Norway’s statement in the UN General Assembly on the draft resolution on humanitarian access in Palestine

President,

The civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is trapped in a living nightmare. Around 45 000 Palestinians are reported killed since fighting erupted. 70 per cent of them are women and children. Many more lie under the rubble. Most hospitals and schools in Gaza have been willfully destroyed. Houses are reduced to rubble. Hunger and disease are prevalent. Humanitarian workers have been targeted.

Norway has consistently condemned Hamas’ brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October; we have called for a ceasefire and the immediate release of all hostages.

We recognize that States may take different positions as to what has caused this dystopian nightmare. What we cannot afford to disagree on, however, is the humanitarian imperative to provide aid and assistance to those in desperate need. And under no circumstances can we tolerate that any State imposes obstructions and impediments to organizations and States which provide humanitarian and development assistance to civilians.

Yet, this is exactly what is happening.

While civilians are dying, exposed to the most atrocious of circumstances, aid workers are being targeted, and aid delivery is systematically obstructed.

This is not only unconscionable: it is also a violation of international law.

We, the Member States of the United Nations, have an obligation to ensure the necessary conditions for safe and effective humanitarian operations. We can no longer tolerate impediments that hinder humanitarian access and disrupt planned operations to Palestinians under illegal occupation.

This is the reason for the draft resolution which is now before us. Enough is enough. For international law to remain credible, for the most basic humanitarian principles to be upheld, we must act.

This is why Norway — together with a group of dedicated States, to which we owe our greatest gratitude, comprising Chile, Egypt, Guyana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Namibia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, and Spain — is presenting this resolution to the UN membership.

Its overarching purpose is to protect and preserve the humanitarian operations of the UN, of humanitarian organizations, and of third States in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

We are particularly concerned by the Israeli legislation that targets the UN, especially UNRWA. This legislation, already adopted, will if implemented effectively end UNRWA’s operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This, in turn, will collapse the United Nations’ humanitarian response.

Such an outcome would be intolerable. It would also have dire implications for the UN’s humanitarian efforts — and its privileges and immunities — beyond the present situation.

President,

We recall the Secretary-General’s letters to the membership, where he requested support from the General Assembly to enable UNRWA to carry out its mandate, as instructed by this Assembly.

In this draft resolution, we are seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. The request focuses on clarifying Israel’s obligations to ensure and facilitate humanitarian and development assistance in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

President,

Norway, a founding member of the United Nations, believes that we cannot remain passive witnesses to what may come to be seen as a frontal attack on the Organization of the United Nations and on the multilateral system itself, with immense humanitarian consequences.

Let us act, therefore, with dispatch and determination to uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and to prevent further suffering in the region.

I urge all member States to vote in favour of this draft resolution.