A collective plea from 70 Ambassadors to the UN Office in Geneva calls for urgent international intervention to halt the bloodshed and anguish in Gaza, as stated in a joint declaration on Friday. The Ambassadors, with 41 of them present in person, expressed deep concern over the staggering toll, reporting over 11,000 Palestinian fatalities within a month of conflict, with children, women, and the elderly constituting 75% of the victims. Shockingly, the number of Palestinian children killed in just three weeks surpasses the annual toll of children in conflict zones worldwide since 2019.
Highlighting the dire situation in Gaza, the Ambassadors emphasized that hospitals are on the verge of collapse due to fuel and electricity shortages. Surgical procedures are being conducted without anaesthesia, and critical medical equipment is at risk due to power cuts. The statement disclosed the shutdown of Gaza’s sole cancer hospital, along with reports of entire families being wiped off the population registry.
The Ambassadors lamented the loss of aid workers, including those from UNRWA, confirming the deaths of 101 staff since the conflict erupted on October 7. To honour their sacrifice, UN offices worldwide will observe silence, with the UN flag flown at half-mast.
The Ambassadors denounced the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including refugee camps, schools, mosques, and churches. They appealed for an immediate ceasefire, urging the international community to apply maximum pressure to facilitate emergency humanitarian access, restore basic services, and release hostages and political detainees.
The statement stressed the need to protect civilians and safeguard civilian facilities, particularly UNRWA schools serving as emergency shelters. Israel was called upon to grant immediate access to the Independent International UN Commission of Inquiry, and the Ambassadors underscored the importance of addressing the root causes of the crisis.
In conclusion, the Ambassadors asserted that the international community must promptly fulfil its obligations under international law. They urged swift action using available tools to end the bloodshed, spare lives, alleviate human suffering, and foster peace and coexistence in the region.
