GEIS-新闻详情

Singapore expresses grave concern on worsening Gaza crisis at UN meet

2023-12-16 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-世界原网页

WASHINGTON – Singapore has registered its grave concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and underlined the need for an immediate ceasefire.

“I wish to reiterate Singapore’s grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has led to the loss of many thousands of innocent civilian lives,” said Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

He was speaking at a reconvened emergency special session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Dec 15.

Delegates from more than 20 nations spoke at the 3？-hour meeting, voicing support for a UN resolution on Dec 12 which demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages trapped in the crisis.

The emergency session was convened three days ago, after the United States on Dec 8 vetoed a binding UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire. The resolution was co-sponsored by Singapore.

Embed Facebook

Facebook

The session overwhelmingly adopted the ceasefire resolution – also co-sponsored by Singapore – with a large majority of 153 of 193 member states voting in favour. Ten, including Israel and the US, voted against it, while 23 nations abstained.

“Singapore supports the call made in this resolution for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire; this is essential for the urgent and unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to civilians throughout Gaza,” Mr Gafoor said.

Israel’s air and ground assault over the past 10 weeks has killed more than 18,700 Palestinians, while thousands more are missing and feared dead.

The offensive, which flattened much of northern Gaza, has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and displaced 85 per cent of 2.3 million Gazans from their homes.

Israelis see the war as necessary to prevent a repeat of the Oct 7 attack when Palestinian militants crossed the border and killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took some 240 people hostage.

More than 116 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive, which began on Oct 27.

“We recognise that Israel has the right to defend its citizens and territory, but in exercising this right Israel must comply fully with international humanitarian law,” said Mr Gafoor.

“This means responding in a proportionate manner. This means avoiding the indiscriminate killing of civilians. This means avoiding the collective punishment of civilians, and this means avoiding the permanent mass displacement of civilians.”

He also expressed “regret” that the UN resolution adopted on Dec 12 did not condemn or even make reference to the actions of Hamas whose Oct 7 attack triggered the crisis.

“Singapore wishes to place on record our view that terrorist attacks carried out by any party cannot be condoned or justified by any rationale,” he said.

He reiterated Singapore’s view that the only viable path to a durable, just and comprehensive solution to the crisis is a negotiated two-state solution. This framework calls for establishing an independent state for Palestinians, alongside that of Israel.

“We call on leaders from both sides to show leadership, exercise restraint and take the difficult but necessary steps towards a two-state solution,” he said.