https://arab.news/za8ke
- Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom鈥檚 ambassador to the UN, condemns 鈥榠n the strongest terms鈥� the targeting of civilians and repeats call for a ceasefire聽
- He was speaking during a briefing by senior UN humanitarian officials, who described events in Israel and Gaza as a blight on our collective conscience聽
NEW YORK CITY: 抖阴短视频鈥檚 ambassador to the UN on Friday said not only is his country 鈥渟addened by the death of civilians but also we are angry and disappointed at the international community鈥檚 failure to assist even with medicine, food and shelter.鈥�
Abdulaziz Alwasil was speaking during a briefing by senior UN humanitarian officials, in which the organization鈥檚 emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, described what is unfolding in Israel and Gaza as a stain on collective human conscience.
Griffiths called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as humanitarian pauses in Gaza so that aid can be delivered. But he stopped short of repeating his own previous call for a ceasefire, which had echoed a similar request from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Expressing concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the battered and besieged territory, Alwasil condemned 鈥渋n the strongest terms鈥� any targeting of civilians and all violations of international humanitarian law, including the targeting of infrastructure and civilian sites.
He called for 鈥渁n immediate ceasefire (in) Gaza and an end to the illegal blockade鈥� on the territory, as well as the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, including basic requirements such as electricity, fuel, medicine, food and water.
鈥淏ecause the international community has been unable to put an end to further killing and displacement, even for those living and seeking shelter within the United Nations, we have launched a campaign for the relief of the Palestinian people,鈥� Alwasil said.
鈥淚n two days we were able to gather around a quarter of a million Saudi riyals ($268,000).
鈥淭he role of the United Nations, the role of UNRWA (the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) is vital to guarantee a safe space for humanitarian work, including through humanitarian corridors,鈥� the Saudi envoy added as he stressed the need 鈥渢o respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law.鈥