Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

Thank you very much, Mr. President and I also want to thank Under-Secretary-General Di Carlo for her briefing today.

President, we meet today in what feels like the eye of the storm. Several traumatic days for the Middle East region have lead us to this – a new, unfolding spiral of attacks and retaliation.

The UN Secretary General said on 21^st of June, and I quote “The risk for the conflict in the Middle East to widen is real — and must be avoided. One rash move – one miscalculation — could trigger a catastrophe that goes far beyond the border, and frankly, beyond imagination,” end quote. We deeply regret that this warning has not been heeded.

President, I will rewind to Saturday, and the horrific attack on Majdal Shams in the Occupied Syrian Golan, which we fully condemn. This incident should be investigated and the circumstances brought to light. The killing of children is outrageous and inhumane, wherever it occurs. On the same day, an attack on a school in Deir el Balah also resulted in civilian casualties, including many children who were sheltering there. I should not have to say it, but the life of a Druze child is equal to that of a Gazan child, is equal to that of a Lebanese child, an Israeli child or any other child across the world.

President, subsequent attacks in Beirut and Tehran yesterday are deeply concerning and represent a serious escalation. The world and our collective security, built in the aftermath of World War II, relies on respect for the UN Charter and for International Law.

As we have done so before, we call for maximum restraint by all actors. We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the crisis that is unfolding before our eyes. The positions expressed by Israel, Lebanon and Iran in letters to this Council share one common thread – a concern for regional stability. We read those letters as a call to the Council to help avoid a dangerous escalation of no return.

We believe that the Security Council should pronounce itself on this situation, if only to call for de-escalation and the pursuit of diplomacy and dialogue.

President, while the crisis in the Middle East has a long history and a variety of root causes, we cannot deny that this spiral is being exacerbated by what is happening in Gaza. The suffering of Palestinian civilians on one side, and Israeli hostages on the other, is fuelling flames across the entire region.

I heard from everybody today and we also repeat that what we need now more than ever is a ceasefire in Gaza, and the full implementation of Resolution 2735. This should be done within a strict timeline. The people who rely on this Council to protect them, to maintain international peace and security, simply cannot wait. We also need to start talking about a time beyond a ceasefire, and a sustainable peace for the region, however distant that might currently seem.

President, as precarious as the current situation appears to be, a full-blown regional war with catastrophic consequences is not inevitable. The scenario that the Secretary General described as something “beyond imagination” can still and should still be avoided at all costs.

We, the Security Council, should seize the opportunity, which may well prove to be one of our last, to lead and demonstrate a firm stand from the international community.

Thank you.

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