “You know, when you bring journalists into war zone, you don't want to see any casualties -God forbid. That is the reasoning we don't want to see casualties of journalists traveling inside Gaza: it is a war zone. But I agree with you, you know, I think if the journalist would go there, they will be able to see what's happening.”


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