#UNGA78 President Addresses Veto on Gaza Ceasefire Resolution | United Nations

President of the General Assembly, Dennis Francis, remarks on 150 days of violence and the need to lay down the foundations of a future where Israel and the state of Palestine can coexist peacefully.

The General Assembly held a plenary meeting today (4 Mar) to debate the use of a veto cast by the United States on a Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on 20 February 2024.

Opening the debate, Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly, stated, “The will of the international community – as already expressed in the vote by the overwhelming majority of this General Assembly’s membership – is unambiguous, clear and resolute. And I feel myself duty bound to reiterate that will here today – as it cannot continue to be unheeded.”

According to the US Ambassador Robert Wood the resolution that was before the Council would not achieve the goal of a sustainable peace.

He added, “To support these sensitive negotiations, we have circulated a draft Security Council resolution that calls for a temporary ceasefire together with the release of all hostages as soon as possible.”

He stated, “The question before us is: What is the most effective way to achieve these goals? And in our judgment, it is the work that the United States is undertaking both here in New York, and on the ground.”

Also addressing the General Assembly today, Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador, said,“For 5 months now, Israel has been committing atrocities against the Palestinian people unchecked, and unhinged. And the Security Council has been prevented repeatedly from calling for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to these atrocities.”

He also said, “As we are fully aware of the genuine solidarity of billions around the world, we are also acutely aware of those who have a much higher threshold of tolerance for Palestinian death than Israeli death.”

He stated, “There is a reason why ethnic cleansing was possible in Palestine why apartheid was possible in Palestine why genocide was possible in Palestine. It is the certainty of the perpetrators that they will never be held accountable.”

He concluded, “Palestine will be free. Its people will be free. And then only then will peace be reality for all to enjoy.”

For his part, Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan said, “Once again, this body has convened not to condemn Hamas, no. Not to condemn their atrocities, but to focus again, only on the situation in Gaza.”

He stated, “The UN General Assembly is committed to the survival of a terror organization. The institution that was established in the wake of the Holocaust to prevent atrocities, now, united to defend a terror organization no different than the Nazis.”

He reiterated, “Any calls for a ceasefire only give Hamas a green light to continue raping and abusing the hostages.”