Explanation of vote of the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the United Nations General Assembly vote on the request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, 19 December 2024
Explanation of vote by the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the request for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Thursday 19 December 2024.
United Nations General Assembly
Thursday 19 December 2024
National Intervention (EoV) by the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Delivered by Lise Gregoire-van Haaren
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
To the United Nations
Mr./Ms. President,
I thank you for convening today’s ESS and I have the honour to deliver this explanation of vote on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands holds the International Court of Justice in the highest esteem as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the international community and reiterates its unwavering support to the Court and international law in general.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands voted in favour of the request to the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on the facilitation of aid and assistance to the Palestinian population under occupation.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. Humanitarian access and the facilitation of aid is crucial. Restricting the work of the UN, especially UNRWA, and humanitarian organizations in a time of unprecedented humanitarian needs will negatively impact the already worrying situation in the region. We reiterate our position that concerns about UNRWA should be addressed and recommendations regarding UNRWA from the Colonna Report, including on the issue of neutrality, need to be implemented, as the resolution refers to.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands regrets however that the resolution text makes no clear mention of the security threats faced by Israel. The reality is that more than one year after the heinious terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023 the safety of the Israeli people is still not guaranteed, hostages are not brought home, and the threat of Hamas in Gaza still exists. KNL reiterates its position that humanitarian aid delivery is too reliant on the implementing capacity of one organization. The Netherlands will continue to provide humanitarian assistance through various channels, and we support efforts to further diversify the humanitarian landscape in Gaza to better guarantee that humanitarian aid can reach those in need. We remain committed in our call for an immediate ceasefire in line with UNSC-resolution 2537 leading to the release of all hostages and drastic increase of humanitarian aid.
I thank you.