Discurso do Ministro de Estado das Relações Exteriores, Embaixador Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação no Oriente Médio, Incluindo a Questão Palestina - 24 de outubro de 2023 (texto em inglês)
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
October 24th, 2023
We are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence in the region. Since 7 October, more than 5,000 lives have been lost on both sides, and more than 1 million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip. Allow me to quote President Lula da Silva in his appeal to reason.
“Hamas must release the Israeli children who have been abducted from their families. Israel must cease the bombing so that Palestinian children and their mothers can leave the Gaza Strip across the border with Egypt. There needs to be a minimum of humanity in the insanity of war.”
What President Lula is underscoring is that we are dealing with both a hostage and a humanitarian crisis. The acts of terrorism carried out against civilians in Israel resulted in more than 1,000 victims and the abduction of hundreds of innocent people, including children and the elderly. Three Brazilian citizens have been confirmed dead as victims of the Hamas attacks, and we deeply mourn their passing. We cannot condone acts of terrorism. Violence breeds further violence. I want to make an appeal, therefore, for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilian hostages into safety, in particular women and children.
Acts of terrorism are heinous and criminal, and international law is clear on the ways to address them. The Security Council has created a significant body of counter-terrorism norms. When counter-terrorism efforts disregard basic norms and principles, including on the use of force, they reinforce, rather than countering them, the narratives of terrorist groups. In order to ensure an effective strategy for addressing the terrorist threat, it is therefore imperative to ensure full respect for human rights, humanitarian law and refugee law. Children must always be treated primarily as victims, in a manner consistent with their rights, dignity and needs. The escalating violence in Gaza is also unacceptable, so is the demolition of civilian infrastructure, which has resulted in the destruction of 42 per cent of civilian housing. We cannot tolerate the loss of over 2,000 Palestinian children. As the occupying Power, Israel has a legal and moral obligation to protect the local population under international humanitarian law.
The recent events in Gaza are particularly concerning, including the so-called evacuation order, which is leading to unprecedented levels of misery for innocent people. The number of trucks carrying humanitarian aid that crossed the Rafah border is utterly insufficient to meet the basic needs of the local population. The entire territory continues to be without a power supply, impacting the work of health personnel. Hospitals are operating beyond full capacity. Access to drinkable water has been impeded and many are resorting to unreliable sources of water. Civilians must be respected and protected at all times and everywhere. All parties must strictly abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. And I highlight, in this respect, the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, humanity, necessity and precaution, which must guide and inform all actions and military operations.
Distinguished Delegates,
We must not lose sight of the root causes of this conflict — oppression, social and economic inequalities and recurring violations of human rights. 2023 marks 75 years since the begining of the Israel-Palestine conflict. It is disheartening to see the lack of progress in the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. The stalemate in the peace process has been fuelling an unsettling rise in violence. Even before the crisis in Gaza, 2023 was already the year with the highest death toll since 2005. The situation in the West Bank remains tense, with successive harmful incidents escalating into violence and leading to civilian casualties. The surge in settler-related violence is also alarming. Achieving peace requires strict adherence to international law, as well as working towards realizing the two-State solution. As clearly stated by this Council, the continued occupation of the West Bank is unlawful and undermines the prospects for peace. Israel must stop all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The difference of treatment towards settlers and locals is unacceptable. The current and projected expansion all but erases the viability of a future Palestinian State and engenders violence and hatred. We also underscore the importance of preserving the historic status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem and acknowledge the significance of the Hashemite custody. Brazil urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and abstain from provocations, including the use of extremist rhetoric.
Intra-Palestinian reconciliation is also pivotal. We acknowledge the meetings in Egypt focused on exploring reconciliation efforts among the Palestinian factions. We encourage the continuation of diplomatic engagement in regional peace processes. Brazil praizes UNRWA's (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) unvaluable humanitarian work for one of the world’s most vulnerable refugee populations, the Palestinians. And we mourn the brave workers of UNRWA who have lost their lives in the line of duty since the current hostilities began. Our commitment to UNRWA is reflected in our availability to hold the vice-chairmanship and the chairmanship of the Agency’s Advisory Commission from July 2024 and July 2025, respectively.
Distinguished Delegates,
The broader Middle East has long been entangled in a web of conflict. These conflicst lead to immeasurable suffering, grief, loss, hardship and, worst of all, hopelessness. They also severely destabilized the region. Now we see the very concrete risk of the crisis in Gaza spilling over into other parts of the region.
Amid all of these daunting challenges, diplomacy and dialogue remain our most powerful assets. The maritime dispute between Israel and Lebanon has been peacefully settled through negotiations. Similarly, the recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran underscores the potential of good-faith engagement. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab countries also shows the willingness to engage and cooperate. Such endeavours bring hope for peace in the region. The League of Arab States plays a vital role in the context by working tirelessly to mediate and foster dialogue between conflicting parties.
Distinguished Delegates,
The Council has a crucial responsibility in the immediate response to the unfolding hostage and humanitarian crisis. Much of the reputation of the United Nations depends on its approach to this ongoing crisis. Since 2016, the Council has not been unable to pass a resolution on the situation in the region. Obstructive strategies have been impeding that crucial decisions on international peace and security be taken. As a result, the situation in the Middle East is by far one of the most thwarted issues in the Security Council. This Council must be up to the challenge before us. We will likely be tried and found guilty by future generations for our inaction and complacency. We must find ways to unlock multilateral action. Focusing on disagreements will not lead us in the direction of much needed solutions to the unfolding dire humanitarian crisis. The Security Council should not shy away from its responsibility of calling for the liberation of the innocent people who have been abducted from their families and for their safety, well-being and humane treatment. This is a broad political call for the opening of urgently needed humanitarian corridors. A decision on the humanitarian aspects of the current crisis is within a hand's reach of the Council members, on condition that we refrain from politization of the already complex situation on the ground.
Brazil will continue to promote dialogue among members and action on the part of the Council through the opening of possible avenues of negotiation. In that spirit, President Lula da Silva instructed me to attend the Cairo peace summit past Saturday, with an unequivocal message: to add Brazil’s voice to all those who are urging calm, restraint and peace in the region. Despite the various positions of the Member States there represented, consensus was possible on four major aspects, as follows: the end to the violence, the implementation of a ceasefire, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the implementation and the full endorsement of the two-State solution.
Enough of strife, suffering and instability — we need all stakeholders to see their own interest through new lenses with long-term and far-sighted perspectives. We need solutions, no matter how politically difficult they may be. A peaceful and prosperous Middle East is to the benefit of us all.
Thank you.