Thank you, Madam President.
And thank you for organising this high-level briefing. I also welcome the presence among us of many ministers. It bears witness to the international community's determination to prevent the risk of an even more serious escalation and to return to the path of peace.
I would also like to thank the Secretary General for his briefing to the Council.
Switzerland supports the Secretary General’s call for immediate de-escalation in the region. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon, particularly after the strikes that killed more than 700 people this week. And we condemn the fact that these strikes have caused many civilian casualties. Today's massive attack in south Beirut and the rockets that continue to be fired at Israel are extremely worrying.
We call on all parties to return immediately to a full cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of resolution 1701. All parties must exercise the utmost restraint and take all necessary precautions to protect civilians, in accordance with their obligations under conventional and customary international humanitarian law.
Switzerland supports ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring about a cessation of hostilities on both sides of the Blue Line. It is imperative that the spiral of violence against which this Council has unanimously spoken since the acts of terror of October 7 - which we strongly condemned - comes to an end.
Excellencies,
As immediate measures, also for de-escalation in the region, Switzerland continues to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access. The parties must respect their obligations under international law.
Switzerland reiterates its support for the commitment of the UN, and in particular of our humanitarian colleagues, who are so often a target in this conflict. In May, the adoption by this Council of Resolution 2730 reaffirmed that the protection of humanitarian personnel, UN staff and associated personnel, is an obligation under international humanitarian law.
Without protection of humanitarian personnel, their premises and their property, the recent polio vaccination campaign in Gaza would simply not have been possible.
The first phase of this campaign showed that the United Nations can fulfil its humanitarian assistance mission if there is the political will to put in place the necessary framework to do so, in accordance with obligations under international law. It is high time that the parties respected these obligations and that safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need was finally guaranteed on a sustainable basis.
The measures required to comply with international humanitarian law have a crucial impact on the lives and well-being of civilians. Switzerland will continue to insist on the obligation of all States, under Article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions, to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law. Wars have rule.
In this spirit, Switzerland will carry out the mandate given to it by the General Assembly in the resolution it adopted on 18 September. We will be organising a Conference of High Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention within the next six months.
Strict respect for and implementation of international humanitarian law is also a fundamental step towards regional de-escalation, which is itself a crucial step towards peace.
Madam President, Excellencies,
Peace requires political will and the implementation of the resolutions of this Council. This is the case for the resolutions it has adopted since 7 October on Gaza, which contain all the elements necessary for de-escalation and the relaunch of a viable peace process.
But peace also depends on the implementation of the resolutions that preceded 7 October, such as 2334.
As stated in the ICJ's advisory opinion of 19 July - which Switzerland supports - the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territory, which has been going on since 1967, is now beyond doubt. It must end and a political horizon must be re-established.
In this connection, Switzerland welcomes the fact that the General
Assembly has called for an international conference to be held during its 79th session with a view to establishing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The two-State solution is the only foundation capable of guaranteeing peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and stability in the region.
We must help to rebuild - without further delay - this foundation of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, of which Gaza is an integral part, living side by side, in peace, within secure and recognised borders.
Switzerland is ready to commit itself to this, alongside the UN, the members of the Council and the States of the region.
Thank you.