{"id":18691,"date":"2023-10-28T01:32:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T01:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/unga-pakistan-calls-for-immediate-end-to-war-killings-in-gaza\/"},"modified":"2023-10-28T01:32:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T01:32:05","slug":"unga-pakistan-calls-for-immediate-end-to-war-killings-in-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/unga-pakistan-calls-for-immediate-end-to-war-killings-in-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"UNGA: Pakistan calls for immediate end to war, killings in Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan on Friday reiterated in the UN General Assembly its strong condemnation of the collective punishment of Gaza\u2019s entire Palestinian population by Israeli Occupation forces, saying it amounts to \u201cwar crimes and crimes against humanity\u201d as well as a \u201cveritable genocide.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, what we are witnessing on our television screens what the Palestinian people are enduring, may amount to a veritable genocide,\u201d Ambassador Munir Akram told the 193-member Assembly\u2019s emergency session on the Israel-Palestine conflict following the failure of the Security Council to take any action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are witnessing a human tragedy of epic proportions unfold in front of our eyes,\u201d the Pakistani envoy told delegates in the Assembly\u2019s iconic hall.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s campaign of bombardment and air strikes, he said, has now continued for 20 days, with seven thousand helpless Palestinians \u2013 half of them children \u2013 killed and 17,000 wounded.<\/p>\n

Entire families and neighbourhoods have been wiped out, Ambassador Akram said, adding the essential lifelines of Palestinian people \u2013 water, food, fuel \u2013 have been cut off. Over a million have been internally displaced. And, even those displaced, cannot hide from Israeli bombs, with forty percent of Gaza city destroyed.<\/p>\n

The Pakistani envoy spoke ahead of the vote on a resolution submitted by Jordan on behalf of the 40 Arab and Islamic countries, including Pakistan, The resolution, which among other elements, calls for an \u201cimmediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce\u201d, all parties comply with international law, and continuous and unhindered aid into the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n

Key issues in the draft include calls for an \u201cimmediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce\u201d, as well as \u201cdemands\u201d that all parties comply with international humanitarian law and for \u201ccontinuous, sufficient and unhindered\u201d provision of essential supplies and services into the Gaza Strip, the state news agency reported.<\/p>\n

It also calls \u201cimmediate and unconditional release\u201d of all civilians held captive as well as demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law.<\/p>\n

An amendment has been proposed by Canada that \u201cunequivocally rejects and condemns the attacks by Hamas\u201d in Israel starting 7 October and the taking of hostages.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Akram urged the 193-member to vote for \u201cour resolution\u201d and to reject the \u201cone-sided\u201d Canadian amendment.<\/p>\n

Noting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres\u2019 efforts since the outbreak of conflict and his warming about the risk of its spreading, He said, \u201cWe are repelled by the crude and disrespectful Israeli response to the Secretary-General\u2019s circumspect and valid views,\u201d referring to Israeli diplomats attacks on the UN chief.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe General Assembly should collectively reject these insulting remarks and reaffirm our full confidence in the Secretary-General,\u201d Ambassador Akram added.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sure all of us are also appalled at the vicious and callous way that the Palestinians are being slaughtered \u2013 by cowardly aerial bombardment and long-range artillery\u2013 they are being crucified not by a militant organization but by the government, which claims to be democratic.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, we must be also appalled by those who, by blocking the call for a ceasefire in the Security Council, have enabled the continuation of the Israeli slaughter of innocents,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

In the context of this war, he said, consideration should also be given to some form of an accountability mechanism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crimes being committed, which cannot go unpunished. We have several precedents to choose from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally,\u201d Ambassador Akram said, \u201cfor the future, we need to consider the ways to prevent a recurrence of this slaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n