On October 16, the United Nations Security Council held an urgent open meeting concerning the Israel-Palestine issue. Representatives from multiple countries urged Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and lift the blockade and restrictions on humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

During the session, Ms. Muhi, the acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, reported that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has dramatically worsened. Since the beginning of October, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in nearly 400 Palestinian deaths and over 1,500 injuries. The ongoing Israeli blockade has severely hindered UN relief efforts. The situation in northern Gaza is particularly dire, with hospitals facing critical shortages of supplies. Almost no food has entered northern Gaza in the first half of October, and food aid is on the verge of running out.

Algeria’s permanent representative to the UN, Mr. Benjamia, stated that the situation in Gaza has reached a “disastrous level.” He condemned Israel for allegedly employing a “hunger policy” as a means of warfare, which is explicitly prohibited under international law. He insisted that Israel must fulfill its obligations under international law to protect civilians and ensure unobstructed humanitarian access to Gaza.

France’s permanent representative to the UN, Mr. Driyevet, expressed strong condemnation of Israel’s attacks on civilian infrastructure. He emphasized that civilians must never be targeted under any circumstances, and any actions that forcibly displace civilians are serious violations of international law. He called for the removal of obstacles to humanitarian aid shipments and demanded an end to measures that undermine the Palestinian Authority.

The United States representative, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield, described the imposition of a “hunger policy” in northern Gaza as both horrific and unacceptable, violating international law. She stressed that the U.S. would closely monitor whether Israel’s actions align with its commitments to not cut off supplies of food and other essentials. She underscored that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law and that Israel has a responsibility to take all possible measures to protect them.

The UK representative, Ms. Wu, asserted that communication between northern and southern Gaza must not be severed. It is essential to allow Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza, to return to their communities and rebuild. She emphasized that forcible displacement of Gazans or any reduction of Gaza’s territory must not occur. Israel must fully comply with international humanitarian law to ensure adequate aid reaches all areas of Gaza.

China’s UN representative, Mr. Fu, noted that Israel had not eased its military actions in Gaza over the past two weeks. He questioned why the people of Gaza should endure such suffering simply for being born there. He highlighted that using hunger as a weapon of war constitutes a serious war crime and called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law by immediately lifting the blockade and restrictions on humanitarian access throughout Gaza. He insisted that Security Council resolutions are binding on all nations and must be enforced, advocating for the maintenance and revival of the “two-state solution” as a political prospect.

Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Mr. Nebenzya, stated that Gaza is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. He condemned Israel’s military actions as violations of international law and criticized the unconditional military support and political cover provided by the United States to Israel, which exacerbate the conflict. He urged for urgent actions to ensure that humanitarian aid can move freely into Gaza and called for an end to the humanitarian disaster there.