A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on Israel to fully cooperate with the UN and other humanitarian agencies to ensure their safety, and facilitate their work in the Gaza Strip where Israel's indiscriminate bombings have dragged on for 13 months, resulting in a desperate humanitarian crisis.
At the UN Security Council briefing on food security in Gaza, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said to be fed and to be well fed is the most basic need of human beings. Humanitarian issues cannot be politicized, nor can hunger be weaponized, which is the fundamental bottom line of international humanitarian law, he said.
However, during the conflict in Gaza, which has been ongoing for 13 months, civilians have been repeatedly deprived of their basic needs, and all humanitarian bottom lines have been breached time and again, the envoy said.
The FAO IPC famine Review Committee, in its latest report, has warned that access for humanitarian supplies to Gaza has fallen to an all time low, and that the already dire humanitarian situation there is rapidly deteriorating, with an imminent risk of severe famine in northern Gaza.
Fu said over the past year, Israel has continued its indiscriminate bombings in Gaza, attacking hospitals, schools, and refugee camps, cutting off supply of food, medicine, and fuel, and repeatedly forcing massive relocation of civilians, resulting in an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and destruction, with women and children accounting for the majority of civilian casualties.
According to numerous analyses, restrictions on and denial of civilians' right to food in Gaza constitute part of systematic collective punishment of the Palestinian population, Fu said.
He pointed out that the biggest challenge in scaling up humanitarian assistance to Gaza does not lie in the shortage of humanitarian supplies, but lies in the man-made restrictions on humanitarian access.
The international community has mobilized huge supplies for Gaza, which have to stay in the long lines outside the crossing points waiting to enter Gaza.
China urges Israel to immediately open all crossings and effectively remove obstacles to humanitarian access throughout Gaza, the ambassador said.
"Israel is restricting humanitarian access on the one hand, and accusing the UN and the humanitarian agencies of inaction on the other. This is unacceptable. We call on Israel to fully cooperate with the UN and other humanitarian agencies, ensure their safety, and facilitate their work," he said.
Fu said the recent completion of the World Health Organization's polio vaccination in Gaza has once again demonstrated that it is possible to expand humanitarian assistance.
"Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international law and should not be permitted to use humanitarian assistance as a bargaining chip. We have noted that whenever international public opinion or criticism from a certain country goes stronger, humanitarian assistance in Gaza would seem to be progressing. This in turn shows that the occupying power has not exhausted all its efforts and that there is still enormous space for action to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza," he said.
Fu stressed that an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza and an early implementation of the two-State solution is a fundamental path towards ending the conflict and restoring peace.
China calls on Israel to heed the appeal of the international community, stop its military actions in Gaza, and stop its violations against Lebanon and other countries, he said.
The 10 elected members of the Council have tabled a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which is in line with the international expectations for the Council. China welcomes the action of E10 and supports the Council's early adoption of the draft resolution, Fu said.
Israel liable to alleviate humanitarian disaster it causes in Gaza: Chinese envoy
Israel liable to alleviate humanitarian disaster it causes in Gaza: Chinese envoy
