Several UN Security Council members, together with the U.S., UK and China, condemned Israeli settler violence in opposition to Palestinians within the occupied West Bank, and urged the Israeli authorities to permit humanitarian assist into the Gaza Strip.
“Actions in the West Bank that could escalate tensions at this fragile moment must stop,” U.S. envoy to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield informed a UN Security Council session on Palestine.
Reiterating statements by the White House, Thomas-Greenfield described the assaults by Israeli settlers as “unacceptable” and known as for his or her cessation.
“Israeli authorities must take measures to protect these communities from harm, including by intervening to stop such violence and by holding all perpetrators to account,” she stated.
She known as on Israel to “release all owed Palestinian Authority tax revenues on time,” because it gives “essential services, ensure peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, all of which are key to Israel’s security interests.”
“Additionally, we remain concerned about Israel’s West Bank settlement announcements and the legalization of outposts,” the U.S. envoy stated, including that the Israeli authorities’s settlement program is “inconsistent with international law” and “detrimental to the prospects of a two-state solution.”
Urging the council to “speak one voice” to safe a cease-fire, she stated the cease-fire is required “not soon, but now.”
“Because the well-being of all hostages is in jeopardy. Because Palestinians in Gaza are living under hellish conditions and are caught in the crosshairs of war. Because there’s a very real danger of regional escalation,” she added.
On the polio outbreak in Gaza, she stated the U.S. is working with Israel to “speed up clearances and remove restrictions so that Palestinian civilians can get much-needed food, medicine, shelter, clean water, and other essentials including vaccines.”
“We urge Israel to continue working with humanitarian agencies to provide polio vaccinations for Palestinian civilians, particularly children, in Gaza,” she stated.
UK CONDEMNS ISRAELI SETTLER ATTACK ON PALESTINIANS
James Kariuki, the UK’s envoy to the UN, additionally condemned the current settler assault on the Palestinian village of Jit, east of Qalqilya within the northern West Bank.
“Violence in the West Bank is inexcusable. The violence in the Palestinian village of Jit last week was abhorrent. We call on Israel to take action against these extremists,” he stated.
Also condemning Israel’s “continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank,” Kariuki stated it’s “a clear violation of international law.”
“We need to see immediate improvements, and there has to be accountability for the appalling settler violence in the West Bank,” he added.
Regarding polio, the UK envoy known as on Israel to “allow safe and unhindered aid access into and across Gaza and to put in place an effective deconfliction mechanism to ensure aid and vaccines can be delivered and administered safely.”
He additional criticized Israel’s new evacuation orders, which he stated are “causing chaos in Gaza.”
Meanwhile, China’s Fu Cong criticized Israel’s ongoing army operations and the enlargement of settlements, saying: “Blind faith in achieving a total victory in Gaza through military means will only result in more civilian casualties.”
He urged Israel to meet its worldwide obligations by opening all border crossings and finish army actions to stop additional escalation.
‘GAZA’S TRAGEDY MAY DUPLICATE IN THE WEST BANK’
“We urge countries with significant influence to demonstrate a sincere, impartial and responsible attitude in pushing Israel to seize its military operations in Gaza as soon as possible and to stop the killing of civilians,” Fu stated.
Russian envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy additionally expressed disappointment over the dearth of progress and accused Israel of obstructing humanitarian assist within the Gaza Strip.
“Israel is now insisting on keeping the idea of a military presence in Gaza, including their control over the crossing with Egypt and the Philadelphia corridor. We do note that such a change as to the parameters of the deal is also something that some countries in the region vehemently object to,” he stated, and requested the U.S.: “On whose behalf are you acting when you push through a deal that is different from the original one?”
“The Security Council never blessed the deal formulated in this way,” he added.
For his half, Algeria’s Amir Bendjama warned of the danger of the Gaza disaster spreading to the occupied West Bank, saying: “Gaza’s tragedy may duplicate in the West Bank.”
He accused the Israeli authorities of “crushing any hope for an independent Palestinian state” and increasing settlements in violation of worldwide legislation.
“Israeli authorities deny the establishment of the Palestinian state. They annex Palestinian lands. They expand settlement, and frequently they storm Al-Aqsa Mosque. They enlarge settler terrorists in the West Bank,” he stated.
Calling the worldwide group’s response to the disaster in Gaza insufficient, Bendjama stated a “full-fledged (polio) vaccination campaign” can’t be carried out “under continuous Israeli bombardment.”
Source: www.anews.com.tr