Arab countries yesterday proposed a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict at the UN Security Council. Four previous attempts by the Security Council to agree on joint action have failed.
UN Security Council emergency meeting on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Photo: TOI
At the Security Council’s emergency special session on Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories on October 26, speaker after speaker supported the Arab resolution’s call for a ceasefire, with the exception of Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who told the 193-member world body: “A ceasefire means giving Hamas time to rearm itself, so they can slaughter us again.”
“Any call for a ceasefire is not an attempt at peace ,” he said, citing several statements by Hamas vowing to destroy Israel and the Jews. “It is an attempt to tie Israel’s hands, preventing us from eliminating a major threat to our citizens.”
The countries also called for the protection of Palestinian civilians facing continued Israeli bombardment in Gaza, and for the provision of food, water, medicine and fuel to the area. While Hamas attacks have killed some 1,400 Israelis, more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli retaliatory airstrikes, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry .
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also told Israel that it was not above international law, and demanded protection of civilians, hospitals, schools, homes and other infrastructure.
“Many of us believe that they are helping Israel by supporting its war,” Safadi said. “Instead of sending weapons to Israel, send delegations to open up an immediate and viable path to peace. This is how they can help Israel.”
Hoang Nam (according to AP)
Source
Comment (0)