Greece known as for a balanced method that respects humanitarian rules, promotes diplomatic dialogue and seeks a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian battle, primarily based on mutual recognition and respect for worldwide legislation, in the course of the Safety Council Emergency Session convened on the request of Algeria following the Israeli assaults on hospitals in Gaza.
The Greek Everlasting Consultant, ambassador E. Sekeris highlighted “the deep distress skilled by the inhabitants of Gaza over the previous 14 months because of the ongoing battle and underlined that the scenario, which incorporates assaults on hospitals and the collapse of well being providers, has introduced the well being care system to the brink of full collapse” and expressed Greece's “intense concern in regards to the continuation of the battle”, underlining “the necessity to finish the humanitarian disaster and safety of civilians”.
Greece, mentioned Mr. Sekeris, acknowledged Israel's proper to self-defense, given the numerous losses, such because the 1,200 useless civilians and 100 hostages who stay in captivity within the final 12 months. Nevertheless, he emphasised that “all actions should be guided by worldwide and humanitarian legislation,” noting that “in keeping with worldwide legislation hospitals shouldn’t be used for army functions or focused underneath obscure expenses.”
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“The assaults that triggered the deaths of sufferers, medical employees and humanitarian staff, stating that these are critical violations of Worldwide Humanitarian Regulation and Human Rights Regulation,” mentioned Mr. Sekeris.
Greece known as for the opening of crossings for the unhindered distribution of humanitarian support and for making certain that shelters stay protected havens and don’t flip into “dying traps” for these pressured to flee their houses.
“UNRWA's operations stay very important to the civilian inhabitants,” mentioned Mr. Sekeris.
The Greek Everlasting Consultant underlined the necessity for diplomacy and dialogue and referred to the devastating assaults of seven October 2023 as a painful reminder of the human value of the battle and known as for “an instantaneous ceasefire, the unconditional launch of hostages and the unhindered distribution of humanitarian support on a big scale”. .
“Army strain alone just isn’t sufficient to defeat terrorism and extremist ideologies,” mentioned Mr. Sekeris.
Mr. Sekeris reiterated Greece's assist for the two-state resolution, in keeping with the related resolutions of the Safety Council, “as the one viable resolution for lasting peace” and underlined the necessity to respect Israel's proper to exist in safety whereas making certain the Palestinian self-determination by way of a political horizon.
“The one long-term resolution for the area is to revitalize the political course of to pave the best way for a political horizon of a two-state resolution, in accordance with the related Safety Council decision, whereas recognizing Israel's proper to exist in peace and safety,” mentioned Mr. Sekeris.
Concluding his speech, Mr. Sekeris emphasised that “the pursuit of peace is a valuable 'present' that the worldwide group should attempt to supply”.
Throughout the Emergency Session of the Safety Council, the UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, introduced the scenario in Gaza as an evolving humanitarian catastrophe with a world impression. His report documented critical violations of worldwide legislation in the course of the conflicts, highlighting the devastating penalties on well being infrastructure.
The report paperwork steady assaults on hospitals from October 2023 to June 2024, with airstrikes, floor raids, evacuations of sufferers and employees, and arrests, rendering hospitals inoperable.
Mr. Turk highlighted the extreme lack of well being care and the rapid penalties for the sick and injured, saying many ladies gave delivery with out assist, leading to elevated neonatal deaths.
As he reported, “over 1,050 docs and nurses have been killed in Gaza, with at the very least 136 assaults on 27 hospitals and 12 different well being amenities.”
Mr. Turk mentioned that though Israel has claimed that some hospitals, resembling Kamal Adwan, had been used for army functions by Hamas, these claims haven’t been sufficiently substantiated.
After the completion of Israel's army operation within the north, Mr. Turk mentioned Mr. Turks, the areas “have been virtually utterly emptied of Palestinians, with many households displaced and left with out protected havens”.
The UN Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights emphasised that “using heavy weapons towards hospitals is opposite to the precept of distinction between army targets and civilians and that such actions could represent warfare crimes.”
Mr. Turk instantly demanded an unbiased investigation into the assaults on well being amenities, opening of channels for humanitarian support, unconditional launch of all hostages and an finish to arbitrary detentions and an finish to the Israeli presence within the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with the related UN resolutions.
Mr. Turk concluded that “restoring the well being care system should be a precedence in any future reconstruction effort, whereas underscoring the necessity for accountability and the last word safety of civilians.”
Supply: KYPE
