New York, 17 December 2023 (TDI): Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Munir Akram, made a statement during the tenth Emergency session of the General Assembly convened on the request of the Arab and OIC groups.
The statement made by the Ambassador today was on behalf of Algeria, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Nigeria, Syrian Arab Republic, Venezuela, and his own delegation of Pakistan.
During the statement he said that Pakistan has called for the creation of special tribunal and accountability mechanism to investigate the war crimes done by Israel.
Also, the establishment of an international protection mechanism to safeguard Palestinian civilians and robust global efforts to find a durable solution to the conflict.
He applauded the decision of the Secretary General of United Nations of invoking the Article 99 of the UN Charter first time in his tenure while terming the situation as “at a breaking point.”
He expressed his disappointment that the UN Security Council once again failed to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, even in the face of a human tragedy of epic proportions taking place there.
The Ambassador added that they deeply regret that calls from the United Nations Secretary General and the General Assembly were not heeded by Israel and that it continues its criminal attacks against the Palestinian people.
While continuing, he said that they are appalled at the magnitude of the suffering being faced by the helpless Palestinian civilians, especially women and children and that that this collective punishment endured by the besieged people of Gaza is unprecedented in modern history.
Furthermore, the Ambassador added that 134 staff members of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) in Palestine have tragically lost their lives, and many with their families and homes, highest ever recorded in the history of the United Nations.
Identifying the root cause of the crisis he said that it lies in Israel’s prolonged occupation and denial of Palestinians’ inalienable right to self-determination
And that Israel’s murderous campaign against the occupied people of Palestine struggling for their freedom cannot be justified under guise of self-defense.
Ambassador Munir Akram welcomed the diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministerial Committee mandated by the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit, headed by the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, which also included visits to the P-5 capitals.
The Ambassador hoped that the resolution A/ES-10/22 adopted by the General Assembly, acting under “Uniting for Peace” process, which seeks an immediate humanitarian ceasefire will be implemented.
Abdul Momin Rasul is a contributing author on TDI
