During a session at the United Nations Security Council, Abbas Kadhim Obaid, the Acting Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the UN in New York, called for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and a more serious and decisive response to the humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a release reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Saturday, “The Security Council held a briefing session to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, dated July 26.
The session featured the Deputy Commissioner-General of UNRWA and the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Palestine.”
The members of the Council highlighted the magnitude of the humanitarian tragedy and the severe violations affecting the Palestinian people, emphasizing the importance of a ceasefire to save civilians and deliver humanitarian aid.
The Ministry continued, “Acting on behalf of the Arab Group, as its chair, Obaid detailed in his statement that the Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, as described by all UN bodies and international relief organizations on the ground, despite repeated warnings and calls issued by these organizations.”
The Iraqi representative stressed that “Gaza has been transformed into a disaster area unfit for habitation, and the situation is worsening, especially among children, due to continuous military attacks by Israeli forces.
This has led to mass forced displacement, a rising number of civilian casualties, the closure of main crossings, and further restrictions, halting medical evacuations and cutting off humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
He added, “In the face of scarce medical and health care, rampant disease, and shortages of food and medicine, Israeli forces follow a systematic policy of using famine as a weapon of war and humanitarian aid as a pressure tool, exacerbating the suffering in Gaza amid an ongoing genocide waged by Israeli forces against the Palestinian people in Gaza, violating all international standards, including relevant Security Council resolutions.”
Obaid urged the Council in his speech for an “immediate and sustainable ceasefire and a more serious and decisive response to the humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where we cannot witness this shocking suffering due to the continued closure and destruction of crossings and obstruction of aid distribution within Gaza.”
He called for “full adherence to international humanitarian law, opening all entry points to Gaza for humanitarian and commercial supplies, and meeting the basic humanitarian needs of civilians,” expressing “gratitude to all humanitarian organizations working in Gaza despite all risks and challenges, and reaffirming support and solidarity with these institutions and their staff in their noble mission, led by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).”
