Statement delivered by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Guyana, at the 9696th meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”
Mr. President,
I thank you for organizing this meeting so swiftly following recent concerning developments in the Middle East region. I also thank Under-
Secretary General DiCarlo for the information provided.
The situation in the Middle East is approaching boiling point. It appears that some actors in the region are intent on returning to the days where scores – real or imagined – were settled by the most brutal means. Civilization has taken us away from that era with a rich body of international law now governing relations between and among international actors. We cannot afford to reverse those gains and resort to primitive approaches to settling disputes. Civilians are the ones suffering the most. Guyana, therefore, condemns in the strongest terms the constant disregard for and violation of international law in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We remind the parties involved, that as Member States of the United Nations, they have an obligation to abide by international law, including the provisions of the UN Charter. These obligations include respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, violations of which should be swiftly investigated and appropriate actions taken against those found to be in breach of their obligations. In this context, Guyana condemns in the strongest terms the recent violations of both Iran’s and
Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Mr. President,
We are witnessing the heightening of tensions in the region underpinned by a constant stream of provocative rhetoric that does nothing but add fuel to a fire that is already burning. Guyana calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from further actions that perpetuate the downward spiral. In this context, Guyana recalls resolution 2735 and the Council’s call for Israel and Hamas to fully implement the terms of the ceasefire proposal announced on 31 May 2024. We are concerned that the latest attacks in the occupied Golan Heights, Beirut and now Tehran, coupled with the continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip and violence in the West Bank may cumulatively have negative outcomes for achieving agreement on this proposal. The central question for this Council, therefore, is whether we will continue to adopt a wait-and-see approach or whether we will use the appropriate tools at our disposal to temper the escalating violence.
Mr. President,
It will be a grave mistake to view the recent incidents in isolation to what is taking place in the Gaza Strip. All of the illegalities that have stemmed from various fronts in the Middle East since 7 October, must be seen through the prism of the ongoing war in Gaza – a war that continues to mutilate and annihilate innocent civilians, the majority of whom are women and children. A war that also continues to kill journalists and aid workers at unprecedented levels, and violates almost every rule of international humanitarian law. The death toll climbs every day and anger is mounting on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides for the same reason – both want security guarantees for themselves and their loved ones. In the near term for the Israelis, this means the release of the hostages taken in the 7 October attack, while for the Palestinians the plea is to end this war and create conditions for a dignified existence.
In the long term, however, security guarantees for both Israelis and Palestinians entail the exercise by the latter of their inalienable right to self-determination. The history of colonialism has shown us, Mr. President, that no people consent to subjugation, and certainly not of the kind that Israel has visited on the Palestinian people. The desire for freedom is innate and this is the reason that Palestinians have continued their legitimate struggle for all these decades. The Council must, therefore, respond appropriately to bring this struggle to its just conclusion, where their aspiration for statehood is realized and they receive the redress for all the years of violent brutality experienced at the hands of their neighbour. Guyana is prepared to do its part in any Council action to this end because this is the organ that has the responsibility to make this aspiration a reality.
Allow me to conclude, Mr. President, by lamenting the ongoing loss of life in this senseless tragedy that has enveloped the Middle East and to appeal to fellow Council members for us to work together to end the bloodshed and achieve sustainable peace for all.
I thank you.
