The United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday held a moment of silence to remember the “innocent lives” lost in the “occupied Palestinian territories and elsewhere,” while failing to honor those who died in Israel when attacked by the army in Palestine.
Ambassador Zaman Mehdi, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN in Geneva was seen in a post by the UN on X, formerly known as Twitter, speaking to members of the Human Rights Council before a moment of silence.
“On behalf of the IOC member states, we express our deep concern over the loss of innocent lives in the occupied Palestinian territories and elsewhere,” Mehdi said. “Unfortunately, this massive loss of life and unrelenting violence is a sad reminder of more than seven decades of illegal foreign occupation, aggression and disrespect for international law, including UNESCO resolutions.”
He went on to say that 16 years of what he called the illegal blockade of Gaza continues to raise questions about the applicability of international law and the basic liberties of innocent civilians. As a result, efforts to normalize the area “breed violence,” Mehdi said.
Ambassador Zaman Mehdi spoke to members of the Human Rights Council shortly before a moment of silence. United Nations Human Rights Council / X
“In this context, the so-called declaration of war and attacks on the civilian population and their property is very sad,” he said. “We remain concerned about the human cost of the escalating situation.”
A video of a moment of silence shows all members of the Human Rights Council standing up, despite the sacrifice of their innocent lives in Israel.
The US Permanent Representative to the Human Rights Council, Michèle Taylor, also called for a moment of silence on Monday, asking to commemorate the lives of those lost in Hamas attacks on Israel.
Pakistan’s UN Human Rights Council members fail to honor Israelis killed by Hamas during silence United Nations Human Rights Council / X
Taylor said, with a “heavy heart,” that the catastrophe on Oct. 7. 2023, and the days that followed resulted in the deaths of “hundreds and hundreds of innocent civilian lives lost,” and the number continues to rise.’
He also said thousands were injured and more than a hundred men, women, children, the disabled and the elderly were kidnapped.
“The United States strongly condemns this heinous act of terrorism. We offer our condolences to the affected families and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel at this difficult time,” Taylor said before calling for a moment of silence from the ceremony.
A video of the moment of silence shows all the other members of the Human Rights Council standing. United Nations Human Rights Council / X
“As we stand in silence, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to promoting peace, justice and human rights around the world, and let our silence resonate as a united stand against violence and terrorism.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
