Thank you President, and thank you ASG Khiari for your briefing.
The UK joined the US and France in calling for this important briefing.
I would like to add my sincere gratitude to you, Eli, for the courage you have shown today, and every day, since those horrific events of 7 October.
The suffering you and your family have endured is beyond imagination.
Hamas must be held accountable for their despicable actions including the murder of your wife, Lianne, a British national, and your two daughters.
Your powerful testimony also serves as a reminder of the anguish that the remaining hostages held by Hamas continue to endure.
This Council has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages in all four of our resolutions since October 7th.
I repeat that call today.
This includes the release of hostage Avinatan Or, and the return of deceased hostages Shay Levinson and Eli’s brother Yossi Sharabi who also have strong links to the UK.
We also remain deeply concerned by the appalling treatment of hostages during their captivity, as we have heard from Eli today, and the shocking images we have seen around their release.
In its dedicated reports, the UN has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to suspect sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks.
President, the UK is also deeply concerned at reports of sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces.
These allegations must be fully investigated.
We reiterate our call for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be granted unfettered and immediate access to the hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees.
Granting ICRC access is a clear obligation under international humanitarian law.
The suffering in Gaza has gone on for far too long.
Just yesterday we heard the tragic news that a UN compound in Deir al Balah was hit, killing and injuring humanitarian workers, including a British national.
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
And as my Foreign Secretary has said, this appalling incident must be investigated transparently and those responsible held to account.
The protection of the UN and humanitarian workers is non-negotiable.
And Israel must facilitate a rapid and unhindered resurgence in the flow of aid.
We condemn the unacceptable statements from Defence Minister Katz warning of the total destruction of Gaza.
President, both Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal in January which provided for the release of all hostages through the three phases of the deal.
With the Israeli air strikes this week, which have killed so many Palestinian civilians, that deal has fallen apart and with it, the best chance we had seen to return the hostages to their families and end their suffering.
We call on the parties to urgently return to this deal.
For the sake of the hostages and their families who continue to wait in agony for news of their loved ones.
And for the sake of the Palestinians in Gaza who have already suffered terribly.
Diplomacy must be the way forward, not bloodshed.
