Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN, at the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
New York, 18 June 2026
Madam President,
Thank you for convening this meeting at a short notice. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be at a level of deprivation that demands urgent and sustained international attention.
I thank USG Tom Fletcher for his informative briefing. I also thank Ms Bushra Khalidi, Head of Humanitarian Policy of Oxfam International for sharing the experience in providing the humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
I would like to use this opportunity to commend the vital work of the UN agencies and international humanitarian partners for their tireless work, as they continue operating under extremely difficult conditions in Gaza, and elsewhere in the world.
Madam President,
When adopting resolution 2803, endorsing President Trump’s Peace Plan, this Council and the wider international community anticipated rapid and significant improvements of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Seven months later, the hunger and famine have been alleviated, but the basic humanitarian needs are only partially met. It is important to acknowledge that last November the humanitarian threshold was at a catastrophic level to claim the situation now being optimal. Unimpeded and full humanitarian access to the civilian population in Gaza must be ensured urgently and unconditionally, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
It is unbearable that the vast majority of Gaza's population is still living in tents and damaged buildings. The continued accumulation of waste, the recent spread of rat infestations and the absence of clean water and sanitation infrastructure are jeopardising public health and further eroding the living conditions. Tangible restoration of decent daily life for the people in Gaza, including the rebuilding of the essential civilian infrastructure, is a matter of urgency. Hospitals must be supplied at scale to ensure adequate health care. Access to medical treatment outside of Gaza must be facilitated.
We call on Israel to ensure that all crossing points into Gaza are open and operate efficiently, allowing food, water and other objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population to be delivered at scale and without impediments. Yet, the humanitarian aid is not just food. The restrictions related to the so called dual‑use items and the related lengthy clearance procedures must be addressed to ensure that shelter and building materials, and non-food items, including medical equipment, can be delivered without further delay.
The ceasefire has allowed lifesaving aid to reach more people in Gaza. At the same time food insecurity remains a daily reality. Given their low or non‑existent income, the vast majority of families are largely dependent on the aid delivered by the UN and international NGOs. The registration status of the humanitarian actors needs to be resolved to allow them to provide critical humanitarian services independently and impartially. We also call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and respect and protect humanitarian workers, medical personnel and journalists.
While the full-scale bombardment has ceased, daily ceasefire violations in Gaza since last October have claimed nearly thousand civilian lives on top of immense loss of civilian life and endured suffering.
To consolidate the gains of the Comprehensive Plan and prevent a resurgence of violence in Gaza, Security Council resolution 2803 must be implemented as mandated. All parties must abide by the commitments they have made. Hamas and other non‑state armed groups must accept the road map for monitored and verified disarmament, proposed by the Board of Peace, and relinquish power. Hamas must be held fully accountable for the hostage-taking of civilians and military personnel in Israel, an act of terrorism that caused immense pain and whose consequences continue to affect the victims and their families. The ongoing daily strikes by IDF on Gaza must stop, and the so-called “yellow line” demarcation must be pulled back to where it was upon reaching the ceasefire agreement. The deployment of the ISF and the Palestinian police, and the early recovery of Gaza through the work of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) are much awaited.
Madame President,
Let me reiterate - a political solution, encompasing Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is the only way to a sustained peace, based on the two‑State solution, as defined by Security Council resolutions and the New York Declaration. Addressing the security concerns and the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians requires renewed momentum in the implementation of the Comprehensive Plan, and genuine engagement by all parties. Latvia reaffirms its commitment to this objective.
I thank you.