Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the 59th plenary meeting of the General Assembly Use of the veto - Item 63: Special report of the Security Council (A/78/786) - March 5th, 2024

Regrettably, once again, we are here to discuss a veto cast against the virtually unanimous call by the international community for peace in the occupied Gaza Strip.

The Algerian resolution vetoed by the United States urged the immediate cessation of hostilities, a call already made by this General Assembly, compellingly and overwhelmingly. Unfortunately, once more, due to one single vote, the Security Council failed to act to prevent that an even bigger tragedy befalls the innocent people in Gaza.

The massacre of February 29th is a crude testament to the Council’s repeated failure to speak up decisively against this tragedy. This catastrophe has already killed over thirty thousand people, most of them women and children. In a conflict that cannot be won militarily within the limits of international law, such inaction does not live up to the purposes of the United Nations.

The collective peace and security system, centered in the Security Council, must urgently be reformed. The world, specially the developing countries, can no longer be kept at the margin of its decision-making. The Council needs adequate representation. It needs to ensure respect for universal norms, especially in preventing serious breaches of international humanitarian law. And it needs a renewed commitment that brings the world together in promoting peace, security and full respect for international law.

Attempts to justify the Council’s inaction in Gaza argue that a call for a ceasefire would jeopardize parallel diplomatic efforts. How long will the whole world, how long will Palestinians wait for these efforts to succeed? The Council cannot be prevented to meet its responsibilities based on non-fulfilling promises of direct talks.

Simply awaiting a solution based on direct negotiations, while unceasing ruthless military operations continue to kill unarmed civilians and target protected objects, implies complicity with death and destruction. Simply awaiting, idly, the end of the conflict implies complicity with actions that breach the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, including the order to allow humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip.

Let us be clear. The continuation of hostilities in Gaza is not acceptable by any standard. There is no room for delaying a ceasefire, neither morally nor legally. There is no legal basis for the establishment of settlements in any of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Such settlements have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.

Mr. President,

Like 138 members of the United Nations, Brazil has recognized the State of Palestine, and strongly supports its admission to the UN as a full member. This would help create conditions for the peaceful settlement of the israelo-palestinian conflict, as would other initiatives aimed at consolidating Palestinian statehood, as part of the two-State solution long supported by the international community. We call on the Council to uphold the desire of the majority of members of the United Nations and admit the State of Palestine as full member of this organization.

And Brazil reiterates its call for serious negotiations leading to the two state solution, allowing for the creation of an independent, sovereign, and economically viable Palestinian state, coexisting with Israel in peace and security within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders, which includes the Gaza strip, the west bank and East Jerusalem as its capital.

Thank you.