In response to Israel’s halt of all goods and humanitarian aid into Gaza at the beginning of March, the UN Security Council held a briefing today. Slovenia, which supported the call for a meeting, underscored that humanitarian aid is not negotiable and cannot be politicized. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar also condemned fresh Israeli strikes on the territory overnight, with more than 400 reportedly killed.

Devastating strikes pounded Gaza this morning, ending weeks of relative calm and jeopardizing the latest ceasefire agreement. “Hundreds of Palestinians were killed just today, and two million of them are facing a new cycle of hardship, destruction and relentless fear. We call on Israel to stop them immediately,” the Ambassador made clear.

Slovenia has long called for a ceasefire, and continues imploring the parties to return to the agreement made with the support of the mediators and guarantors – the United States, Qatar and Egypt – in line with the Council’s resolution 2735.

With regard to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which was the primary focus of today’s discussion, Ambassador Žbogar described Israel’s blockade of all humanitarian aid into the territory as unacceptable. “International law is clear and must be respected. Humanitarian operations must run unimpeded and aid must flow!” he stressed.

In closing, the Ambassador reminded Council members of the ICJ’s binding order on provisional measures focused on humanitarian aid, famine and starvation in the South Africa v. Israel case. “It is unacceptable that our conversations are still the same and that Council resolutions and ICJ orders are disregarded,” emphasized the Ambassador, reiterating that this vile war should not continue on the shoulders of civilians. Both Palestinians and hostages in Gaza are being sacrificed.

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