Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Algeria for assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for this month and support its work in steering the Council’s efforts towards the pursuit of peace and security.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Secretary-General Guterres for his briefing. We support his leadership and guidance amidst the overlapping crises.

Mr. President,

Türkiye welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached between Hamas and Israel.

We express our gratitude to the mediating countries for their efforts.

After 15 months of relentless warfare, harrowing atrocities, and immense human suffering, this ceasefire comes after an unconscionable delay.

With more than 45 thousand dead (including about 18,000 children), more than 100 thousand injured, nearly 1.9 million displaced, the entire population of Gaza has endured unspeakable horrors under the international community’s watch.

In the following days, it is essential that all phases of the ceasefire agreement are fully implemented, the ceasefire is made permanent, and humanitarian aid is urgently delivered to Gaza.

Mr. President,

Since October 7, the international community has been relentlessly calling for an immediate ceasefire, release of all captives and delivery of unhindered humanitarian aid in Gaza.

With the ceasefire deal now in place, it is our solemn duty to ensure that these calls are fully realized.

First, we must hold Israel accountable to its commitments, ensuring the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

Second, we must flood Gaza with the humanitarian relief.

In this regard, UNRWA has a central role to play in the implementation of the ceasefire.

Since October 7, UNRWA has been the cornerstone of humanitarian operations in Gaza. With its unique mandate, extensive institutional infrastructure, and over seventy years of experience supporting Palestine refugees on the ground, UNRWA is irreplaceable in its mission.

However, Israel’s legislative actions seeking to ban UNRWA's operations in the occupied Palestinian territories and Gaza, contravene its legal obligations under the UN Charter, the Convention on UN Privileges and Immunities, the ICJ’s provisional rulings regarding genocide prevention in Gaza, the General Assembly’s mandate for UNRWA, and various other international legal commitments.

Such attacks on a UN agency mandated by the General Assembly is unacceptable and sets a disastrous precedent for the UN, the global multilateral system and the future of international law.

We call upon the Security Council and the member states to shield and support UNRWA until a just and lasting two-state solution is realized.

This brings me to my third point. There is an urgent need to intensify efforts toward the realization of a political solution based on the two-state vision. The illegal occupation must come to an end, as stated by resolution ES-10/24 of 18 September 2024, and Palestine must be recognized as a full member of the United Nations. Relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Gaza must be supported.

Mr. President,

While we share the hope of millions worldwide that the war in Gaza may now have come to an end, we cannot allow the crimes committed during the past 15 months to go unaccounted for.

The collective punishment of an entire population—resulting in the killing, maiming, and starvation of countless innocent civilians, as well as the indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure, humanitarian workers, and the displacement of millions—cannot be met with impunity.

Türkiye has formally submitted its Declaration of Intervention under Article 63 to the case before the International Court of Justice, brought by the Republic of South Africa against Israel, concerning violations of Israel's obligations under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

We have co-sponsored the resolution presented by Norway, asking for the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the occupying power’s responsibilities. We remain steadfast in our support of the Court's efforts, as well as in the implementation of its forthcoming advisory opinion.

Mr. President,

The war in Gaza not only led to major transformations in our region, but also harmed the law based international system to its core.

We have witnessed the far-reaching consequences of this conflict, with ripple effects felt across the Middle East.

This crisis has underscored the existential importance of adhering to international law, principles, and moral clarity.

It also proved once more that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East can only be achieved through bringing peace to Palestine and ending the injustice suffered by the Palestinian people.

Peace negotiations must commence immediately to establish an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

We hope to see that the Security Council will shoulder its responsibilities to that end.

Türkiye will continue to support the Palestinian people in the period ahead.

I thank you.