Resolution 2555 (2020)
Adopted by the Security Council on 18 December 2020
The Security Council,
Noting with concern that the situation in the Middle East is tense and is likely
to remain so, unless and until a comprehensive settlement covering all aspects of the
Middle East problem can be reached,
Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the United Nations
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) of 25 September 2020 ( S/2020/945) and
2 December 2020 (S/2020/1159), and also reaffirming its resolution 1308 (2000) of
17 July 2000,
Stressing that both parties must abide by the terms of the 1974 Disengagement
of Forces Agreement between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic and scrupulously
observe the ceasefire,
Expressing concern that the ongoing military activities conducted by any actor
in the area of separation continue to have the potential to escalate tensions between
Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, jeopardize the ceasefire betw een the two
countries, and pose a risk to the local civilian population and United Nations
personnel on the ground,
Expressing its appreciation in this regard to UNDOF’s liaison efforts to prevent
any escalation of the situation across the ceasefire line ,
Expressing alarm that violence in the Syrian Arab Republic risks a serious
conflagration of the conflict in the region,
Expressing concern at all violations of the Disengagement of Forces Agreement,
Noting the Secretary-General’s latest report on the situation in the area of
operations of UNDOF, including findings about weapons fire across the ceasefire line
as well as ongoing military activity on the Bravo side of the area of separation, and
in this regard underscoring that there should be no milit ary forces, military
equipment, or personnel in the area of separation other than those of UNDOF,
Calling upon all parties to the Syrian domestic conflict to cease military actions
throughout the country, including in the UNDOF area of operations, and to respect
international humanitarian law,
Noting the significant threat to the UN personnel in the UNDOF area of
operation from unexploded ordnance, explosive remnants of war and mines, and emphasizing in this regard the need for demining and clearance op erations in strict
compliance with the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement,
Reaffirming its readiness to consider listing individuals, groups, undertakings,
and entities providing support to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also
known as Da’esh) or to the Al-Nusra Front (also known as Jabhat Fateh al -Sham or
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham), including those who are financing, arming, planning, or
recruiting for ISIL or the Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups,
undertakings, and entities associated with ISIL and Al -Qaida as listed on the ISIL
(Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List, including those participating in or otherwise
supporting attacks against UNDOF peacekeepers,
Recognizing the necessity of efforts to flexibly adjust UNDOF’s posture to
minimize the security risk to UNDOF personnel as UNDOF continues to implement
its mandate, while emphasizing that the ultimate goal is for the peacekeepers to return
to UNDOF’s area of operations as soon as practicable,
Emphasizing the importance of Security Council and troop -contributing
countries having access to reports and informa tion related to UNDOF’s redeployment
configuration, and reinforcing that such information assists the Security Council with
evaluating, mandating, and reviewing UNDOF and with effective consultation with
troop-contributing countries,
Underscoring the need for UNDOF to have at its disposal all necessary means
and resources to carry out its mandate safely and securely, including technology and
equipment to enhance its observation of the area of separation and the ceasefire line,
and to improve force protection, as appropriate, and recalling that the theft of United
Nations weapons and ammunition, vehicles and other assets, and the looting and
destruction of United Nations facilities, are unacceptable,
Expressing its profound appreciation to UNDOF’s militar y and civilian
personnel, including those from Observer Group Golan, for their service in an
ongoing, challenging operating environment, underscoring the important
contribution UNDOF’s continued presence makes to peace and security in the Middle
East, welcoming steps taken to enhance the safety and security of UNDOF, including
Observer Group Golan, personnel, and stressing the need for continued vigilance to
ensure the safety and security of UNDOF and Observer Group Golan personnel,
Strongly condemning incidents threatening the safety and security of United
Nations personnel,
Expressing its appreciation to UNDOF, including Observer Group Golan, for
re-establishing its presence at Camp Faouar and for further progress towards
expanding its presence in its area of operations through patrols and rehabilitation of
positions on the Bravo side,
Taking note of the Secretary-General’s plan for UNDOF to return to the Bravo
side based on a continuous assessment of security in the area of separation and its
surroundings, and continued discussion and coordination with the parties,
Recalls that UNDOF’s deployment and the 1974 Disengagement of Forces
Agreement are steps toward a just and durable peace on the basis of Security Council
Resolution 338 (1973),
Recalling resolution 2378 (2017) and its request of the Secretary-General to
ensure that data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including
peacekeeping performance data, is used to improve analytics and the evaluation of
mission operations, based on clear and well i dentified benchmarks, and further
recalling resolution 2436 (2018) and its request of the Secretary-General to ensure
that decisions to recognize and incentivize outstanding performance and decisions regarding deployment, remediation, training, withholding of financial
reimbursement, and repatriation of uniformed or dismissal of civilian personnel, are
predicated on objective performance data,
Recalling resolution 2242 (2015) and its aspiration to increase the number of
women in military and police contingents of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
1. Calls upon the parties concerned to implement immediately its resolution
338 (1973) of 22 October 1973;
2. Stresses the obligation on both parties to scrupulously and fully respect
the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement, calls on the parties to
exercise maximum restraint and prevent any breaches of the ceasefire and the area of
separation, encourages the parties to take full advantage of UNDOF’s liaison function
regularly to address issues of mutual concern, as appropriate, and to maintain their
