Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”

Thank you, Mr. President.
 
I thank Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland for his informative briefing.
 
More than 250 days of violence, grief, and suffering have passed, but still the situation worsens day by day.
 
Japan upholds its condemnation against the heinous terror attacks by Hamas and others on October 7^th as well as the taking of the hostages.
 
At the same time, Israel’s military operations across Gaza continue unabated.
 
Japan is appalled that dozens of causalities including civilians are reported on a daily basis, amounting in total to more than 37,000 Palestinians killed, with untold tens of thousands more injured or buried under the rubble.
 
We are also deeply alarmed to hear that 1.7 million people have been displaced, with many families having been re-displaced time after time.
 
Those in southern Gaza suffer from poor access to shelter, health, food and sanitation. Such a humanitarian situation is beyond description.
 
Mr. President,
 
Two weeks ago, the Security Council adopted resolution 2735, offering a glimmer of hope that the three-stage proposal would pave the way for the release of hostages and an increase of humanitarian aid, and eventually bring the long-awaited ceasefire.
 
However, the tragedy is still unfolding.
 
Japan strongly urges Hamas to work in good faith based on resolution 2735 without further delay.
 
In this vein, we reiterate our support to the tireless and commendable diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
 
Further, we amplify our call on Israel to lift impediment to humanitarian activities on the ground.
 
We would also like to stress that the staff and premises of the UN and other humanitarian agencies, including ICRC, must be protected.
 
And, we express our continuous support to the work of UNRWA as the backbone of the UN’s humanitarian operation in Gaza.

Mr. President,
 
A ceasefire is necessary not only for Gaza, but to halt the destabilization of the region and beyond.
 
The ongoing settlement activities are in violation of international law, and Japan once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to stop its settlement activities. We also deplore the increase of settler violence, and attacks on refugee camps in the West Bank.
 
And, most worryingly, exchanges of fire are rapidly increasing across the Blue Line. Japan echoes the Secretary-General’s statement last Friday that a further military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah would be disastrous for people in Lebanon, Israel, and the region. All parties must exercise full restraint and immediately re-commit to ensuring a cessation of hostilities along the Blue Line in accordance with resolution 1701, and actors with influence on the parties also must make every effort towards this end.
 
Even in this terrible moment, we must keep a political horizon as our goal.
 
Japan maintains that a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security is the only viable way to end this conflict and the plight it continues to cause.
 
I thank you, Mr. President.