UN officials call for ending the genocide in Gaza and removing obstacles facing the entry of aid

New York (ST) – The Permanent Representative of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, criticized the inability of the UN Security Council to prevent the Israeli occupation from committing genocide in Gaza Strip, stressing that the occupation’s inability is a crime.

During a session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday to review a recent provisional ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel, Mansour stated that the ICJ provisional ruling had “offered a resounding rebuke” to those who claimed that the case of genocide against Israel was meritless and baseless.

“So far, the occupation has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians in Gaza, while the Security Council is discussing the matter, and the Council is unable to take a decision to stop these atrocities, which are the worst humanitarian disaster caused by the occupation in contemporary history”, he added.

Mansour indicated that the ICJ and the Security Council called on the Israeli occupation to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, but it continues its siege of the Strip and prevents aid.

“It is crystal clear, that the provisional measures adopted by the Court are binding, and Israel must comply with them,” he said, indicating that the Israeli aggression on Gaza led to the killing of 150 UN employees with the aim of removing any obstacle that hinders the implementation of its plans to destroy the Palestinian people.

For his part, Amar Bendjama, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Algeria, said the recent ICJ decision “reaffirms” that the time of impunity has come to an end.

“The UN and the international community have committed to ensure that no criminal escapes sanction and accountability,” he said, stating that Israel should not be an exception to this rule.

South African Ambassador Mathu Joyini said the events of the past few months in Gaza have illustrated that Israel is acting contrary to its international law obligations, including those in terms of the Genocide Convention. The ICJ’s recent order on South Africa’s request for provisional measures in its case against Israel determined that its actions are “plausibly genocidal”.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said US-led funding cuts to UNRWA are taking place against a “tragic humanitarian backdrop.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths stated that each day that passes only of course deepens the misery and suffering of people in Gaza.

Urgent steps must be taken to ensure rapid unimpeded access, he said, calling for improved security assurances, establishing a predictable flow of supplies and for access to civilians in need across the enclave.

Najla Khoury