Angry and tired: Pro-Palestinian protesters during a national demonstration for Palestine and Lebanon in central London. — AFP
THE United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly last Wednesday in favour of a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all detainees. Not surprisingly, the United States voted against it, as it has done in the past.
The UNGA resolution would not have been legally binding and may not have deterred Israel from further action in the region, but it was still important as an expression of the international community’s desire for peace.
Ever since the latest round of the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted, Israeli forces have killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and injured more than 106,000 in Gaza, while survivors are struggling in the absence of basic supplies. Nobody with a conscience can turn a blind eye to Israel’s appalling disregard for civilian lives in Gaza and the selective application of international law and double standards.
The adoption of the UNGA resolution represents the just call of the international community. The world cannot go back to the law of the jungle. A ceasefire in Gaza is a prerequisite for saving lives and restoring peace; setting preconditions for a cease-fire is actually giving a green light to the continuation of the war. Gaza should not be made an exception when it comes to upholding the authority of international law and fulfilling international law obligations.
As the architect of Gaza’s disaster, Israel must fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, remove all obstacles to humanitarian access, ensure the unblocked distribution of humanitarian supplies throughout Gaza, and guarantee the safety of humanitarian agencies and personnel in Gaza.
While pushing for ceasefire in Gaza, the international community should also try to address the root causes behind the Palestine-Israel conflict, and promote the implementation of the two-state solution with the greatest sense of urgency, because that seems like the only way to achieve lasting peace in the region.
As a responsible country and promoter of peace between Palestine and Israel, China wants Palestine to become a full member of the UN and the international community should make greater efforts to formulate a timetable and road map for the implementation of the two-state solution.
The US can play a key role in resolving the Palestine-Israel conflict, but its partiality toward Israel is in the way. As one of the framers of the existing world order, the US should use its power responsibly to promote the settlement of international issues such as the Palestine-Israel issue. — China Daily/ANN
Ambassador Robert Wood, Alternate Representative of the US for Special Political Affairs in the UN. Not surprisingly, the United States voted against resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all detainees, yet again. This was the 49th time that the US used its veto power against the UN members' will. — AFP
