Anti-war network condemns US veto of UN resolution calling for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

 

The Network Opposed to War (NO TO WAR) strongly denounces the United States' veto of the UN Security Council resolution, which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, in response to the UN Secretary General’s call under Article 99 of the Charter. This regrettable action occurred on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

The veto by the United States and the abstention of the United Kingdom effectively negated the 13 majority vote of the Security Council as well as the more than 90 countries, including the Philippines, which endorsed the resolution. 

 

NO TO WAR-Palestine Solidarity Pilipinas condemns these decisions, highlighting the blatant disregard for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as warned by the UN Secretary General, posing a threat to international peace and security.

 

The ongoing atrocities in Gaza, including daily massacres, displacement, and dehumanization of Palestinians, affect all, including doctors, journalists, and UN staff. The complete destruction of Gaza ensures a bleak future for its residents. It is deeply troubling that the United States and the United Kingdom openly support the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the oppressed Palestinian people, turning a blind eye to the violations of human rights and humanitarian law. Despite global condemnation, Israel continues to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.

 

In November of this year, the Philippines, along with 144 nations, condemned Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan. Unfortunately, this resolution was likewise opposed by seven countries, led by the US, UK, and Israel.

Given the apparent ineffectiveness of the international body, it is now imperative for the global community to uphold the will of free peoples worldwide.

 

NO TO WAR however believes that the increasing diplomatic isolation of the US, UK, and Israel is shaping a new global perspective on democracy and solidarity, particularly among the youth.

 

CEASEFIRE NOW! Stop the Genocide! Demand accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity now!

 

PRESS STATEMENT

NO TO WAR

Network Opposed to War

10 December 2023

An immediate ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian aid and an end to Israeli occupation

 

The Partido Manggagawa (PM) joins the majority of the United Nations and the peoples of the world in campaigning for peace and to call for an immediate ceasefire to the armed conflict in Gaza to pave the way for a negotiated, internationally brokered political solution to resolve the question of Palestine.

 

By means of war, Israel has dispossessed the Palestinians of their right to existence as a free country, with their territories effectively occupied and ghettoized by Israeli forces since the Nakba of 1948. And this horrific condition suffered continuously by the Palestinian people was also made possible with the imposition of unimaginable forms of repression, including killings and an unjust economic embargo, while the Israeli government continues to enjoy massive military and economic assistance from the US and other Western powers.

 

The retaliatory campaign to completely siege Gaza by cutting off food, water, and electricity supplies to annihilate “subhuman” Palestinians is not simply out of bounds but is downright genocide that needs to be opposed to avert a colossal humanitarian crisis.

 

We continue to emphasize that the only solution we see for peace to finally reign in this region is for the peoples of the world, along with institutions such as the United Nations, to campaign for an end Israel’s occupation and its continued land grabbing in Palestinian territories, and to guarantee the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.  We believe that this kind of international process can gain momentum if both the Palestinians, the Israeli people, and the whole world demand peace rather than each other’s annihilation under a condition of perpetual war.

 

We also learned from news reports that some Filipinos went missing or have been killed in the October 7 attack by Hamas. We call on the Philippine government to exert all efforts to determine their actual condition and secure their safe release and repatriation.

 

The Philippines maintains diplomatic relations with Palestine since 1989, thus, working for freedom and peace and preserving mutual respect with each other as independent nations will work better than being torn apart by geo-political alignment and other relations dictated by big powers.

October 12, 2023