At U.N. General Assembly Session, Palestina Asks World To Stop Israeli Crimes

JAKARTA - Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki called on the international community to end Israel's occupation and crimes against Palestinians.

The call was made at a special meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UN) to discuss the situation in Palestine, following the latest conflict between Israel and Palestinian guerrillas in Gaza.

"This is the right time for the international community to show their responsibility to end Israel's occupation of our land and our holy sites," al-Maliki said at a meeting monitored through the U.N. official website, as reported on Friday, May 21.

Since fighting erupted 10 days ago, the Palestinian Authority has recorded 230 fatalities including 65 children, 40 women, and 15 elderly people.

Thousands of residences and 50 schools were also reportedly destroyed as Israel launched aggression against the Palestinians.

Not stopping there, according to al-Maliki even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Israel has forcibly displaced 100,000 Palestinians by establishing illegal settlements and occupying Palestinian territories.

"Israel insists that they have the right to commit these crimes, to kill innocent people, and to blame the victims," he said.

Noting that Israel is undaunted by its policy of annexation and occupation of Palestinian land, al-Maliki urged the international community to fight Israel's actions contrary to international law.

Israel is also expected to engage in a negotiation process-driven to resolve the protracted conflict between the two countries.

"Now is the time to take steps to provide protection for the Palestinians until they can actually practice their right to self-determination, for freedom and independence in occupied land since 1967, with East Jerusalem as its future capital," al-Maliki said.

Meanwhile, U.N. 75th General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

"Israel, as an occupying power, must ensure compliance with international humanitarian law obligations, including the proportion of the use of force," said Bozkir, who chaired the meeting on Palestine.

He also urged a halt to violence in occupied territories in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem.

Bozkir said Palestinians should not live under the fear of eviction from their homes, because of the expansion of colonialism in the West Bank.

"The eviction of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah could constitute a war crime under international law. Israel has no authority to occupy East Jerusalem," Turkey's top diplomat said.