New York, October 27th, 2023.- The highest priority of the General Assembly must be to achieve an end of violence and the provision of urgent and sufficient humanitarian aid to address the catastrophic situation in Gaza, said Ambassador Gerardo Peñalver Portal, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, during the emergency special session on Palestine.
During his speech, Peñalver Portal said that the current escalation of violence is the consequence of 75 years of Israeli practices of illegal occupation and colonization, in flagrant violation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in their own territory; and the result, too, of the prolonged disrespect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
The Cuban diplomat condemned in the strongest terms the killings of civilians, especially women, children and UN humanitarian workers; the indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, as well as the deprivation of basic services to the Gazan population.
"Nothing can justify such actions, which constitute collective punishment, serious violations of international humanitarian law, and war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said.
The Cuban representative described as shameful the fact that, once again, the Security Council has been unable to fulfill its mandate; and regretted that the US has vetoed 46 resolutions related to the situation in the Middle East in the Council itself, including on the Palestinian question, the most recent just a few days ago.
He also emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the creation of two independent States.
"Cuba will support and contribute in every way in its power to legitimate international efforts to put an end to the massacre that has been going on for 20 days. Every moment of inaction will cost more innocent lives. We must act without delay," he concluded.
Cuban Permanent Mission to the United Nations