Distressed by what it sees as Israel’s flouting of orders, the fifteen-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) yesterday called on the United Nations to use its powers and hold an emergency meeting in order to imposes measures to ensure Jerusalem’s immediate compliance.
Efforts for an immediate ceasefire have thrice been thwarted at the UN Security Council by vetoes from the United States.
“CARICOM also deplores the fact that Israel has flouted the resolutions of both the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council calling for a ceasefire, as well as the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice,” Chairman of CARICOM and President of Guyana Irfaan Ali read from a CARICOM statement, at a press conference following the end of the 46th meeting of Heads which began on Sunday in Georgetown.
“The Community therefore calls on the United Nations Assembly to invoke its powers under the UN General Assembly Resolution 3778, uniting for peace, to hold an emergency session, and to issue appropriate recommendations to UN member states that collectively impose measures designed to motivate Israel to adhere to its obligations, under the said UN resolution, and under the ICJ order,” he added.
The Community stated that it wanted “a renewed commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through meaningful dialogue and negotiation”, even as it called upon the international community “to play a constructive role in facilitating a lasting solution to the conflict, and achieving a durable peace that contains that guarantees the human rights, dignity and security of both sides.”
CARICOM leaders, according to the Chairman, remain deeply distressed by the ongoing violence and deteriorating situation in Gaza, which has resulted in the tragic loss of civilian lives, including the deaths of women and children on an unprecedented scale, as well as widespread displacement and suffering.
CARICOM reiterated “its strong condemnation of the attacks by Hamas and the taking of hostages on the 7th of October 2023.”
But equally, it said that it also condemns Israeli actions that violate international humanitarian law, and the human rights of the Palestinian people.
“The incessant Israeli bombardment of Gaza has led the catastrophic loss of civilian lives, the destruction of critical infrastructure, and the deprivation of basic necessities, food, water and medical care,” Ali said.
As such, the Caribbean Community is urging “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, and safe and unimpeded access for the delivery of adequate and sustained humanitarian assistance.”
President Ali added, “We also strongly advocate for the rule of law to prevail and for the return of all hostages and persons held in administrative detention without charge to their families.” He posited that Israel’s continued and expanding occupation of territory in the occupied West Bank poses a serious and continuing threat to a peaceful, secure and stable world.
“CARICOM therefore reaffirms its unwavering commitment to a holistic roadmap towards a two-state solution, in keeping with the United Nations Council Resolution 242, as the only viable path to peace between Israelis and Palesti-nians,” Ali stated.
On October 7th 2023, violence erupted in southern Israel when terrorists from Hamas broke through the militarized border with Gaza at a time when Israel was celebrating the last day of its Jewish holiday – Sukkot. Then, over 1,100 persons, including women and children – many from a music festival – were killed in heinous ways and hundreds of hostages taken including children and the elderly.
Non-resident Ambassador for the Embassy of Israel to Guyana, Barbados, Suriname Trinidad and Tobago and CARICOM, Itai Bardov had during an exclusive interview with the Stabroek News last month, denied that Israel engaged in genocidal actions in Gaza.
He had pointed to the onslaught against Israel’s civilians especially women and children on October 7 last, as he appealed to Guyanese to fact-find on the issue while declaring that Jerusalem remains ready to end the war.
The Israeli Ambassador admitted that the infiltration by Hamas was a “huge failure from our side, on the intelligence side.”
Israel doesn’t believe that Hamas’ actions were triggered because of decades of repression of the Palestinian people but recognising that Jerusalem was on the verge of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.
“To draw attention to the decades-old conflict? They don’t need that to draw attention, they’ve got a full attention from United Nations and they don’t need that to draw attention. Murder 1,200 people and raped girls and beheaded babies to draw attention?” he questioned dismissively.
“…They saw that Israel was warming up [ties] with Saudi Arabia after the Abraham Accords and peace is the largest and biggest enemy to Hamas and Iran and their proxies,” he argued.
The Israeli envoy had said that the way forward in ending the war and bringing peace in the region requires both parties’ sincere participation.
“The only side perpetrating a genocide was Hamas who really had no regard for any civilian, none whatsoever. Show me where Hamas gives warning like Israel does before actions, show me the humanitarian aid that Hamas gives. Show me the humanitarian effort to the 136 Israeli hostages that are being kept in tunnels…,” he added, while pointing to actions Israel has taken to ensure that it stays within international conventions on fighting war.
Asked how the massive loss of life in Gaza since the start of Israel’s retaliation – approximately 214 persons each day – could be justified, Bardov queried the numbers.
He said Israel sees the overall number of deaths as a tragedy and does not at all want any loss of life. The envoy said that from discussions he believes that Guyanese are misinformed in a number of ways including data that is coming from Gaza where its citizens are in charge of disseminating statistics. He said that a proper count of deaths on civilians is difficult as many Hamas terrorists have died.
Told that his country’s retaliation has seen numbers of deaths on the Gaza side far exceeding the numbers of Israelis killed, he said that it cannot be looked at in just in the way of casualties.
“It terrible, but what you’re trying to suggest is, when we go to look at the Second World War where much more German civilians were killed than the Brits, you would say the Germans were on the right side because they had much more casualties. So when you speak about International law they do not address numbers what they address is intent and what the sides are doing in order to minimize casualties.
“Israel has given warnings five to six days prior. Warning Hamas as well because you don’t want civilians providing humanitarian corridors. There are hundreds of thousands of pamphlets thrown from the air …” he said.
He added that his country also assists in humanitarian aid whereas nothing is done for its captives from the Palestinian end.
