We welcome the return of the hostages during Phase One, after an appalling ordeal.
And we call for the release of all the remaining hostages, including Avinatan Or, who also has links to the UK.
We mourn the death of Oded Lifshitz, who had strong links to the UK, and we strongly condemn the vile killing of the Bibas family and the lack of dignity provided to deceased hostages.
We support all work, all efforts to hold to account Hamas, the PIJ and other terrorists who kidnapped so many innocents on October 7th.
And I recall that this Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in all four of our resolutions since October 7th and I repeat that call today.
The ceasefire agreement reached on January 16th marked a crucial first step towards ending the devastation and suffering in Gaza and achieving a sustainable peace.
We are calling for three things.
First, Palestinian civilians should be able to return home and rebuild their lives.
The people of Gaza have suffered unimaginable horrors, with over 46,000 people killed, and homes and lives destroyed.
The UK supports regional efforts to cohere around a single plan for the next phase and reconstruction in Gaza.
These plans should be Palestinian led with the PA front and centre along with a strong role for civil society.
Second, we welcome the improvement in aid supplies since the ceasefire agreement. But make no mistake, the humanitarian situation remains dire.
We still need to see a sustained increase in the volume and types of goods reaching civilians, especially shelter and medical items.
There can be no backsliding on this.
We call for an urgent update to the “dual use list” to allow essential supplies in, and for commercial deliveries to be reinstated.
The ceasefire has demonstrated the central role of the UN and humanitarian actors, including UNRWA.
However, the humanitarian space is tightening with ongoing visa restrictions and legislative proposals impacting NGOs.
So we call on Israel to continue to work with the UN and partners to ensure aid reaches people in need.
Third, the UK is seriously concerned at the expansion of Israel’s operations killing and displacing civilians in the West Bank.
We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself, but it must show restraint and ensure its conduct is proportionate.
Restrictions on Palestinian movement in the West Bank are excessive.
These fuel further instability and jeopardise the prospects for long-term peace.
President, in conclusion, we urge all parties to sustain the ceasefire deal, implement the agreement in full and support efforts to move to phase two for the hostages and their families, for Gazan civilians and for all the Israeli and Palestinian people who deserve a peaceful and secure future on the basis of a two-state solution.
