China calls on Israeli occupation to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza
China has called on the Israeli occupation to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza and to stop using such aid as a “bargaining chip,” as the already dire humanitarian situation there is rapidly deteriorating. “Humanitarian issues cannot be politicized and hunger cannot be used as a weapon”, Xinhua news agency quoted Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, as saying in a speech to the UN Security Council on the issue of food security in Gaza.
He stressed that this is the basic minimum of international humanitarian law.
“During the 13-month conflict in Gaza, civilians have repeatedly been deprived of their basic needs, and all basic humanitarian boundaries have been repeatedly violated,” Kong continued.
He said “The biggest challenge in expanding humanitarian assistance is not the lack of supplies, but the restrictions imposed by the occupation on the delivery of this assistance.”
The Chinese Diplomat called on the Israeli occupation to immediately open all crossings and remove obstacles preventing humanitarian assistance from reaching all parts of Gaza effectively.
“Israel is restricting the delivery of humanitarian assistance on the one hand, and accusing the United Nations and humanitarian agencies of inaction on the other hand, which is unacceptable,” he added, calling on Israel to fully cooperate with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
He pointed out that the recent completion of the WHO-supported polio vaccination campaign in Gaza has once again demonstrated that it is possible to expand humanitarian assistance.
Kong noted that the key to this issue is that Israel, as an occupying power, must meet its obligations under international law and should not be allowed to use humanitarian assistance as a bargaining chip.
Rawaa Ghanam