Caribbean nations voted overwhelmingly to assist a United Nations decision condemning Israel’s continued unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The decision, which Guyana cosponsored together with the State of Palestine and over 20 international locations, requires Israel to finish its “illegal presence” on Palestinian territory inside 12 months.
It additionally calls for that Israel instantly stop all new unlawful settlement exercise, evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, return land seized since its occupation began in 1967 and permit Palestinians displaced to return to their properties.
Of the 16 Caribbean international locations which can be members of the UN’s General Assembly, Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been the one ones that abstained from voting.
Forty-three nations, most of whom have sturdy relations with the USA and Israel, abstained.
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A complete of 124 international locations voted in assist of the decision.
The US and Israel have been amongst 14 international locations that rejected the decision.
Earlier than the vote, St Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador to the United Nations Inga King mentioned the continuing preventing between Israel and Hamas within the Gaza Strip “continues not solely to check probably the most basic rules of worldwide regulation but in addition the ethical conscience of the worldwide group.”
“The state of affairs is catastrophic with the Gaza Strip having devolved right into a website of carnage,” she added.
The ambassador instructed members current within the UN Common Meeting that preventing between Israel and Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist group by most UN members, didn’t occur in a vacuum.
“Allow us to be clear, this dire state of affairs is inextricably linked to unlawful occupation, disposition and harsh settler colonialism which steadily eroded the internationally established borders. The latest advisory opinion by the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice is unambiguous. Israel’s continued presence within the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal and should be delivered to an finish as quickly as doable,” King mentioned.
Over 1.9 million Palestinians have been left displaced following preventing between Israel and Hamas militants, which started on October 7, 2023.
Not less than 40,000 Palestinians, most of whom are girls and youngsters, have died. Most have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings, hospitals, refugee camps and colleges, which they claimed have been hideouts for Hamas militants.
King mentioned international locations can not sit by and permit Israel to proceed to breach worldwide regulation.
She referred to as on member states to make sure worldwide regulation is utilized uniformly “as its erosion permits the atrocities that we’re at the moment witnessing within the Gaza Strip right now.”
King added St Vincent and the Grenadines believes Israel and the State of Palestine can exist peacefully as soon as worldwide regulation is adopted.
