STATEMENT BY PATRICK GAUCHAT, SPECIAL REREPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING on UNTSO
New York
19/12/2023
I am grateful for the opportunity to address the Security Council to share the perspective of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) on the situation in the Middle East.
The events of Saturday, 7 October surprised, shocked and appalled everyone, and the conflict they triggered continues to reverberate in the region. Since UNTSO does not have a presence in or around Gaza or southern Israel, UNTSO personnel were not in a position to directly observe the events on 7 October or the developments since. But those events have assuredly affected our operations and regional dynamics.
The history of UNTSO goes back 75 years. On 29 May 1948, the Council called for a cessation of hostilities in Palestine, under resolution 50 (1948). That truce was to be supervised by a United Nations mediator, assisted by a group of military observers, that would become known as the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, the first peacekeeping mission in the history of the United Nations.
In 1949, with the signing of the four armistice agreements — one between Israel and each of its Arab neighbours, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic — the Council declared the role of the mediator complete and transferred the role of supervising the implementation of the armistice agreements to the Chief of Staff of UNTSO. In addition, UNTSO was tasked with assisting the parties in their application and observance, until the peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine. That two-part mandate remains the basis for UNTSO’s presence to this day and is accomplished through, first, deploying expert military observers to maintain unconditional ceasefires and, secondly, maintaining a strong regional liaison with host nations.
At the operational level, from 8 October, many ceasefire violations have occurred across the Blue Line, between Israel and Lebanon, and on the Golan between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic. UNTSO’s military observers, who constitute Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) and Observer Group Golan (OGG), under the operational control of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, respectively, took appropriate and adapted security measures. They continue to fulfil the critical role of ensuring accurate military reporting, observation, investigations of ceasefire violations and inspections on the Golan. They also report to enable liaison with the parties, including for the purpose of de-escalating tensions.
During the past few weeks, the adaptations mainly involved logistics, security and the rotation and deployment of personnel. Since 8 October, the military crossing points that UNTSO uses between Israel and Lebanon, as well as between the Israeli occupied Golan and the Syrian-controlled Golan, have been closed. Similarly, the access points to the closed observation posts, located just beyond the Israel Defense Forces technical fence on the Golan, were sealed, impeding rotations and logistical support. Through constructive dialogue with the parties, UNTSO was able to put in place the minimum required support and security for the deployed military observers.
In southern Lebanon, where a clear escalatory pattern has been observed, UNTSO military observers in OGL still conduct Blue Line patrols every day, taking calculated risks. As part of the wider work conducted by UNIFIL, that international presence encourages restraint by the parties in their kinetic activities. Our female military observers are key to connecting with local women and children across the area where UNTSO is deployed, given our exemplary percentage of female officers, which is 22 per cent in the mission. The everyday liaison functions of UNTSO’s military observers include engaging with the local population, local leaders and military commanders. In that regard, I want to add that their presence during the current tensions in southern Lebanon is reassuring for the local population.
In parallel with the work of the military observers on the ceasefire lines, UNTSO maintains liaison offices in Cairo, Beirut and Damascus, as well as in Jerusalem for Jordan and Israel. UNTSO’s regional liaison mandate allows the mission to analyse and address complex issues, especially those not covered by other missions operating in the region, whether they be peacekeeping or special political missions. It also allows us to be in direct contact with the five parties — which I want to stress is very good contact with all five parties — passing on messages and establishing tactical confidence-building measures. I have done that numerous times since 7 October. In each of the capitals of the five UNTSO host countries that I have visited, the authorities have shared their views on the regional situation, as well as on the ceasefires in which UNTSO is involved through OGL and OGG.
For instance, in the Blue Line area, officials of both Israel and Lebanon communicated to me their willingness to improve security and the implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). With regard to the Golan, both Israel and Syria mentioned to me their strong desire to keep the armistice in place. They also shared their concerns and expectations of the peacekeeping system. On that basis, I of course shared those messages with the parties and my relevant United Nations colleagues, as that contributes to the overall effort of the United Nations for peace in the region. During the exchanges, I systematically tried to diffuse potentially dangerous situations, clarify positions and assure my interlocutors that I would pass on their messages. That has always been well received by the parties.
In conclusion, UNTSO continues to carry out its regional mandate. The Council can rest assured that UNTSO is a vibrant mission of women and men — national and international, military and civilian — who remain true to the concept of an unarmed military observer mission operating with the consent of the five parties. As the regional situation evolves, we will continue to contribute towards the comprehensive, just and peaceful resolution of the situation in the Middle East, consistent with the mandates conferred upon us by the Council.