Tehran, December 23rd, 2023.- The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Gerardo Peñalver Portal, denounced today in Tehran that the world is witnessing a genocide in real time in the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, during his speech at the Consultative Meeting High Level Conference on Palestine taking place in this city.
The Cuban vice chancellor assured that Israel, as an occupying power, has unleashed all its military power against a defenseless population that is trying to survive in the midst of indiscriminate bombings, and a ferocious ground offensive that makes no distinction between its objectives.
“Those who today try to justify Israel's aggression, citing their right to self-defense, deliberately ignore the true cause of this conflict, which is none other than the 75 years of illegal occupation and colonization by Israel, in flagrante violation of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination; as well as the prolonged violation of the United Nations Charter and International Law, including numerous UN resolutions,” he recalled.
Peñalver Portal reiterated that our country, in the strongest terms, condemns the murders of civilians, especially women and children; in addition to the indiscriminate bombings against the population and the destruction of homes, hospitals and civil infrastructure.
“We reject Israel's strategy of causing the forcible displacement of Palestinians from the land that rightfully belongs to them, as well as the practices of domination of the Palestinian people, the exploitation and appropriation of their resources, and the denial of all rights of the population, which constitute a true system of Apartheid against that people,” he said in another part of his speech.
Regarding the role that the United States plays in the United Nations Security Council, Peñalver Portal pointed out that “it is unacceptable that, in the face of the serious threat to international peace and security, the Security Council shows total inability to act in accordance with what circumstances require. "The United States, which with its complicity has guaranteed criminal impunity for this genocide, must stop obstructing the action of the Security Council."
By reiterating the invariable solidarity of the Cuban people with the Palestinian cause, the vice chancellor assured: “we reaffirm that Cuba will never be among the indifferent and will continue to contribute, in everything within its power, to legitimate international efforts to put an end to barbarism.” that is taking place today against the brother Palestinian people.”
The High-Level Consultative Meeting on Palestine takes place this Saturday in Tehran as an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran to address the latest developments in occupied Palestine.
The Cuban delegation to this international conference is also made up of the Cuban Ambassador in Tehran, Alberto González Casals.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations