The governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday condemned the killing of civilians on both sides of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas and it also opposed an order from Jerusalem for the evacuation of over a million persons from Gaza.
In its first statement on the bloody upheaval triggered by Hamas’ attacks on civilians and the military in southern Israel, the PPP steered a careful path between Israel, which Guyana now has diplomatic relations with, and the Palestinian cause which the party has historically strongly supported.
Freedom House said it has historically stood in support of a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in keeping with UN resolution 242.
“Events of this last week have catapulted this issue onto the forefront of the global agenda once again, and require more urgent, determined, sustained, and unequivocal efforts by the United Nations (UN) and global leaders to realise this resolution”, the PPP declared.
It said that Hamas’ attack on Israeli territory on October 7th, and the subsequent Israeli aerial bombardment, as well as the consequent cutting off of all access to fuel, electricity, water, and medicine to the people of Gaza, have brought the status of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to its lowest levels in several decades.
It pointed out that Hamas’ attack on Israel has resulted in the loss of over 1,400 lives, including those of women and children while the Israeli bombardment of Gaza has led to the deaths of over 2,600 Palestinians, many of whom are children and women.
“This violence against innocent civilians, on both sides, is unacceptable and the PPP unequivocally condemns it. Further, the Israeli air raids on Gaza have also resulted in the indiscriminate destruction of essential infrastructure, including UN centers, hospitals, and schools – all in flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws. At this dangerous juncture, there is a real threat that the conflict will escalate and engulf all of Palestine, as well as other parts of the Region”, the party declared.
The PPP called for:
• The immediate, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza of fuel, food, medicine and water, etc.
• An immediate reversal of the evacuation order by Israel of the Palestinians in Gaza;
• All hostages in Gaza to be released; and
• International humanitarian laws to be respected and upheld, and for civilians on both sides to be protected at all times.
The PPP said that the world can no longer continue to turn a blind eye to the unacceptable conditions in which the Palestinians have been living for generations. “The Palestinian people deserve a homeland in which they can live in freedom and dignity. The people of Israel also deserve to live in a country free from threats of violence and at peace with their neighbours. We believe that this can only be achieved in the context of a two-state solution”, the party said.
