I will now make a statement in my national capacity as Federal Councillor and head of Switzerland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
Dear Colleagues,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Violence continues to fuel violence in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A spiral that is now spreading throughout the region.
This dynamic of conflict has been going on for decades, and has unfortunately become even worse since Hamas's acts of terror against Israel on October 7, 2023. This is now beyond humanity.
Since then, this Council has adopted four resolutions - which Switzerland supported. They call for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages, a ceasefire in Gaza, respect for international law, the protection of civilians and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. Yet none of these resolutions has been implemented, undermining the credibility of this Council.
The Geneva Conventions – as well as international law - are regularly flouted by all actors, state and non-state alike. This is unacceptable!
More than a year after October 7, 2023, Hamas still holds 97 hostages and continues its indiscriminate hostilities against Israel. More than a year after these acts of terror, regional escalation has not been prevented.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear colleagues,
To call again and again on the parties to the conflict to respect and implement the decisions of this Council is an exercise that is becoming meaningless. This is a real tragedy, given the growing need to implement our decisions. Making appeals is of little use if all of us, both in this room and on the battlefield, fail to live up to our responsibilities. A responsibility that falls upon us as signatories to the Geneva Conventions. We need a strong will from all High Contracting Parties to guarantee more humanity in war.
On September 18, Switzerland confirmed its readiness to follow up on the decision of the UN General Assembly to organize in Geneva a Conference of High Contracting Parties on the implementation of the 4th Geneva Convention, relative to the protection of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. My country is preparing for this task.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers.
The time has come to find a way out of this conflict.
Yesterday's decision by the Israeli Parliament against UNRWA marks a new turning point in the conflict.
Not only is this decision largely incompatible with international law, it also threatens humanitarian assistance for the civilian population which is suffering. UNRWA is until now providing this assistance.
Switzerland expects Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law. My country will continue to help the civilian population, in line with our humanitarian tradition.
But, ladies and gentlemen, humanitarian assistance is not the lasting solution to this conflict. I firmly believe that peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through political means. It is time, together with all committed countries, to accelerate the efforts towards finding such a solution.
A ceasefire agreement covering the short, medium and long term seems to us to be a concrete step. Switzerland continues to believe that a two-state political solution is also possible and desirable.
The aim of any political solution is to offer Israelis and Palestinians the prospect of living in peace and security.
Leaving this ground to violence and destruction is not an alternative worthy of the values we represent here, in this Council. Nor an alternative compatible with our humanity.
So let's work together towards a political solution, with the parties to the conflict, the states in the region that are committed to a two-state solution, and the members of this Council.
Switzerland welcomes all initiatives in this direction, such as – I mention three but there are more :
- Mediation by the USA, Qatar and Egypt for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. a ceasefire in Gaza.
- The launch in New York on September 26 of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution. We will be taking part in the first follow-up meeting in Riyadh tomorrow.
- France's initiative for a political solution to the alarming situation in Lebanon.
My country calls on all parties to the conflict to engage in negotiations in good faith, and to respect their obligations under international law.
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here also to reaffirm the central role of the UN for peace, stability and humanitarian aid in the region. Every UN agency must be able to do its job and help people in need. And the UN Secretary-General must be able to talk to all parties without obstacle.
Any unilateral attempt to weaken the UN’s mandate only weakens multilateralism. Multilateralism, which we created to guarantee peace and security in the world. A world in which Switzerland is ready to play its part.
Thank you.