State Secretary Štiglic expressed concern about the current developments in the Middle East and condemned the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. "Slovenia supports Israel's right to self-defence, which, however, must be in accordance with international law and follow the principle of proportionality," emphasised State Secretary Štiglic during the debate.

She pointed to the impossible humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for "a humanitarian ceasefire or pause, which is urgently needed to deliver and distribute relief supplies quickly, sustainably and safely to those in need." She warned of a human catastrophe in Gaza given the chronic lack of basic goods and access to critical infrastructure. The State Secretary also stressed that Slovenia would continue to support the indispensable work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), including through the recent increase in funding for the Agency.

State Secretary Štiglic expressed Slovenia's full support for the efforts of the United Nations, led by Secretary-General Guterres, to protect civilians and prevent further conflict in the region. Regional actors also have an important role to play in this regard, and Slovenia calls on them to cooperate and engage in constructive dialogue in order to avoid further spill-over of the crisis into the region. "In this context, we welcome the Cairo Peace Summit," said State Secretary Štiglic in the Security Council Open Debate.

She also drew attention to the medical and humanitarian personnel on the ground, who pay the highest price in conflicts in order to preserve human dignity. Slovenia joined calls for an independent investigation into the attack on the Al Ahli hospital.

Finally, the State Secretary called for "a revival of the Middle East peace process with the aim of achieving a lasting two-state solution". In this context, she highlighted the recent Peace Day Effort initiative, which aims to ensure peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. She recalled that the Security Council has a special responsibility to address the situation.