Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield tells UN to accelerate planning that can surge assistance into Gaza in event of ceasefire

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United States (U.S) Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield yesterday at the United Nations Security Council Meeting made a stirring appeal to address the Israel/Palestine conflict. Whilst the Ambassador reasserted U.S’ iron-clad support for Israel’s security, the U.S has been pushing for ceasefire in the area and a two-state solution.

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu has accepted the proposal put forward by U.S President Joe Biden and supported by Qatar, and Egypt that could set the “path forward to save lives, bring relief to the people of Gaza, get the hostages back home, and de-escalate regional tensions.” This implementation of this proposal is however contingent on Hamas’ acceptance.

See Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s remarks

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
August 22, 2024

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Coordinator Wennesland and Dr. Baxter, for your briefings.

Colleagues, Secretary Blinken just concluded his ninth visit to the region since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and unleashed a war that has caused so much suffering and devastation.

The Secretary reaffirmed the United States’ iron-clad support for Israel’s security, but he also aimed to advance discussions on a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal that now is in sight, and to emphasize that no one in the region should take any action that would undermine ongoing negotiations.

While the Secretary was in Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that Israel accepts the bridging proposal that the United States, Qatar, and Egypt put forward last week. The proposal is consistent with the principles outlined by President Biden in May 2024 and that this Council endorsed in Resolution 2735. And this builds on areas of agreement from talks convened in Doha last week and bridges the remaining gaps in a manner that allows for a swift implementation of the deal.

We appreciate this Council’s support for the efforts the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have made to help get this deal done. We now have a path forward to save lives, bring relief to the people of Gaza, get the hostages back home, and de-escalate regional tensions.

Again, Israel has accepted the bridging proposal. Now, Hamas must do the same.

As members of this Council, we must speak with one voice, and we must use our leverage to press Hamas to accept the bridging proposal which includes massive and immediate benefits for the Palestinians in Gaza and incorporates a number of Hamas’ earlier demands.

Colleagues, this is a decisive moment. It’s a decisive moment for ceasefire talks and for the region. And so, every member of this Council should continue to send strong messages to other actors in the region to avoid actions that would move us away from finalizing this deal.

At the same time, the United Nations and humanitarian agencies need to accelerate planning so that they can surge assistance into Gaza in the event of a ceasefire, while we all continue to press for increased humanitarian assistance now.

We continue to work with the Israeli authorities to speed up clearances and remove restrictions so that Palestinian civilians can get much needed food, medicine, shelter, clean water, and other essentials including vaccines – as we just heard from Dr. Baxter.

A disease like polio must be prevented from making a comeback in Gaza. And we urge Israel to continue working with humanitarian agencies to provide polio vaccinations for Palestinian civilians, particularly children, in Gaza. This effort is urgent, and having a ceasefire deal will greatly facilitate the implementation of this crucial vaccination campaign.

Colleagues, even as we press for a ceasefire and hostage releases in Gaza, we must also continue to speak out about the situation in the West Bank.

I want to be clear: Actions in the West Bank that could escalate tensions at this fragile moment must stop.

As the White House has made clear, attacks by violent settlers against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank are unacceptable and must stop. Israeli authorities must take measures to protect these communities from harm, including by intervening to stop such violence and by holding all perpetrators to account.

It is also critical that Israel release all owed Palestinian Authority tax revenues on time. These funds are needed to pay PA salaries, provide essential services, ensure peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, all of which are key to Israel’s security interests.

Additionally, we remain concerned about Israel’s West Bank settlement announcements and the legalization of outposts. The Government of Israel’s settlement program is inconsistent with international law, and these unilateral actions are detrimental to the prospects of a two-state solution, which we have repeatedly said, offers the only durable and secure path forward for Israelis and Palestinians.

The suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on August 18, which Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed, was a stark reminder of Israel’s very real security concerns. The United States unequivocally condemns this attack, as it does all acts of terrorism, and calls on the Security Council to do the same.

Colleagues, this week, I spoke with two individuals whose family members were murdered in cold blood by Hamas on October 7. Iris Weinstein Haggai, who lost both of her parents, Judi and Gadi, on that horrific day. And Ruby Chen, whose son Itay, a 19-year-old Israeli-American, who was killed by Hamas. It is beyond heartbreaking and infuriating that the remains of Iris’s and Ruby’s loved ones are still being held by Hamas as they have held the body of Hadar Goldin since 2014, denying his family closure.

Today, we again call on Hamas to release the remains of Judi, Gadi, Itay, Hadar, and all those still in Gaza. Immediately.

And here’s what’s truly remarkable to me: Iris and Ruby have turned their immense pain into purpose by organizing and speaking out and lobbying for an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. During our call, Ruby invoked some of Martin Luther King’s most powerful words. He reminded me of a quote, and I will quote it here: “The fierce urgency of now.” To me, that perfectly sums up the moment we find ourselves in and the task before us, as we also just heard from Special Coordinator Wennesland.

It is urgent – it is urgent that we secure a ceasefire and a hostage release deal. Not soon, but now. Because families like Iris’s and Ruby’s desperately need closure. Because the well-being of all hostages is in jeopardy. Because Palestinians in Gaza are living under hellish conditions and are caught in the crosshairs of war. Because there’s very real danger of regional escalation.

And so, let us do everything in our power to get this ceasefire and hostage release deal over the finish line now. Let us be confronted with the “fierce urgency of now.”

Thank you, Mr. President.

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