Statement: 10th Emergency Special Session - Illegal Israeli Actions in Occupied Jerusalem
Statement by H.E. Ms. Anna Johannsdottir,
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations
Tenth Emergency Special Session (resumed) of the UN General Assembly
61st Plenary Meeting
Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied
Arab Territory, Items 5: draft resolution (A/ES-10/L.32, A/ES-10/L.34/Rev.1)
17 June, 2025
Mr. President,
As one of the main sponsors of the resolution passed by the Emergency Special Session last Thursday, allow me to outline why my Government felt impelled to support this initiative:
The scale of human suffering in Gaza is shocking, the more so because it is preventable. The war in Gaza must end. A ceasefire is needed now.
The blockade must stop. Unhindered humanitarian access must be restored now.
The seemingly endless cycle of violence must stop, and it must stop now.
Mr. President,
Over the past twenty months, Iceland has continuously condemned the horrendous terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. Terrorism is unacceptable and there can be no place for Hamas’s terrorists in the future of Palestine.
All hostages held captive by Hamas and other terrorist groups, and the remains of those killed in captivity, must be released, immediately and unconditionally, and this must be done in a dignified manner.
Mr. President,
If there is no end to the suffering, violence, death and destruction, there will be no future for either Israelis or Palestinians. The only way forward is already clear – there must be a move towards peace and a two-state solution. Two states, living side by side, in peace and security, and mutual recognition. There are simply no excuses for why this road has not been taken.
Iceland’s position has been clear. Iceland has enjoyed good bilateral, diplomatic relations with both Israel since its establishment, and with Palestine, ever since our recognition of Palestinian statehood over a decade ago. We see no contradiction in supporting the inherent rights and desires of both peoples to self-determination, living each in their own state side-by-side.
Last week, we saw the convening of this Emergency Special Session and the adoption of the aforementioned resolution as a fitting prelude to the High-level International Conference that was scheduled to take place here in New York today. We were preparing to actively participate in the conference at a ministerial level as we fundamentally believe that the international community must recommit to the two-state solution. There simply is no other credible, legal, realistic or morally acceptable solution.
Mr. President,
Without diverging too far from this meeting’s agenda, I must stress Iceland’s grave concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
These developments are deeply worrying and any form of a nuclear crisis in the Middle East could have devastating consequences for the entire world. We urge all actors to show restraint and to choose dialogue and de-escalation over confrontation. Diplomacy must prevail.
I thank you.