the Israeli army continues its military operations in Gaza; no release of hostages before tomorrow

2023-11-23 10:45:21

“It can’t just be a pause,” pleads Palestinian UN representative on truce

The four-day humanitarian truce provided for by the agreement between Israel and Hamas “can’t just be a break”the Palestinian ambassador to the UN pleaded on Wednesday, calling for these few days to be used to prevent the “resumption of aggression”.

“Hundreds of Palestinian children will not be killed thanks to this truce. We owe it to them and to all civilians in the Gaza Strip to put a definitive end to this criminal attack against the Palestinian people.”Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said during a Security Council meeting.

Thanking Qatar and Egypt, he called on all those who contributed to this agreement “to find a way to prevent the resumption of aggression”. “This cannot just be a pause before the killing resumes”he insisted, denouncing at the same time “occupation and racial discrimination” of Israel against the Palestinians, whom he described as« apartheid ». “In a few days, families will be able to hold each other, grieve, begin to heal any wounds that may be, including families who will find their loved ones held prisoner”he noted.

Repeating that there was “no military solution to this conflict”Mr. Mansour pleaded for respect for “inalienable rights of the Palestinians” and against attacks against all civilians. “We do not justify the death of any Israeli civilian”he declared, assuring that “no one should condone atrocities based on the identity of the perpetrators”.

“We should not turn a blind eye to each other’s wounds, traumas, history, or dismiss them. But this respect must be built on a common vision of the future where we can all live in peace and dignity.”he said again.

“Make no mistake, as soon as the break is over, we will continue our efforts to achieve our goals with all our might”Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan responded to the Security Council. “We will not stop until we have eliminated Hamas’s terrorist capabilities and are certain that it can no longer rule Gaza and threaten the lives of Israeli civilians as well as the women and children of Gaza »he added.