dyton mupawaenda
Herald Reporter
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Frederick Shava has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to stand with Palestine in the ongoing bombardment and killing of its people by Israel in Gaza.
He said this in Kampala, Uganda during a Ministerial Committee of the NAM saying the meeting came at a sad time when the world is witnessing the indiscriminate bombardment, killing, starvation, forced displacement, and untold suffering and dehumanisation of the Palestinian people, with prospects for peace disappearing from the horizon.
“The meeting today should send a very clear message of the committee’s unwavering support for the people of Palestine and its commitment to finding a lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
“The people of Palestine are crying out for our tangible help and have waited for far too long for a solution,” he said.
Palestine Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Riyadh al-Maliki, briefed the meeting on the recent events in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“My delegation is troubled by the devastation caused by the ongoing hostilities, and suffering it is bringing to the people of Palestine, particularly women and children. A humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions continues to unfold before our eyes.
“We reiterate our principled support and solidarity for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people. The prolonged illegal occupation of Palestine denies Palestinians their inherent right to self-determination and freedom, and the unilateral measures by Israel only serve to complicate the pursuit of a comprehensive solution” Dr Shava said.
“Zimbabwe advocates for a two-state solution as the only viable path to a just, enduring, and comprehensive peace, with Israelis and Palestinians coexisting peacefully. This entails establishing an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
He expressed concern with the continued disproportionate bombardment, and inhumane deprivation of food and other necessities essential for the sustenance of the lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, affecting United Nations Relief Works Agency’s capacity to assist and protect refugees. I
“It is disheartening to hear that more than 146 UNRWA staff members have been killed, most with their families, and that at least 70 percent of UNRWA staff have, themselves been displaced. ?
“We commend the heroic efforts of UNRWA for providing essential assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees in the Middle East. We wish to express our condolences to the UN and through it, to the families of the UNRWA members of staff who were killed in the service to humanity,” he added.
Dr Shava welcomed the appointment of Sigrid Kaag as Chief Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, following the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2720 last December and said they hoped that she will ensure the swift and full implementation of the resolution, including through the monitoring and verification of humanitarian deliveries and the creation of a UN mechanism to accelerate aid into Gaza.
“We call on Israel, the occupier, to cooperate with the Coordinator in the implementation of the resolution, in order to facilitate unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance that the people of Gaza desperately need to avert hunger and the spread of diseases, and to generally serve lives,” he said.
Dr Shava called on the international community to do more than just condem Israeli authorities for bombarding the Palestinian homelands, imposing restrictions on the freedom of movement, forced evictions, arbitrary detentions, and denial of Palestinian freedom of association and expression. “Finding a lasting solution to the conflict between Palestine and Israel requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the core issues. Practical measures should focus on an immediate ceasefire, promoting dialogue, addressing key concerns, and fostering conditions for a sustainable and just resolution.
“The practical measures include having direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis; reaffirming and supporting the widely accepted two-State solution, where Israel and Palestine co-exist as independent and sovereign States; providing robust humanitarian assistance to address immediate needs, especially in areas heavily affected by conflict; developing comprehensive security arrangements that address the legitimate security concerns of both Israel and Palestine; and uphold international law and hold accountable those who violate it.”
The Minister applauded the initiative taken by South Africa to take the matter of the tragic developments against the people of Palestine to the attention of the International Court of Justice saying there was need to have a collective voice to ensure justice, peace and security for the people of Palestine.
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