Pakistan calls for mechanism to protect Palestinians

UNITED NATIONS:

Pakistan, on behalf of a group of 17 countries, called on the United Nations to “urgently” establish a mechanism to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians subjected to relentless shelling in Gaza by the Israeli military and to step up efforts to promote a peaceful solution to the conflict in the Middle East.

“The people of Gaza are desperately looking to the UN to save them from further death and destruction being inflicted on them with impunity,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the UN General Assembly at an informal meeting held to discuss the dire situation in the besieged enclave.

The Pakistani envoy did not specify the form of the proposed mechanism, which, he said, would be established in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

“Obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in particular with regard to the protection of civilians and civilian objects, as well as the protection of humanitarian personnel, must be fully respected.”

The group of countries he spoke about are: Algeria, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The Pakistani envoy told the 193-member assembly that more than 11,000 Palestinians had died, two-thirds of them women and children. Another 27,000 have been injured, with around 2,700, including 1,500 children, reported missing, dead or trapped under the rubble.

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“More than 1.6 million Gazans have been displaced and over 41,000 homes have been destroyed. More than half of the hospitals in Gaza are not functioning due to lack of fuel, damage, attacks and insecurity. Essential supplies of food, fuel and medicine have been cut off. Schools and places of worship are indiscriminately targeted by Israeli strikes. No place is safe: women, children and the elderly, as well as other civilians with specific vulnerabilities, bear the brunt of the attack by the occupying power.”

He paid tribute to the 102 UNRWA staff lost in Gaza, the highest number of UN aid workers killed in a conflict in the organization’s history.

“The whole world expects member states to take decisive action to end the conflict,” he said.

While condemning all atrocities against the Palestinian people, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution of October 27, Ambassador Akram, speaking on behalf of the 17 countries, called for a lasting “humanitarian ceasefire” leading to a cessation of hostilities. the immediate provision of essential goods and services to civilians throughout the Gaza Strip, including, but not limited to, water, food, medical supplies, fuel and electricity; the establishment of humanitarian corridors to facilitate the delivery of aid; and the establishment of a mechanism for protection of citizens.

“We categorically reject and condemn any attempt to forcibly displace the Palestinian civilian population and the illegal evacuations and relocations within Gaza and consider it a serious violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and its 1977 Protocol,” the ambassador said. “We emphasize the need for the immediate return of displaced Palestinians to their homeland.”