Thank you, Mr. President.
I also thank Ms. Sigrid Kaag, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Ad Interim, for her detailed and sobering briefing on the situation in the Middle East, particularly with reference to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
I also acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Feroze Sidhwa.
Mr. President,
While Sierra Leone acknowledges the fragile but incremental progress in Syria and Lebanon, the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza and the persistent crisis in the West Bank remain matters of grave and urgent concern.
The past months have witnessed one of the darkest moments for civilians in Gaza. The persistent obstruction of life-saving humanitarian aid, systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, and widespread loss of innocent life have breached not only the bounds of humanitarian concern but also raise serious questions of accountability under international law.
The prolonged blockade and military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have rendered over 80% of the territory either under evacuation orders or de facto inaccessible. These actions have created catastrophic conditions that imperil the survival of the civilian population and heighten the risk of starvation, malnutrition, and lawlessness.
The month of May alone has seen hospitals, such as the Indonesian and European facilities in Gaza, struck by airstrikes, further diminishing access to urgent care. The repeated targeting of healthcare infrastructure and personnel is a clear violation of international humanitarian law (IHL) and must cease immediately. Civilian objects must never be used for military purposes, nor civilians used as human shields. The protection of civilian life must remain a cardinal principle for all parties to the conflict.
In the West Bank, the upsurge in settler violence, forced displacement, and destruction of property, particularly in Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas, is deeply concerning. We deplore all such acts, including the killing of civilians by any actor.
Mr. President,
The toll on civilians, especially women and children, continues to shock the global conscience. Sierra Leone stands firm in its commitment to the UN Charter and to the fundamental principles of peace, justice, and human dignity. Accordingly, we must collectively recognise that the situation unfolding in Gaza now bears many of the hallmarks of mass atrocity crimes. The risk is not theoretical, it is real, credible, and escalating.
Given our own experience, we understand too well the consequences of delayed international action or inaction. We also recall with painful clarity the global failure to prevent the mass atrocities in Rwanda and Srebrenica, subsequently declared as genocides by competent international courts. The International Court of Justice, in its landmark decisions, has underscored the legal and moral duty to act to prevent genocide.
The obligation to prevent genocide is not discretionary. It is a peremptory norm of international law binding upon all States. It imposes duties not only to refrain from committing such crimes, but to take active, timely measures to avert them.
Presently, we face a moment no less consequential. We are deeply alarmed by consistent reports of indiscriminate bombardments, destruction of vital infrastructure, deprivation of humanitarian assistance, and inflammatory rhetoric. These patterns may contribute to creating conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of a group, in whole or in part, which is explicitly prohibited under the Genocide Convention, which codifies customary international law.
We therefore call for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access, and for urgent international action to forestall further deterioration of the situation. The closure of crossings and the obstruction of aid are unacceptable and must be reversed without delay. The complicity of the international community must not be repeated.
Further, the provision of humanitarian aid must be fully aligned with the established humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. These principles are not only foundational to the effectiveness of aid delivery but essential to ensuring that assistance reaches those in greatest need.
Aid must never be instrumentalised as a tool of war or subjected to conditionalities that compromise the dignity or survival of affected populations. The integrity of humanitarian operations must be protected at all times, and all parties must allow for safe, timely, and unhindered access for humanitarian actors in accordance with IHL.
Mr. President,
In January 2024, the International Court of Justice issued provisional measures in the case South Africa v. Israel, directing the States of Israel to take all necessary steps to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention. On 24 May 2024, these measures were expanded to include halting the military offensive in Rafah and allowing humanitarian access.
Sierra Leone underscores that these orders are binding. Compliance is not a matter of political discretion but a legal imperative. Failure to do so threatens the legitimacy of the ICJ and undermines the credibility of the rules-based international system.
Colleagues,
At the core of the current catastrophe lies a crisis of accountability. The scale of suffering endured by civilians in Gaza, and in the State of Israel, must not go unaddressed. Perpetrators of grave violations of international law must be held responsible. Sierra Leone believes that upholding international law is indispensable to restoring justice and preventing further atrocities.
This Council, therefore, cannot remain silent. The Council must act with the clarity and conviction that this moment demands. The credibility of the Council, and the lives of thousands, depend on it. Sierra Leone urges a renewed commitment to this Council’s Charter responsibilities, particularly in preventing atrocity crimes and upholding IHL.
In the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda and in the Pact for the Future, calls have been made for a more predictable and principled approach to early warning, prevention, and accountability. These frameworks must be operationalised through consistent Council engagement and action, including through veto restraint initiatives, particularly in contexts where the risk of mass atrocities is acute.
Mr. President,
As we call for urgent action on mass atrocity risk, Sierra Leone reaffirms that only a political solution can bring sustainable peace. We reiterate our support for the two-State solution, with an independent State of Palestine, living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.
While humanitarian actions are vital, they are no substitute for a sustained diplomatic process. Ceasefire, release of hostages, and lifting of humanitarian blockades must be the starting point. We commend the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, and urge for continued mediation. We call on the parties to act with urgency and in good faith.
Sierra Leone believes that unless the root causes of occupation, settlement expansion, and political exclusion are addressed, durable peace will remain elusive. We reaffirm our full support for a negotiated, just, and lasting political solution grounded in international law and relevant UN resolutions.
This conflict has inflicted immense suffering, claimed countless lives, and seen too many missed opportunities for peace. The collapse of the ceasefire in March alone resulted in over 3,500 additional civilian deaths, with more than 50 hostages still held in captivity. The international community bears a collective responsibility not only to halt the mayhem but to foster the conditions for lasting coexistence and peace.
We therefore conclude by urging this Security Council to act. We also urge the Council to ensure full respect for international law, accountability for all serious violations, and protection for all civilians, regardless of identity. Let us not allow this moment to pass with inaction or equivocation. The credibility of this Council, and the lives of thousands, depend on what we choose to do now.
I thank you.
