Thank you, Mr. President.

First of all, the return of the body of Ran Gvili, the last remaining deceased hostage to Israel is a huge relief and we hope his family can now find some closure.

Mr. President, colleagues

We must now continue to work towards a durable peace in Gaza and the region.

I want to make four points on the way ahead:

First, Germany welcomes the start of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan and the establishment of the transitional authorities for Gaza. We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the United States and other partners to implement the 20-point plan – in accordance with Security Council resolution 2803 and in line with humanitarian principles and international law.

Second, despite improvements over the last months, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. A further substantial increase in humanitarian assistance is urgently needed. Humanitarian access into Gaza must be unhindered, with the United Nations and its agencies, including UNRWA, playing a central role in accordance with their mandate. In this regard, we stress the continued and paramount importance of urgent UNRWA reforms. The demolition of the UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem constitutes an unacceptable violation of the UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities.

At the same time, Phase Two must go beyond humanitarian relief: easing of restrictions for dual use items, which are urgently needed for early recovery, is paramount. The rehabilitation of infrastructure must start now without delay. We welcome the announced opening of the Rafah Crossing Point in both directions. Further steps must follow to increase movement and access from and into Gaza.

With over 400 million US dollars in humanitarian assistance since October 2023, Germany is one of the largest humanitarian donors for Palestinians. We are willing to make a significant contribution also towards the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza as well, as soon as circumstances permit.

Third, Hamas must disarm now and allow for a peaceful transition, with the Palestinian Authority ultimately assuming control over Gaza. Germany is ready to cooperate with the transitional authorities and will actively support efforts to establish security and political stability. We have deployed personnel to the Civil-Military Coordination Center and will continue to contribute to the training of Palestinian security forces through bilateral initiatives and through the European Union.

Fourth, lasting peace in Gaza and beyond requires a long-term political horizon and vision. This can only be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution that ensures Israeli security and realizes Palestinian self-determination. A strong and reformed Palestinian Authority is essential. Germany is the largest bilateral donor to the PA, with commitments exceeding one billion US dollars. Germany will continue to support the PA, including its reform process.

Mr. President,

And let me end by saying two things.

Germany stands ready to work with the international community so that we – together – seize the current momentum to improve the lives of the people in Gaza and to create the conditions for lasting peace, security, and stability for Israelis and for Palestinians.

And finally, I would like to underline that the Security Council and the United Nations remain the central platform for peace, and international law provides the indispensable framework for achieving peace and security.

Thank you.