AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani has said that Gaza is experiencing a challenging time, where people are facing unabated war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Israeli regime, adding that sympathy is no longer enough in such a dire situation.
The people of Gaza, who continue to suffer from Israel’s vicious war, expect concrete support from the UN, the Iranian envoy said on Wednesday as he addressed the Informal Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Humanitarian Situation in the Gaza Strip,
The following is the full text of Iravani’s speech at the meeting of the 78th Session of the UNGA in New York City.
Mr. President, let me begin by thanking you for convening this meeting. I would also like to thank all the briefers for their informative remarks.
Gaza is experiencing a challenging time and the people of Gaza facing unabated war crimes, and crimes against humanity by the Israeli regime. The people of Gaza expect concrete support from the United Nations. Their land is still under occupation and they continue to suffer from Israel's vicious war despite worldwide calls for a ceasefire, notably voiced in resolutions adopted by the General Assembly urging an end to hostilities and in appeals from the Security Council for humanitarian pauses. In such a dire situation, sympathy is no longer enough. There is generally an expectation that the content of the Security Council resolution should have included the main elements of the resolution of the General Assembly that was adopted with a majority of 121 votes, especially its key point that there is a most urgent need for an immediate, sustainable and durable truce for civilians.
Regrettably, some members of the Security Council who voted in favor of the General Assembly resolution refused to agree to the amendment that included the demand for a truce in the UNSC resolution to avoid the UNSC resolution being vetoed. Consequently, the adopted resolution lacks an adequate provision for ending the war, which is essential for ceasing Israel's atrocities in Gaza against innocent civilians.
What has happened since the adoption of this resolution? Has the number of attacks on innocent people decreased? Has Gaza's population received sufficient humanitarian assistance? The answer is NO. Instead, the representative of the occupying regime said in the same meeting that they would do whatever they wish. This regime has directly attacked three UNRWA schools housing thousands of Palestinian displaced families only since the first part of this meeting held on Friday. All this because there is a fundamental problem and missing gap in the resolution that it lacks an executive guarantee and is not a legally binding resolution.
Accordingly, we believe that the General Assembly must play a leading role based on the powers and authority granted to it by the Charter of the United Nations. During the last two years, the General Assembly's capacity has been used to address issues related to peace and security. Now, the international community expects the same. To assist the Palestinian people in the current catastrophic situation, we believe the same potential must be utilized.
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