Statement by H.E. Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the UN at the UN Security Council Emergency Briefing on Middle East, including Palestinian question, regarding Israeli plans for military expansion in Gaza

Thank you, Mr. President, for convening the urgent meeting at the request of members of the Council, including my own country Slovenia. We thank ASG Jenča as well as Director Rajasingham for their briefings.

Mr. President,

Each time we come to this chamber to discuss the situation in Gaza, we come thinking that we cannot possibly reach new depths. And yet we convene again today, following the reprehensible announcement by the Israeli cabinet that it intends to expand its military campaign and take control of the Strip.

A plan of horror and destruction.

A new low, which Slovenia utterly rejects.

A new low, which will end in mass civilian casualties and suffering. A new low, which will make Israelis less safe in the short and long term. A new low, in spite of continuous appeals from the international community, and from the numerous voices from Israel, to end the war.

Colleagues, Israel’s decision directly contradicts the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice which declared that Israel must end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It shows contempt towards the two state solution, which was resoundingly reinforced by almost the entire international community at the conference held just two weeks ago. And which remains the official position of this Council codified through its resolutions.

Slovenia expresses its firm condemnation of this plan and we call for its immediate reversal.

Mr. President,

Gaza’s death toll is simply staggering.

Israel has pursued a deliberate policy of starvation, of manufacturing a famine to pursue political and military gains, in a clear and blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

The aerial photos which have emerged of Gaza in recent days show nothing but total destruction. A piece of land, reduced to dust.

And now we are faced with the prospect of further military escalation, of more violence, of an operation which will undoubtedly wreak havoc on civilians in Gaza and the hostages alike.

Obvious questions arise. What will happen to those surviving Palestinians once Israel launches its takeover? Particularly the 1 million people living in Gaza city, whose lives already hang in the balance, exhausted by attacks and denied aid.

We will not be able to claim that we didn’t know. We know that civilians are destined to suffer further mass casualties. We know that they will be displaced once more, chased from corner to corner, to tiny camps, or even beyond.

What will become of the hostages? Just four days ago we heard the heart-breaking testimony of Ilay David, brother of Evyatar David, who is still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. He told us, in clear terms, that we cannot wait any longer.

Who if not this Council can stop the killing? Every minute counts for Evyatar. Every minute counts for countless civilians caught in the fire in Gaza.

We cannot simply accept a forever war and the continued destruction and traumatisation of generations of Palestinians and Israelis. Ambassador Mansour on Tuesday used the words: “we choose peace”. The Palestinian Authority has made commitments to comprehensive reforms necessary to govern Gaza and the West Bank. Does the Israeli leadership have the moral clarity to abandon military adventurism and choose peace? Does Hamas have the courage to choose peace, disarm and to release the hostages immediately and without condition, in full dignity?

Colleagues,

All civilians in Gaza – Israelis and Palestinians are hostages.

Our responsibility to move, to protect them against the upcoming military onslaught weighs heavy on our shoulders, including as an elected member of this Council.

The impunity felt by the occupying power needs to be stopped.

We listen and we hear a global cry for the war to stop, for hostages to be freed, for aid to flow in. We need to take action. That’s why this Council was created. And that’s why the Charter provided the Council with many tools to maintain peace and security.

We stand ready to do whatever it takes to stop the killings and suffering.

Thank you.

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