During a speech at the United Nations Security Council, Sima Bahous, the Executive Director of UN Women, addressed the ongoing conflict in Palestine and the suffering of its people since the Israeli aggression on the Strip 45 days ago.
Bahous expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Zhang Jun for his remarkable efforts during China’s presidency to maintain focus on Gaza’s situation. She also thanked Ambassador Nusseibeh and Ambassador Frazier for calling for the meeting.
Finally, she thanked the Members of the Security Council for giving her the opportunity to brief them about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. UN Women’s Executive Director Sima Bahous shed light on Friday on the Palestinian cause and the suffering of the Palestinian people since nearly 45 days since the Israeli aggression on the Strip.
She said in a speech at the UN Security Council: “Allow me to thank you, Ambassador Zhang Jun, for your remarkable efforts during China’s presidency to maintain focus on the situation in Gaza. And thank you to Ambassador Nusseibeh and Ambassador Frazier for calling for this meeting, and to Members of the Security Council, for this opportunity to brief you about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
“I just returned last night from Egypt and Jordan. There I met with Government, civil society partners, humanitarian workers, and volunteers, all working tirelessly to respond to the suffering of the Gazan people and end the crisis. I commend their efforts to ensure humanitarian aid gets to those in need. I welcome the news that 50 hostages, all women and children, will be released in return for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children, and a much-needed humanitarian pause. I thank the Governments of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for facilitating this agreement.I hope that this is the beginning of a permanent truce and lasting relief for the people of Gaza and all the hostages held by Hamas.” Bahous said.
She added that during the witnessed six rounds of violence in Gaza in the past 15 years. Yet, the ferocity and destruction that the Gazan people are being forced to endure under our watch has reached an intensity we have never seen before.
“I have been consistent in my briefings to you, in reminding you that women and girls are paying the highest price of conflicts.
Before October 7th, 67 per cent of all civilians killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the past 15 years were men, and less than 14 per cent were women and girls. Since that date, that percentage has reversed. Not only is the number of civilians killed since October 7th twice that of the last 15 years combined, now 67 per cent of the more than 14,000 people killed in Gaza are estimated to be women and children.
That is two mothers killed every hour and seven women every two hours. We mourn them all.” Bahous said.
The UN official noted that the organization “mourn the more than 100 UN colleagues who have died in just a month of this crisis. They served the mandate of our United Nations and the principles we have sworn to uphold, and they paid the ultimate price for it.”
