STATEMENT BY
H.E. MR. KALILU IBRAHIM TOTANGI
AMBASSADOR & DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE/
CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES a. i.
Thank you, Mr. President, His Excellency Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.
Sierra Leone thanks the Presidency for convening this important and timely debate. The protracted crisis in the Middle East continues to demand the Council’s urgent attention, principled clarity, and resolute action.
I thank Assistant Secretary General, Mohamed Khaled Khiari, for his detailed briefing.
Mr. President,
Across the region, fragility remains a defining feature. While recent de-escalations in Lebanon, and between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel offer some measure of relief, other theatres remain dangerously unstable. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the Syrian Arab Republic, where the resurgence of violence has taken a devastating toll.
We reiterate our call for full respect and implementation of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria. All parties must uphold the ceasefire, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from actions that could further destabilize the region. In this regard, we recall the primary responsibility of the Syrian authorities to ensure the safety and protection of all civilians, including religious and ethnic minorities. This responsibility is not only a matter of national duty but a legal obligation under international humanitarian and human rights law.
Turning to the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the scale and depth of human suffering in Gaza over the past months defy comprehension. The cruelty and violence endured by civilians are deeply distressing and should stir the conscience of the international community. Yet, despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to international obligations, meaningful action by those with the power to stop the suffering remains regrettably insufficient.
Sierra Leone is particularly alarmed by three interrelated trends:
First, the systematic obstruction of humanitarian access. Humanitarian actors, including United Nations agencies, have been impeded by access restrictions, targeted attacks, and the militarization of aid delivery points. These developments have rendered many humanitarian corridors perilous rather than protective, with the humanitarian architecture pushed to the brink of collapse. Essential life-saving assistance continues to be hindered by bureaucratic, political, and operational constraints.
Second, the targeting and destruction of cultural, religious, and historical sites. Attacks on places of worship, cemeteries, and culturally significant landmarks are not merely acts of war; they seek to erase the identity and heritage of an entire people. When coupled with widespread destruction of homes, schools, and civilian infrastructure, these actions signal an alarming pattern of displacement and dispossession.
Third, the deprivation of basic necessities. The use of siege tactics, repeated bombardments, and forced evacuations including the recent evacuation order covering about 5.6 square kilometres of Deir al Balah, which spans four neighbourhoods, leaving the millions of Palestinians confined to ever-shrinking spaces, often without access to adequate food, clean water, or medical care. The use of starvation as a method of warfare is a grave breach of international humanitarian law.
Even more concerning is the report that the latest evacuation orders affect United Nations premises and warehouses, which are protected under international law. We are also deeply concerned that the WHO staff residence was attacked three times yesterday. We reiterate that the parties to the conflict must respect the inviolability of all United Nations staff, premises, warehouses and other civilian sites.
Taken together, these patterns point to a deeply troubling possibility: the risk of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. As affirmed by the International Court of Justice in its provisional measures, the 1948 Genocide Convention obliges the international community to prevent such outcomes once the risk becomes known.
To be clear, the invocation of atrocity prevention is not an attack on any state, religion, or people. It is rather a principled insistence on the rule of law, accountability, and the protection of civilians. Criticism of military conduct or state policy must not be conflated with identity-based hate. Such conflation only serves to erode efforts toward peace, justice and reconciliation.
Mr. President,
Sierra Leone unequivocally condemns the attacks of 7 October 2023 perpetrated by Hamas and other armed groups. The deliberate targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages are unacceptable and constitute serious violations of international law. These crimes must be addressed through lawful and accountable means. However, we maintain that one atrocity cannot justify another. The principles of proportionality, distinction, and necessity must be upheld at all times.
We also express grave concern regarding developments in the West Bank, where increasing settler violence, forced evictions, and demolitions further erode the prospects of peace and violate established norms under the Fourth Geneva Convention. These acts threaten to undermine not only the two-State solution but also the long-term stability of the region.
Accordingly, Sierra Leone calls for the following:
First, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank, as a necessary step to halt further loss of life and enable the restoration of humanitarian operations.
Second, the release of all hostages, both Israeli civilians unlawfully held by Hamas and Palestinian detainees held without due process.
Third, full, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access. We welcome recent initiatives to expand aid delivery but stress that these measures must be scaled up, and the blockade lifted, and militarization abandoned.
Fourth, full compliance with the ICJ’s provisional measures, particularly those related to facilitating humanitarian aid and protecting civilians. The work of UNRWA and other UN agencies on the ground must be preserved and strengthened.
Fifth, the rejection of any effort toward permanent displacement of Palestinians. Those forcibly removed must be allowed to return home when conditions allow. The right to self-determination must be respected and upheld.
Ultimately, there must be a credible return to the political track. A two-State solution, based on the pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine, remains the only viable and just path toward sustainable peace. In this context, we welcome the forthcoming international conference to be convened by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and urge all relevant parties to engage constructively. We also commend the mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, which have helped facilitate temporary humanitarian pauses.
Mr. President,
The Middle East stands at a critical crossroads. The suffering of civilians in Gaza, the instability in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, and the stagnation of the peace process collectively underscore the need for renewed leadership and firm action.
I thank you.