- Check against delivery -

Thank you, Madam President.

The European Union remains gravely concerned about the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We reiterate our call for full respect of international humanitarian law, by all parties. In particular, we would like to re-emphasise our call for call for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, and for the safe, unimpeded, and continued humanitarian access to and throughout Gaza. Humanitarian workers must never be targeted. We share our condolences to the loved ones of all humanitarian workers killed in Gaza, including UNRWA and other UN workers and international and local organisation staff.

As OCHA Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths recently said, the past six months of war in Gaza are a "betrayal of humanity". Addressing the imminent famine in Gaza urgently requires a comprehensive approach that combines political action, strict adherence to IHL, unimpeded sustained humanitarian access for aid delivery, commercial access, alongwith the restoration of essential services. Such a comprehensive approach requires coordination and leadership.

The EU stands firm in our belief that UNRWA is the backbone of any effective humanitarian response in Gaza. The role of UNRWA is irreplaceable. The Agency is a main humanitarian lifeline for the Palestinian children, women, and men who are dependent on life-saving assistance.

We appreciate the steps taken by the UN's Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation to shed light into the serious allegations against a few UNRWA staff, and we commend the UN for establishing an independent Review Group led by Catherine Colonna, to assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations. From the preliminary results, we remain convinced that UNRWA is an essential part of delivering desperately needed aid to the people in Gaza. We are glad that many donors who had initially suspended their funding have resumed their support of UNRWA based on the results of these assessments.

As a long-standing humanitarian donor, the EU will continue to cooperate closely with the UN, including UNRWA, and humanitarian partners in the region, in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. With over a million Palestinians forcibly displaced, and continued hostilities, UNRWA is more needed than ever to deliver for the Palestinians in Gaza as well as to deliver assistance and social services in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Thank you.