Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Chargé d ’Affaires ad interim
New York, New York
March 21, 2025
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Coordinator Sigrid Kaag, for your briefing.
As the United States has consistently said, the future of the Middle East must look different. Fresh thinking is needed, for a better tomorrow for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
The stated purpose of this meeting is to report on the implementation of Resolution 2334, the passage of which was a mistake and whose ongoing discussion is a distraction from the real threats to international peace and security.
Indeed, it is an impediment to this Council’s work to address them.
Hamas bears full responsibility for the ongoing war in Gaza, and for the resumption of hostilities. Every death would have been avoided had Hamas accepted the “bridge” proposal that the United States offered last Wednesday.
Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages captive, including five Americans. They must be returned to their families immediately.
President, Colleagues, no country would willingly allow terrorist groups to threaten its people – and Israel is no different. Israel has the right to defend itself from groups that wish to do it harm.
As it relates to the West Bank, the United States supports the efforts of the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinian Authority Security Forces to root out violent extremists in Jenin and Tulkarm.
We welcome the announcement by the Palestinian Authority that it will end the practice of offering cash payments to the families of those who carry out terrorist attacks, which for far too long has incentivized violence against Israeli civilians and set back the prospects of peace.
The time for half measures and false promises to end this abhorrent practice has passed.
Hamas has steadfastly refused all attempts to extend the ceasefire in recent weeks, including the “bridge” proposal that would have provided calm beyond Ramadan and Passover and allowed time to negotiate a framework for a permanent ceasefire.
President Trump has made clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately or there will be hell to pay. That is non-negotiable.
The pillars of America’s approach remain resolute: stand with Israel and stand for peace.
We recognize ongoing efforts by the IDF to prevent civilian harm.
It has been more than 17 months since Hamas started this horrific conflict, upending so many lives and causing such great suffering across the region.
The United States calls on the United Nations, in particularly Secretary-General Guterres, to join us in putting pressure on Hamas to end the bloodshed and put down its arms.
Calls for both sides to “respect the ceasefire” display a false equivalency that is counterproductive. They fail to acknowledge that Hamas is guilty of rejecting proposals to extend the ceasefire, and they ignore the reality that Hamas must disarm and play no role in the future of Gaza.
The United States offer condolences to the family of a UN staffer who was killed Wednesday in Gaza, and we welcome Israel’s investigation into the incident. We also note that far too long, Hamas has misused UN facilities – for far too long, and it is important for the UN to speak out about these repeated violations. We expect all parties to comply with international humanitarian law.
We recognize Egypt and Qatar’s interest in mediating negotiations and we look forward to continued discussions with Arab partners on the future of Gaza without Hamas.
Madam President, we need bold thinking to avoid making the same mistakes in the West Bank, Gaza, and further afield. In 2017, President Trump recognized the reality that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital, and several other countries did the same.
It is time for new thinking on Gaza, as well, so Gazans and the region may enjoy security and prosper.
But we must also acknowledge that the Middle East continues to suffer from violence and instability fueled by Iran, and the terrorist proxies it funds, such as Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis.
The weakening of terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hizballah provide the countries of the Middle East an opportunity to reshape their region in a way that affords all its people a better path forward.
Stronger ties between Israel and its neighbors, and an expansion of the Abraham Accords, offer an alternative to Iran’s malign influence and state-sponsorship of terror.
We cannot tolerate a nuclear weapons-capable Iran that funds the destruction and destabilizing terrorism plaguing the region and beyond, but the Islamic regime is capable of ending these conflicts.
Just as Hamas could end the war today, this moment, by releasing the hostages and laying down its arms, Iran could choose to join the community of nations by ending its support for terrorist proxy groups and providing the transparency on its nuclear program that the global community has consistently demanded.
The United States will do its part and is committed to working with our Arab partners and Israel, to create a brighter future for all of the region’s people.
I thank you.
Suggested for You
Screenshot 2025-03-20 at 2.46.31 PM