New York, 9 December 2023 (WAI): The Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) in New York, Ambassador Munir Akram, stated on social media that the UN Security Council has once again let the Palestinian people down, particularly in Gaza. Responding to a draft resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the continuing Gaza crisis, the United States rejected the resolution, claiming it was unrealistic and unbalanced.
The dire circumstances in Gaza were the topic of a Friday emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. By UN Charter Article 99, the meeting was called by the Secretary General’s letter to the President of the Security Council.
More than 90 UN members supported the resolution the United Arab Emirates had proposed, which called for an urgent humanitarian truce in Gaza.
Thirteen members supported the resolution, the United States abstained from the vote, and the United Kingdom voted against it. The resolution on the ceasefire was not passed due to the veto from the US.
The world community, as stated by Ambassador Akram, is overwhelmingly in favor of the need for an urgent and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Gaza is a test case for the world and the UN Security Council precisely, and what transpired there is quite disheartening. He thanked the United Arab Emirates and all the other sponsors for their contributions.
“We are at a breaking point,” declared Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, in a letter to the Security Council citing Article 99.
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A significant possibility exists of the complete breakdown of Gaza’s humanitarian assistance infrastructure, leading to catastrophic outcomes. The implications, he noted, may have disastrous effects on regional security.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press statement expressing concern that the Security Council has not fulfilled its core duty of preserving global peace and security despite warnings of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The besieged people of Gaza are being subjected to an unprecedented and intolerable collective punishment, it was stated. Millions of Palestinians would be forcibly displaced, and there would be significant civilian casualties if Israel’s war in occupied Palestine is allowed to continue.
To prevent a humanitarian disaster, Pakistan is once again calling for a quick and unconditional ceasefire. It may potentially start a more significant, riskier battle.
It pleaded with the UN Security Council to take immediate action to put a stop to this vicious conflict and save the Palestinian people from genocide. Israel must stop its savage assaults and cruel blockade of Gaza.
An International Relations graduate, with a keen interest in diverse areas of IR; diplomacy, global politics & human rights.
