Jordan urges decisive, immediate UNSC's role to end war on Gaza

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to end Israeli violations in Gaza.

Addressing the UN Security Council Open Debate on situation in the Middle East, with a special focus on the Palestinian cause, Safadi said that the Security Council has not yet called for an immediate ceasefire in the "current Israeli war on Gaza" although upholding international law, preserving peace, stopping violence and war and preventing injustice lie at the heart of its duties. 

Safadi, who represented the Arab Group at the UN, said that the council should work on affirming that there is "no distinction between one human being and another and that no state is above the law".

"[But] it appears that Israel, with its continuous violations of international law, is acting above international law and in blatant disregard of the decisions of the Security Council."

Safadi said that attacking schools, mosques and churches and targeting civilians cannot be considered self-defence.

He also said that Israel's establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank, its seizure of Palestinian land and expelling Jerusalemites from their homes are "clear violation of international law".

On the situation in Gaza, Safadi said that Palestinian civilians in the strip "are losing their lives at an alarming rate, as war against Gaza kills 14 civilian Palestinians per hour". 

"Enough death, enough violence, enough wars, enough misery, enough oppression and enough double standards in the application of international law," he said, stressing that Israelis cannot enjoy security unless Palestinians do as well.

He stressed that any attempt to displace Palestinians forcefully from their land, either inside or outside the occupied territories, is regarded a war crime under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and its Additional Protocol of 1977. 

"Any attempt to transfer the crisis created by the occupation, which will only end with the end of the occupation, to neighbouring countries is a threat to our national security and will be dealt with by all available means, "Safadi said.

"Either the Security Council supports justice and peace, or it says Israel has rights that others do not have."