Statement: The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
Statement by Mr. Agust Flygenring,
Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations
United Nations Security Council
10203rd Meeting: The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question
28 July 2026
Madam President,
Eight months ago, this Council adopted Resolution 2803, endorsing the twenty-point Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza and the role of the Board of Peace in its implementation.
Since then, some of the Plan’s key objectives have been achieved. All living hostages were released and the remains of those killed have been returned to their families. A ceasefire has been in effect, although an imperfect one, and humanitarian assistance resumed, with some improvements in the rate of delivery.
Nonetheless, the humanitarian situation remains critical and humanitarian access restricted for many essential items. Regrettably, Israel has continued to delay, obstruct and prevent the work of UN agencies, including UNRWA, and key international non-governmental organizations in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel, by its own account, has expanded its control of Gaza instead of gradually withdrawing in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Plan.
Madam President,
The full promise of resolution 2803 remains unrealized and we call for more progress towards the peace and relief it pledged for Palestinians in Gaza. More needs to be done to support the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) in carrying out its work and all efforts made for urgent deployment of the vetted Palestinian police and the International Stabilization Force, in line with Resolution 2803.
We reiterate that Hamas has no role in the future of Palestine and that militant factions in Gaza must be decommissioned. Their defiance must neither be tolerated nor be permitted to prevent the implementation of the peace plan.
Iceland is gravely concerned by the situation in the West Bank, which continues to deteriorate, with ongoing settlement expansion in violation of international law. There have been serious incidents of violence in recent weeks, as we heard from Mr. Alakbarov’s briefing. Regrettably, settler violence and crimes persist with impunity and are fuelled and enabled by inflammatory rhetoric and permissive government policy.
While it may almost seem futile in the current dire circumstances, to call for a Two-State Solution – where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and mutual recognition – it remains the only viable path to sustainable peace and security.
Madam President,
Finally, we call for renewed efforts for peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region. The ongoing obstruction of lawful transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable and must stop. It presents not only a direct threat to the region but to world energy markets and global food security.
All States are under an obligation to uphold and respect the fundamental freedom of navigation, including the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation, as well as other freedoms and principles laid down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
I thank you.