ASEAN countries and Australia call for an immediate stop of the Israeli aggression against Gaza

Melbourne, (ST) – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia today called for a rapid and permanent halt to the Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip. They described the humanitarian situation in Strip as “terrible.”

AP quoted a joint statement by the leaders of the ASEAN countries meeting in the Australian city of Melbourne as saying: We urge an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire.

The statement added: We condemn the attacks against civilians and civilian facilities that lead to a further deterioration in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including restricted access to food, water and other basic needs.

The statement called for the rapid, safe, sustainable and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need, including by increasing capacities at border crossings and by sea.

The group also expressed its support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The deteriorating situation in Gaza Strip was the subject of intense discussion during the meeting of the leaders of the ten ASEAN countries in Melbourne for a three-day summit with their Australian counterparts who expressed a supportive position for the Israeli entity, while countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia were able to impose this text in the final statement.

Raghda Sawas