NEW YORK, Wednesday, January 9, 2023 (WAFA) – The immediate priority in Gaza must be saving civilian lives, said the President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, as Member States gathered to debate the use of the veto by the United States in the Security Council last month of a Russian amendment before the successful passing of Council resolution on Gaza in December 22.
The UNSC adopted resolution 2720 late last month, which called for safe, unhindered and expanded humanitarian access and conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities.
In April, the UN General Assembly decided to automatically meet within 10 days, if the veto is used in the Security Council by one of its five permanent members.
Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, Riyad Mansour, said at the UNGA meeting today that he was standing before the Assembly “representing a people being slaughtered, with families killed in their entirety, men and women shot in the streets, thousands abducted, tortured and humiliated, children killed, amputated, orphaned - scarred for life.”
He said “no people” should have to endure such violence and it must stop.
No one can understand that the Security Council is still being prevented from calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, he added, while 153 States in the General Assembly have called for just that, along with the UN Secretary-General, added the permanent Observer of the State of Palestine.
Israel’s assault is without precedent in modern history he said, “a war of atrocities”.
“How can you reconcile opposing the atrocities and vetoing a call to end the war that is leading to their commission?”, he asked.
"The State of Palestine has long supported a proposal from France and Mexico “for the suspension of the veto in the case of mass atrocities, when crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on a large scale are committed.”
He said the assault on Palestinians in Gaza, “demonstrates how vital this proposal is. Supporting an immediate ceasefire is the only moral, legitimate, and responsible position.”
During these last 90 days, 11 Palestinians have been killed every hour, including seven women and children, he told the Assembly, Mansour noted.
“This is not about Israeli security; this is about Palestine’s destruction. The interests and objectives of this extremist Israeli government are clear and incompatible with the interests and objectives of any country that supports international law and peace."
He stressed that security will never come through the death, destruction and dehumanization of Palestinians.
Palestine is here to stay, he declared: “Don’t call for peace and spread fire. If you want peace, start with a ceasefire. Now.”
T.R.
