New York:
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries voiced their deep regret at the UN Security Council's failure to adopt the Algerian-Arab resolution on Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, noting that 13 members supported the draft resolution, but its failure to adopt it represents a retreat from the founding historical commitment stipulated in the Preamble of the United Nations Charter which states "saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war." This came in a statement delivered by Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN) HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, on behalf of the GCC countries, before the United Nations General Assembly regarding Article 63: "Using the veto against the Algerian-Arab draft resolution on Gaza in Security Council", at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
At the outset, she pointed out the significance of holding this session after the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution put forward on behalf of Arab States by Algeria demanding an immediate ceasefire to respond to the worst humanitarian catastrophe in modern human history, caused by the ongoing aggression of the Israeli occupation for over five months against our brethren in Gaza, as casualties numbers are increasing to reach more than 30,000, in addition to thousands of injured and lost under the rubble, mostly women and children, and around 1 million displaced people in the Gaza Strip, according to reports.
Sheikha Alya added that using the veto against the draft resolution missed an important opportunity for the Security Council to carry out its responsibilities regarding the ongoing aggression launched by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, which threatens international peace and security, and which prompted the UN Secretary-General to address his letter last December to the President of the Security Council, calling for the activation of Article 99 of the United Nations Charter, in which it called on the Council to declare an urgent humanitarian ceasefire.
On behalf of the GCC countries, she pointed out that the GCC countries noted the serious repercussions of using the veto against efforts to stop the aggression and protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and the messages it could send in the context of double standards in international relations and dealing with global crises.
She said that in light of the failure and inability of the Council, the GCC countries call for the necessity of the General Assembly to assume its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security under Article 10 of the Charter, and here the GCC countries remind of the necessity of implementing the recent General Assembly resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Sheikha Alya reiterated the GCC countries' condemnation in the strongest terms of the Israeli threats related to launching a military operation in Rafah, warning that these threats have increased levels of escalation, violence, and destabilization and security in the region.
She stressed that the GCC countries condemn in the strongest terms the measures of forced displacement of civilians, categorically reject any military operation in Rafah, warn of a new massacre that will be added to the series of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territory, and hold the Security Council responsible for not stopping the Israeli aggression.
Sheikha Alya added that the GCC countries condemn the policy and procedures of systematic starvation and the use of food as a weapon against defenseless civilians by the Israeli occupation, especially in the northern Gaza Strip, and note that the Israeli occupation's continued committing of these grave violations represents a blatant challenge to international law and international humanitarian law, in addition to completely ignoring the ruling of the International Court of Justice issued on Jan. 26, which requires Israel to implement six temporary orders to prevent the crime of genocide from occurring.
She said that the GCC countries condemn the systematic targeting campaign carried out by the Israeli occupation against UNRWA, and express their regret over some donor countries suspending their funding for UNRWA, which has no alternative, as five million Palestinians depend on it, especially in light of the current catastrophic humanitarian conditions. As HE the UN Secretary-General said, UNRWA represents the backbone of humanitarian response operations in Gaza, and the GCC countries also join their voice with the Secretary-General in his appeal to the countries that have suspended their support for UNRWA to review their decisions and resume their funding to the agency.
She reaffirmed the firm and historical stance of the GCC countries in support of the steadfastness of the fraternal Palestinian people and their just cause under international legitimacy resolutions and within the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
She indicated that GCC countries express their appreciation for the strenuous and sincere efforts made to make the ongoing negotiating process a success to reach a framework agreement for a new humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip, including those made with the facilitation of the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States of America, intending to release hostages and detainees, ensuring more humanitarian and relief aid arrives in the Gaza Strip, and protecting civilians.
Concluding her speech before the UN General Assembly, Sheikha Alya stressed the continuation of the GCC countries in their efforts with partners to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to stop the bloodshed of the fraternal Palestinian people in the Strip and to protect the region from the dangers of sliding into a wider cycle of violence.