Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
March 25, 2024
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Mr. President.
At the top, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of last week's terrorist attack in Moscow. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the Russian people in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event.
Colleagues, today, this Council spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, to bring about an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, secure the immediate release of all hostages, and help alleviate the tremendous suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who are in dire need of protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance.
The United States fully supports these critical objectives. In fact, they were the foundation of the resolution we put forward last week, a resolution that Russia and China vetoed.
But colleagues, the United States' support for these objectives is not simply rhetorical. We are working around the clock to make them real, on the ground, through diplomacy, because we know that it is only through diplomacy that we can push this agenda forward.
We are getting closer to a deal for an immediate ceasefire with the release of all hostages. But we are not there yet.
Now, let's be clear: A ceasefire could have come about months ago if Hamas had been willing to release hostages. Months ago. Instead, Hamas continues to stand in the way of peace, to throw up roadblocks, cower in tunnels beneath Gaza's cities, and under civilian infrastructure, and hide among the civilian population.
So today, my ask to members of this Council, and to Member States in every region of the world is this: Speak out, and demand unequivocally, that Hamas accepts the deal on the table.
Now, I hope I'm wrong - I really do - but I don't expect that from Russia and China. Especially because they still can't bring themselves to condemn Hamas' terrorist attacks on October 7.
Just last week, Russia and China vetoed a resolution that condemned this horrific attack, a resolution the vast majority of this Council supported. They have shown time and time again that they are not actually interested in advancing a durable peace through diplomatic efforts.
Nor for all their rhetoric are they interested in making any meaningful contributions to humanitarian efforts. Instead, they are using this devastating conflict as a political cudgel, to try to divide this Council at a time when we need to come together. It is deeply, deeply cynical, and we should all see through it.
Colleagues, we appreciated the willingness of members of this Council to take some of our edits and improve upon this resolution. Still, certain key edits were ignored, including our request to add a condemnation of Hamas. And we did not agree with everything in this resolution. For that reason, we were unfortunately not able to vote yes.
However, as I said before, we fully support some of the critical objectives in this nonbinding resolution. And we believe it was important for the Council to speak out and make clear that any ceasefire must come with the release of all hostages.
Indeed, as I have said before, the only path to a durable end to this conflict is the release of all hostages.
Critically, a ceasefire and the release of hostages will allow much more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, at a time when famine is looming large, and provide an opportunity to work toward a sustainable cessation of hostiles; toward a future where Hamas can no longer threaten Israel, and never repeat October 7, and no longer control Gaza and use civilians as shields; toward a future where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in peace, in two democratic states of their own. Something that will never happen with Hamas - a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the killing Jews; a terrorist organization this body still fails to condemn - controlling Gaza.
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Colleagues, we meet during the holy month of Ramadan. This should be a season of peace for Muslim communities around the world, just as October 7, Simchat Torah, should have been a day of peace for Jewish communities.
This resolution rightly acknowledges that, during the month of Ramadan, we must recommit to peace. Hamas can do that by accepting the deal on the table. A ceasefire can begin immediately with the release of the first hostage.
And so, we must put pressure on Hamas to do just that. This is the only path to securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages, as we have all called for today. That is what this resolution means, a ceasefire of any duration must come with the release of hostages. This is the only path.
Thank you very much, Mr. President.
