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

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia.

First, I want to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and High Commissioner Türk for their briefings. I welcome Minister Habib to the Chamber and representatives of Iran, Israel and Syrian Arab Republic in the room.

I would like to express our profound concern over the latest developments in the Middle East. Let me make three points in this regard.

Firstly, we condemn the recent series of explosions across Lebanon and also in Syria. This unprecedented attack caused civilian deaths and injuries, instilling fear and further destabilizing the region. These explosions were devastatingly coordinated, leaving hundreds of people, among them children, injured or dead. It has created a climate of terror. We are stepping in a dangerous new territory and as new technology is being used and developed, we underline the need to respect the existing legal obligations.

Civilian objects should not be weaponized. The international law is clear: use of booby traps is prohibited. As underlined by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, simultaneous targeting of thousands of individuals, whether civilians or members of armed groups, without knowledge as to who was in possession of the targeted devices, their location and their surroundings at the time of the attack, violates international human rights law and, to the extent applicable, international humanitarian law.  We call on all parties to respect international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. We support an independent and transparent investigation.

Secondly, tensions between Lebanon and Israel, especially along the Blue Line, are alarming. This includes heavy exchanges in the recent days as well as today’s strike in Beirut and the subsequent retaliation. We deplore the loss of civilian lives. We once again call for restoration of cessation of hostilities and full implementation of resolution 1701. We are appalled by the heavy impact on civilian infrastructure and civilians, many of whom have been displaced. It was violence that drove them from their homes in the first place. Additional violence will not bring them back – if anything, it will make their safe return an even harder task.

Thirdly, we are in this situation because our resolutions have not been complied with. We call on the conclusion of agreement on ceasefire and the release of hostages. We continue to call for maximum restraint by all actors in the region. The cycle of violence is increasing speed and it risks escalating into a wider conflict. We call on all parties, both state and non-state actors, to deescalate and refrain from any further retaliatory actions. We repeat our call on States with influence on those actors, to use this influence to encourage utmost restraint and to prevent any further deterioration of the situation on the ground. This includes the troubling escalatory rhetoric of different countries and actors.

Colleagues,

Security Council must be united in upholding international law and maintaining peace and security. The situation between Lebanon and Israel and the war in Gaza threaten to spark a wider conflict, especially with Israel’s stated intention to expand military action beyond its northern border. We have to be clear: such action would be an attack on a sovereign state. We must prevent this by promoting diplomatic solutions that offer long-term stability. The region cannot endure another war, and we must act before the situation spirals beyond control.

For almost a year, we have been cautioning from provocations and escalations further aggravating the situation in the Middle East. We have said it before: any of these escalations can become a conflict with a life of its own or engulf the whole region in a complex war. It is for this reason we believe diplomacy must be the only path forward. Slovenia therefore particularly welcomes the Lebanese Foreign Minister’s participation at this meeting today. Thank you.

I resume my function as President of the Council.

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