At today's meeting of the UN Security Council, Switzerland reiterated its support for the International Court of Justice and its advisory opinion of 19 July. The illegality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967 is thus beyond doubt. The occupation must end and a political horizon must be restored.
In New York, Switzerland condemned the Israeli government's announcement that it would expand settlements in Palestinian territory, underlining that this would undermine the two-state solution.
Switzerland is convinced that a negotiated two-state solution in accordance with international law is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the region. Switzerland welcomes the fact that the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 September 2024 recognises the need to restart a process towards a two-state solution. Furthermore, the General Assembly's decision mandates Switzerland, in its role as depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, to organise a conference of high contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention within six months. The conference will address the arrangements that need to be made to implement the Fourth Geneva Convention in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and to ensure that it is respected in accordance with the Common Article 1.
In the Security Council, Switzerland also reiterated its grave concern regarding the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and stated that the successful completion of the first phase of the UN polio vaccination campaign shows that large-scale humanitarian operations in Gaza can be carried out with the necessary political will of the parties to the conflict. However, the successful completion of this first phase is not enough. The parties must respect their obligations under international law and allow safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to the civilian population. This includes the hostages, whose immediate and unconditional release Switzerland is calling for. Furthermore, an immediate ceasefire is urgently needed. In this context, Switzerland supports the mediation efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
A ceasefire in Gaza is also essential to avoid further escalation in the region. Switzerland expressed its grave concern over the explosions in Lebanon on 17 and 18 September and the reports of numerous civilian casualties. It called on the parties to exercise the utmost restraint and to work for an immediate de-escalation.
