Before the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Mexico condemned the use of hunger as a weapon of war and questioned the effectiveness of the Israeli aid distribution mechanism in the Gaza Strip."We have observed that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation mechanism, established by Israel for food distribution in the Strip, is dangerous and ineffective," said Mexico's Permanent Representative to the UN, Héctor Vasconcelos, in a debate on the Middle East held this week.
Every day, as we meet, thousands of civilians are losing their lives or being displaced, and famine is progressing at an alarming rate, he warned the Council, underscoring the country's deep concern about the growing regional fragility, the risks of military escalation, and the alarming deterioration in the living conditions of the civilian population.
Vasconcelos emphasized that the conflict between Israel and Palestine cannot continue to be displaced by other international issues. We cannot allow other crises to divert attention from the extremely serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
He also emphasized that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains perhaps the oldest, yet most current, conflict in the multilateral system and holds particular relevance for us due to the UN's historical involvement.
Mexico welcomed the resumption of the high-level conference on the two-state solution as a necessary multilateral forum for advancing peace. Given this situation, it is essential to revitalize multilateral forums that address the root causes of conflicts in the region, Vasconcelos said, stressing that the reconstruction of Gaza must be a priority in any roadmap leading to a definitive solution.
Offering data on the economic impact of the conflict in Gaza, the diplomat warned that in 2024, food prices rose more than 200 percent and Palestinian GDP plummeted 28 percent, reflecting the humanitarian and economic collapse in the region.
Any sustainable solution must include security guarantees for both Israel and a future Palestinian state, within the framework of the relevant United Nations resolutions. He also considered the establishment of a lasting ceasefire to be imperative for any peace efforts, he stated.
Vasconcelos also addressed the global risks associated with attacks on nuclear facilities in the context of armed conflict, which, he warned, pose a grave danger to the civilian population and the environment anywhere in the world, as radiological risks respect no borders. He reiterated the importance of implementing the so-called seven essential pillars to guarantee nuclear, technological, and physical security during an armed conflict.
He reiterated Mexico's commitment to respect for international law, particularly humanitarian law: It is urgent to redouble diplomatic efforts, including the role of this Security Council, toward a lasting peace in the Middle East, he concluded.
