Statement by Latvia at the United Nations Security Council, briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
New York, 24 March 2026
Thank you, Mr. President,
I thank Deputy Special Coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov for his informative briefing.
And I welcome the High Representative for Gaza, Nikolay Mladenov to this meeting, and I thank him for his valuable and comprehensive contribution.
Mr. President,
The escalation in the Middle East has an immediate impact on the civilian populations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, where civilians are experiencing increased violence, movement restrictions, and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.
In the West Bank, rising settler violence and the IDF military activity continue to inflict suffering upon the Palestinian population. It has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinians being forcibly displaced. According to OCHA reports, over the last two and a half years 1,071 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including at least 273 children. More than 30 Palestinians have been killed by violent settlers, and none of them has been held accountable to this date. Over the past two years 42 Israeli civilians and 26 Israeli security forces were killed.
Deteriorating situation fuels tensions and perpetuates a cycle of violence, exposing both Palestinians and Israelis to ever-increasing security risks. We call on the Israeli authorities to take immediate and effective action to prevent further attacks against Palestinian civilians and to ensure accountability. We call also on the Palestinian Authority to implement its reform agenda, including the reform of school curriculum and to address concerns about the continuation of policy rewarding violent acts.
The ongoing settlement policy, including the recent decisions to expand Israel’s control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, undermines the prospects for long-term peace. We therefore once again call for full respect of international law and the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334.
Mr. President,
While the escalation in the West Bank is in the focus, we also have to address the still tragic situation in Gaza. The unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population must be ensured in Gaza and the West Bank at scale, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Predictable and unimpeded flow of goods, in particular for essential supplies, must be ensured to deliver the support that is so desperately needed.
We commend the vital work of the UN agencies and international humanitarian partners and stress the importance of enabling them to work independently and impartially. We note the recent reopening of the Rafah crossing. It is important to keep the crossing points open to alleviate severe medical shortages in Gaza and allow people to acquire medical treatment abroad.
The reconstruction of Gaza is closely linked to security and governance, as we heard from the High Representative Mladenov today. The re-arming of Hamas may not take place in Gaza. We cannot allow Hamas to hijack neither the Palestinian cause nor the implementation of Gaza peace plan. Hamas must disarm and relinquish power. The people of Israel deserve to live in peace and security, without the daily threat of terrorism. Tangible restoration of living conditions in Gaza are urgently needed to create a social and political environment conducive to a reunited Palestinian Authority’s governance.
The Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, put forward by President Trump and endorsed by the Security Council Resolution 2803, remains at the core of the ongoing international efforts to achieve peace and stability in Gaza. We look forward to its full implementation. We welcome the Board of Peace announcements in February on the commitments to deploy troops to the UN‑authorized stabilization force, as well as on the indispensable financial pledges for the early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) should be empowered with the necessary means, tools and access to accomplish its mandate. Early involvement of the Palestinian Authority would lay the foundation of future self-sustaining governance in Gaza.
In conclusion, Mr. President,
The security situation in the Middle East as a whole is highly concerning. The brutal aggression of Iran against the countries in the region and beyond, instrumentalizing proxies, such as Hezbollah escalatory attacks, have dragged the region into a wave of violence. Iran’s actions severely undermine international peace and maritime security, and are causing a global trade and energy crisis. Iranian attacks are directly enabled by Russia.
Despite the current turmoil in the region, it is important to prevent the resumption of hostilities in Gaza. The ongoing international efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the Middle East must not lose sight of a political perspective that addresses the security concerns and legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. A just and lasting peace requires treating Gaza and the West Bank as a unified entity. We reiterate that a negotiated two-State solution, in accordance with internationally agreed parameters as defined by Security Council resolutions and the New York Declaration, remains the only viable path to a lasting peace.
I thank you.