GAZA WILL HAUNT THE WORLD UN SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY CONDEMN RAFAH INVASION
May 28, 2024SPECIAL REPORT FROM INSIDE THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
As the onslaught of Rafah rages, despite global condemnation, I had the privilege of witnessing the urgently convened, special session of the United Nations Security Council, and observe, first hand, the grave accusations, warnings and condemnation levelled against the State of Israel for its unbridled violation of international law and bloodthirsty bombardment of the last remaining safe zone in the Gaza Strip.
The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, Dr Riyad Mansour, opened his address with a harrowing point that caused all in the room to hold their breath and nod in agreement.
“Gaza will haunt the conscience of the world long after this genocide stops and stop it must and it must now. We have spoken too many times and our people are still being murdered every single day,” Dr Mansour stated.
If it wasn’t clear prior to this meeting, there was no room for any doubt when it concluded, four hours later, of just how wide the divide between the Zionist apartheid state and the rest of the world was. Even the United States openly voiced its disapproval of its closest ally and its behaviour and planned invasion and destruction of Rafah.
But it was the smaller nations that delivered the most damaging condemnation of Israel, with Algeria stating: “What we are witnessing in Gaza is not a war. It’s a genocide. A barbaric behaviour born out of someone feeling too totally immune to face the consequences.”
CHINA: “Israel has chosen to turn a deaf ear.”
RUSSIA: ““The Security Council of the United Nations has become paralyzed.”
SWITZERLAND: “this tragedy has gone on far too long…”
SOUTH KOREA: “This vicious cycle must end…”
EGYPT: “Israel, as the occupying power, is bound by all Security Council resolutions and ICJ decisions”
SLOVENIA: “We are at risk of building an angry generation…” whose dreams the Representative explained “are being replaced by nightmares of violence and loss.”
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English Script:
Daizy: “Gaza will haunt the conscience of the world long after this genocide stops.” These were the chilling words of the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, Dr Riyad Mansour, addressing the UN Security Council this week when it met to urgently discuss the impending humanitarian catastrophe facing more than 1.4 million civilians trapped in Rafah, unable to escape the relentless air land and sea attacks by Israeli Defence Forces, despite global condemnation warning Israel against such action. The submissions by all permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council, including the special representative of the United Nations, Mr Tor Wennesland revealed the breadth of the divide between Israel and virtually the rest of the world, showing just how isolated the Zionist state has become on the global arena. Here are the highlights of the meeting.
Edem Wosornu: To be frank we are running out of words to describe what is happening in Gaza. We have described it as a catastrophe. A Nightmare. As Hell on Earth, it is all of these and worse. The toll of death, injury, destruction in Gaza is utterly unconscionable.
Tor Wennesland: I fear for the worst for the beleaguered and terrified civilians in Rafah, for the hostages held in unimaginable conditions for more than 225 days, and for an overstretched humanitarian operation that remains on the brink inside the Strip.
Dr. Riyad Mansour: Gaza will haunt the conscience of the world long after this genocide stops and it must stops now. We have spoken too many times, and our people are still being murdered every single day. Mr. President with what audacity does Israel kill maim forcibly displace, bitterly arrest, torture, starve an entire civilian population?
Nassim Gaouaoui: What we are witnessing in Gaza is not a war. It’s a genocide. A barbaric behaviour born out of someone feeling too totally immune to face the consequences. Given the prevailing climate of impunity, it is high time for the international community, for this very security council to halt the hostility and establish an international inquiry mission to establish facts and ensure accountability. The children of Gaza, the women of Gaza, the people of Gaza deserve justice and the support of the international community. Inactions mean abandoning them. Abandoning them means abdicating our humanity.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett: We must end the impunity with which these acts against the Palestinian people are being committed. The Council cannot afford to allow justice to be outsourced and must act decisively to ensure that it is served.
Vandi Chidi Minah: We cannot be paralyzed witnesses to the calamitous deaths, destruction and suffering.
Nathalie Broadhurst: France firmly opposes an Israeli offensive on Rafah which will further aggravate an already catastrophic situation in Gaza and heightened risk of escalation.
James Kariuki: We have seen appalling attacks on aid convoys and UN officers by Israeli extremists and the tragic deaths of UN and other humanitarian personnel in Gaza. We condemn all attacks on aid workers.
Robert Wood: United States commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. At the same time, we also do not support and will not support an Israeli reoccupation of Gaza and we have long maintained our objection to any large-scale military operation in Rafah that risks mass civilian harm. We condemn the recent attacks on humanitarian convoys traversing the West Bank. Israel is responsible for the security of these convoys.
Fu Cong: Despite repeated calls from the international community for an immediate ceasefire and clear demands as expressed in Security Council resolutions, Israel has chosen to turn a deaf ear.
Vasily Alekseyevich Nebenzya: The Security Council of the United Nations has become paralyzed.
Shino Mitsuko: Japan reiterates its opposition to the Israeli military ground operation in Rafah that involves heavy civilian casualties.
Vanessa Frazier: The denial of food, fuel, medicine and life-saving essentials to a besieged population has been ongoing since the beginning of this war and is completely unconscionable.
Joonkook Hwang: This vicious cycle must end at the earliest possible juncture.
Dr. Riyad Mansour: Israel is asking you to destroy the international based order with your own hands so it can continue killing our people and annexing our land in full impunity.
Pascale Baeriswyl: President this tragedy has gone on far too long. Switzerland calls for the implementation without further delay, of the resolutions of this council, including resolutions 2334, 2712, 2720 and above all as well 2728 which are binding and demand respect for international law, including international humanitarian human rights law. Switzerland is concerned about possible war crimes and recalls the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Osama Mahmoud Abdel Khalek Mahmoud: Israel as the occupying power is bound by all Security Council resolutions and ICJ decisions that have been issued since the beginning of the crisis it is bound by international law, international humanitarian law and the rules of war.
José Javier De La Gasca LopezDomínguez: My country reiterates its conviction that the only way to end this conflict is through a peaceful negotiated definitive and just solution for all parties with the existence of two States: Palestine and Israel upon the basis of 1967 borders and relevant resolutions.
Samuel Zbogar: Colleagues, we wonder what is the future of this conflict. Young voices across the region and beyond are enraged and full of frustration. We are at risk of building an angry generation that will result in a loss of moderate voices in the region. Their dreams are being replaced by nightmares of violence and loss.
Dr. Riyad Mansour: I urge you to use every tool at your disposal and you have many of them, to stop the massacres as Security Council and as states. A whole nation is fighting for its survival before your very eyes. The future of our region, the future of our world, the future of this international law-based order will depend on what you do next.
