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2023 October 25 - 31 TOP3 [WORLD]

JCP welcomes the adoption of UNGA resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza

The Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 28 issued a statement after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. The full text of Shii’s statement is as follows:

The Japanese Communist Party welcomes the adoption of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza – The international community should exert utmost efforts to implement the resolution

Japanese Communist Party Standing Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo
October 28, 2023

The United Nations General Assembly on October 27 held an emergency special session on the current situations in the Gaza strip in the Palestine Autonomous Areas, and adopted a resolution calling for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities with 121 member nations voting in favor. While the UN Security Council has been in a deadlock due to Permanent members repeatedly using their veto power, the resolution, tabled mainly by the Arab and Asian nations, calls for the protection of all civilians based on international humanitarian law, the rescinding of the order by Israel for Palestinian civilians to evacuate northern Gaza and relocate to southern Gaza, and the immediate release of all civilians who are being illegally held captive.

The JCP welcomes the adoption of the resolution calling for a humanitarian truce and urges the international community to exert utmost efforts to implement the resolution.

The resolution condemns “all acts of violence aimed at Palestinian and Israeli civilians” and calls upon all parties to fully abide by international humanitarian law and international human rights law as well as to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further destabilization and escalation of violence in the region. The JCP strongly demands that all parties, including those on the Israel and Hamas sides, respect and abide by the resolution.

In this regard, it is grave that Israel on the same day announced that it will expand the ongoing air strikes on the Gaza strip and ground operations. The UNGA resolution states that in the Gaza strip, access to electricity, food, medicine, and fuel has been cut off, expressing serious concern at “the catastrophic humanitarian situation” there and its “vast consequences for the civilian population, largely comprising children”. The document stresses the urgent need to clear all obstacles hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid. It must be pointed out that it is Israel, which has bombed, blocked, and carried out ground operations in violation of international law, that is chiefly responsible for the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza strip.

As Jordan, the initiator of the draft resolution, underscored, “The right to self-defence is not a right to impunity”. Indiscriminate attacks carried out by Hamas are in violation of international law, but Israel cannot justify its illegal acts by citing its right to self-defense.

The JCP demands that Israel halt its large-scale air strikes and ground operations, which are in violation of international law.

The JCP calls on all parties, countries, and international organizations concerned to engage in diplomatic efforts for the implementation of the resolution of a humanitarian truce as an urgent task and work to increase worldwide public awareness regarding the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire.

As the UNGA resolution notes, the JCP once again stresses that pursuing a peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel in accordance with international agreements is the path toward achieving peace in the Middle East.