liaison with UNDOF to prevent any escalation of the situation across the ceasefire
line, as well as to support the enhancement of the UNDOF liaison function, and
underscores that there should be no military activity of any kind in the area of
separation, including military operations b y the Syrian Arab Armed Forces;
3. Underlines that UNDOF remains an impartial entity and stresses the
importance to halt all activities that endanger United Nations peacekeepers on the
ground and to accord the United Nations personnel on the ground the f reedom to carry
out their mandate safely and securely;
4. Expresses full support for Major General Ishwar Hamal as Head of
Mission and Force Commander;
5. Calls on all groups other than UNDOF to abandon all UNDOF positions,
and return the peacekeepers’ vehicles, weapons, and other equipment;
6. Calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNDOF, to
respect its privileges and immunities and to ensure its freedom of movement, as well
as the security of and unhindered and immediate acce ss for the United Nations
personnel carrying out their mandate, including the unimpeded delivery of UNDOF
equipment and the temporary use of alternative ports of entry and departure, as
required, to ensure safe and secure troop rotation and resupply activi ties, in
conformity with existing agreements, and urges prompt reporting by the Secretary -
General to the Security Council and troop -contributing countries of any actions that
impede UNDOF’s ability to fulfil its mandate;
7. Calls on the parties to provide all the necessary support to allow for the
full utilization of the Quneitra crossing by UNDOF in line with established
procedures and to lift COVID-19 related restrictions as soon as sanitary conditions
permit, to allow UNDOF to increase its operations o n the Bravo side to facilitate
effective and efficient mandate implementation;
8. Requests UNDOF, within existing capacities and resources, member
states, and relevant parties to take all appropriate steps to protect the safety, security
and health of all UNDOF personnel, in line with resolution 2518 (2020), taking into
account the impact of COVID-19 pandemic;
9. Welcomes UNDOF’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its presence and to
intensify its operations in the area of separation, including the mission’s intent to
resume inspections in the area of limitation on the Bravo side conditions permitting
per the Mission’s assessment, as well as the cooperation of the parties to facilitate this
return, together with continued efforts to plan for UNDOF’s expeditious return to the
area of separation, including the provision of adequate force protection, based on a
continuous assessment of security in the area;
10. Underscores the importance of progress in the deployment of appropriate
technology, including counter-improvised explosive device (IED) capabilities and a
sense and warn system, as well as in addressing civilian staffing needs, to ensure the
safety and security of UNDOF personnel and equipment, follow ing appropriate
consultations with the parties, and notes in this regard that the Secretary -General’s
proposal for such technologies has been delivered to the parties for approval;
11. Encourages the parties to the Disengagement Agreement to engage
constructively to facilitate necessary arrangements with UNDOF for the force’s return
to the area of separation, taking into account existing agreements;
12. Encourages the Department of Peace Operations, UNDOF, and the UN
Truce Supervision Organization to continue relevant discussions on recommendations
from the 2018 independent review to improve mission performance and
implementation of UNDOF’s mandate;
13. Welcomes the initiatives undertaken by the Secretary -General to
standardize a culture of performance in UN peacekeeping, recalls its request in
resolution 2378 (2017) and resolution 2436 (2018) that the Secretary-General ensure
that performance data related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations is used
to improve mission operations, including decisions such as those regarding
deployment, remediation, repatriation and incentives, and reaffirms its support for the
development of a comprehensive and integrated performance policy framework that
identifies clear standards of performance for evaluating all United Nations civilian
and uniformed personnel working in and supporting peacekeeping operations that
facilitates effective and full implementation of mandates, and includes comprehensive
and objective methodologies based on clear and well -defined benchmarks to ensure
accountability for underperformance and incentives and recognition for outstanding
performance, and calls on the United Nations to apply this framework to UNDOF as
described in resolution 2436 (2018), notes the efforts of the Secretary-General to
develop a comprehensive performance assessment system and requests the Secretary-
General and troop- and police-contributing countries to seek to increase the number
of women in UNDOF, as well as to ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation
of uniformed and civilian women at all levels, and in all positions, including senior
leadership positions, and to implement other relevant provisions of resolution 2538
(2020);
14. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take all necessary measures
to ensure full compliance of all personnel in UNDOF, civilian and uniformed,
including mission leadership and mission support personnel with the United Nations
zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council fully
informed through his reports to the Council about the Mission’s progress in this
regard, including by reporting on the start, agreed deadlines, and outcomes of 2272
reviews, stresses the need to prevent such exploitation and abuse and to improve how
these allegations are addressed in line with resolution 2272 (2016), and urges troopand
police-contributing countries to continue taking appropriate preventive action,
including vetting of all personnel, pre-deployment and in-mission awareness training,
and to take appropriate steps to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct
involving their personnel through timely investigation of allegations by troop- and
police-contributing countries, and UNDOF as appropriate, holding perpetrators to
account and repatriating units when there is credible evidence of widespread or
systemic sexual exploitation and abuse by those uni ts;
15. Decides to renew the mandate of UNDOF for a period of six months, that
is, until 30 June 2021, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that UNDOF has
the required capacity and resources to fulfil the mandate in a safe and secure way;
16. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 90 days on developments
in the situation and the measures taken to implement resolution 338 (1973).
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