Pakistan Mission to United Nations
Current situation in Gaza
Statement by Ambassador Farukh Amil, Acting Permanent Representative of
Pakistan in the Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East, including
the Palestinian Question — 7 January 2009
Mr. President,
- I take the floor to express our grave concern over the prevailing situation
in the Gaza Strip and to reiterate our solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Pakistan shares their pain and suffering in these exceptionally trying
circumstances.
- The besieged populations of the Gaza, who were originally dispossessed and
driven from their own homes by the Israeli occupation, are being tormented once
again, by a brutal military campaign by the occupying power. For 12 days now,
the international community has witnessed, in shock and horror, as unimaginable
human tragedy and grave humanitarian crisis have unfolded in the Gaza, resulting
from the callous, excessive and indiscriminate use of force by Israel. Killing
of any civilian on either side is unacceptable. We have called for an end to the
firing of rockets on Israel. These actions do not serve the Palestinian cause in
any way. However, attempts to justify the overwhelming force and massively
disproportionate response by Israel to these rockets are misplaced. Such
attempts seem to try to mask the origins of the conflict, the root cause i.e.
the occupation, human rights violations and collective punishment of the
Palestinian people, and the
obvious frustration of an oppressed and deprived population languishing under
stranglehold and blockades of the occupying power.
- The colossal scale of death and destruction caused by this campaign of
terror, especially targeted against civilians and infrastructure in the Gaza,
has been widely reported and documented by international media, human rights and
humanitarian organizations, and the United Nations. Nothing has been spared –
homes, civilian facilities, places of worship, civilian shelters, even UN
schools – indeed this is precision targeting and so-called smart bombing.
Among hundreds martyred and thousands injured, scores are women and children.
These actions cannot be justified under any pretext whatsoever. They are in
flagrant violation of international law and of the Fourth Geneva Convention
Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. There should be
accountability for these violations.
- Together with the entire international community, the Government and the
people of Pakistan have strongly condemned this aggression and spilling of
innocent blood in the Gaza. We have appealed for cessation of hostilities and
violence, and support all efforts to that end. We believe that use of force not
only contravenes international principles and norms, it is also
counter-productive, as past experience has proved. The failure to stop the
aggression will only perpetuate the cycle of violence and foment desperation,
anger and extremism. We take note of the reprieve in the attacks announced
today. We sincerely hope that it becomes permanent. Resumption of attacks with
the resultant civilian casualties is not acceptable.
- On a larger perspective, we are seriously concerned that the deteriorating
situation in the Gaza as a result of Israeli attacks would lead to escalation of
tensions in the region and undermine the efforts for promoting a peaceful, just
and durable settlement of the question of Palestine, which is the key to
achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
- Mr. President, the crisis in Gaza required an urgent, collective and
effective response from the international community. It cannot wait while
innocent people continue to be killed. In accordance with its primary
responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the
Security Council was expected to galvanize and lead such a response. Yet the
Council has once again failed to act. To be true, it has not been allowed to
act. It has failed to recognize the international condemnation of the situation
in the Gaza. It has been unable to capitalize on the worldwide backing for an
immediate ceasefire, and to support the numerous ongoing efforts by regional and
international partners to secure peace. It has failed to reciprocate the sincere
and constructive approach and proposals by the Arab group, whose high level
delegation is currently with us. Under the circumstances, the silence and
inaction of the Council are inexplicable, and a
further blow to its already questioned credibility and legitimacy - a point
that was repeatedly raised by many delegations in the debate yesterday.
- Ironically, this foot-dragging by the Security Council comes in the wake of
its own, much touted resolution 1850 adopted most recently on 16 December 2008.
While noting the shortcomings of that resolution, we had nevertheless hoped that
serious and sincere efforts would be undertaken to realize the underlying
commitment for peace embodied in that resolution. We believe, the Council must
stand firmly behind its call on parties to fulfill their obligations and to
refrain from any steps that could undermine confidence or prejudice the outcome
of negotiations. The Council must stop the Israeli aggression in order to
contribute to an atmosphere conducive to peace and negotiations.
-
We support the calls for the Council to adopt, without further delay, a
resolution which should:
- Compel Israel to immediately stop its aggression
- Demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire and its full respect by both
parties
- Provide for complete lifting of the siege of Gaza and opening of the
border crossings
- Ensure unhindered and safe access and conditions for humanitarian work
- Establish mechanism to ensure protection of civilian population and
monitoring of ceasefire
- Promote intra-Palestinian unity and reconciliation
-
In that regard, we support the draft resolution submitted by Libya on behalf
of the Arab group, and which is also consistent with the Final Communique of the
Extraordinary Meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC at the level of
Foreign Ministers held in Jeddah on 3 January. I would also like to note that in
coordination with the Arab Group, the African Group and the NAM, the OIC Group
in Geneva has requested for a Special Session of the Human Rights Council on 9
January to address the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression on the occupied Gaza
strip.
-
Together with these steps, the international community must rededicate its
attention and redouble its efforts towards the larger objective of a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and the resolution of the
Palestinian question based on international law and full implementation of
relevant United Nations resolutions and agreements and obligations of the
parties and the framework provided by the Madrid terms of reference, the road
map and the Arab Peace Initiative. I would like to conclude by reiterating
Pakistan's steadfast and complete support for the achievement of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination and
sovereignty in their independent and viable State of Palestine, on the basis of
the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.. Thank you.