The first meeting of the Security Council in 2025 addressed the catastrophic situation in Gaza with a focus on the attacks against hospitals and healthcare facilities. Slovenia underlined the moral and legal imperative of respecting special protections of hospitals, the wounded and sick, medical staff and their means of transport and equipment under international law. Furthermore, it reiterated its call for unconditional release of all hostages and immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

As the occupying power, Israel has legal responsibility to ensure and maintain the provision of medical services, public health and hygiene. However, “a recent report by OHCHR covering the period between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024 documents patterns of attacks on hospitals, starting with Israeli airstrikes, followed by raids by ground troops, the detention of some patients and staff, the forced removal of others, and the withdrawal of troops, leaving the hospital essentially non-functional. The report also details the killings of patients, staff, and other civilians,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk underscored in the meeting.

Slovenia is appalled by the findings of the OHCHR. The protection of hospitals during armed conflict must be ensured and respected by all parties, at all times. In this regard, Slovenia called for full respect for international law, including Security Council resolutions.

“But there doesn’t seem to be a will of the occupying power to save civilians in Gaza. On the contrary, with a sense of impunity for their continuous destruction of Gaza, there doesn’t seem to be any humanity left, neither for Palestinians nor hostages,” emphasized Ambassador Samuel Žbogar.

Finally, Slovenia supported High Commissioner Türk and called for independent, credible and transparent investigations into the attacks and incidents on healthcare, including during hospital sieges, leading to full accountability.

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