Dear Editor,
The Guyana Peace Council (GPC) abhors the declaration of war by Israel against the Palestinian people which has already claimed the lives of over two thousand people, on both sides, the majority of whom are civilians. Among the dead were women and children. Regrettably, there is no immediate indication of an end to the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza as casualties continue to mount by the day. This human tragedy highlights once again, the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory that saw several decades of sporadic and intermittent clashes between Israeli and Palestinian militants. The scale and intensity of this most recent conflagration is a stark reminder that the legitimate demand, backed by U.N. resolutions calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state can no longer be swept under the carpet or resolved by military means.
The Guyana Peace Council endorsed the position taken by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his call for an end to all hostilities and the immediate release of hostages. According to Mr. Guterres, the situation in Gaza is deeply distressing and could deteriorate exponentially. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is taking place as Gaza is now under a state of siege. Electricity, water, food supplies and medicine are being cut off by the Israeli authorities resulting in untold sufferings by millions in the tiny Gaza Strip, home to over 2.3 million people. Such actions are tantamount to ‘collective punishment’ and a violation of international law. The GPC is of the view that the only solution to the decades-old conflict is the complete and unconditional withdrawal by Israel from all occupied Palestinian lands and for a two-state solution along the lines of the 1993 Oslo Accord. Any resolution of the conflict must take into account the return of all Palestinian lands seized by Israel and full respect for the human rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.
The use of excessive military force by Israel in the Gaza strip and the declaration of a ‘state of war’ to justify the on-going reign of terror which include artillery strikes are counterproductive and goes against the norms of civilized behaviour. The GPC urges greater efforts on the part of the international community to bring about a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict. In this regard, the GPC commends the position taken by President Irfaan Ali during his address to the United Nations General Assembly when he re-affirmed Guyana’s longstanding solidarity with the Palestinian people and support for their dignified existence in accordance with the two-state solution. He urged member states ‘to do more to move past rhetoric so that the peace process can progress.’
Sincerely,
Clement J. Rohee
Guyana Peace Council
