In light of the dramatically deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, the UN Security Council today adopted a resolution aimed at increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The resolution addresses the urgent humanitarian needs of the civilian population, deplores all attacks against civilians, including terrorist acts, including those carried out by Hamas since 7 October, and calls for
- Compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.
- Rapid and unhindered access to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid on a sufficient scale, including through a UN Humanitarian Mechanism and the opening of various border crossings.
- The immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.
- Protection of civilians by both parties to the conflict.
- The need for a two-state solution.
- The need to create the conditions for a lasting cessation of hostilities.
Switzerland supported the resolution submitted to the Council by the United Arab Emirates because it contributes to alleviating the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and because it incorporates various aspects of Switzerland's position on the current conflict. These include compliance with international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, the release of all hostages, the guarantee of safe and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, and the need for a two-state solution.
With a view to facilitating rapid and unhindered humanitarian access, the resolution adopted today underlines the urgent need to consider steps to create the conditions for a durable cessation of hostilities. This is without prejudice to Israel's right to ensure its defense and security, but would facilitate humanitarian access and allow for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. In its statement after the vote, Switzerland welcomed the Council's decision and emphasized that today's resolution must be complementary to international humanitarian law, according to which all parties to the conflict and other states are obliged to allow and facilitate aid to the suffering population.
Statement by Switzerland after the vote, UN Security Council, 22.12.2023
