UN General Assembly President: How Many More Must Die? In the Name of Humanity, Stop This Violence

UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis. (Twitter/@UN_PGA)

JAKARTA - President of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis urged an immediate end to violence in the Gaza Strip, on the sidelines of voting on a resolution urging an immediate ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel conflict, as the death toll in the enclave continues to rise.

Opening the 10th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly, Francis said the meeting was held because of the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

"How many more must die, before we do something? There is not much time left," asked Francis in his speech posted online, Wednesday, December 13.

Francis said there were currently "attacks on civilians, the destruction of the humanitarian system, and a profound disrespect for international law and international humanitarian law" shown by the parties to the conflict.

"As President of the UN General Assembly, I support all efforts and efforts to stop the bloodshed of psychological torture of people in Gaza," stressed Francis.

He further said that war has rules and we must not deviate from core principles and values. Nearly 70 percent of those killed were women and children, he said.

Make peace, for all.

In the name of humanity, I ask you all once again, stop this violence, now.

Remarks to the #UNGA 10th Emergency Special Session (resumed) - https://t.co/E0ADOOy6sB pic.twitter.com/VjV3nvi4x8

— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) December 12, 2023

"A ceasefire is the only realistic step to defuse the tense situation," he said.

Saying the world was witnessing an “unprecedented collapse of the humanitarian system” in “real-time”, Francis stressed that it must immediately end the suffering of civilians.

Assessing that now is the right time to immediately implement a humanitarian ceasefire, he underscored the urgency to end the suffering of innocent civilians.

"In the name of humanity, I ask you all once again, stop this violence now," he concluded.

It is known that the 10th Special Emergency Session of the UN General Assembly approved a resolution urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In a vote at UN Headquarters in New York, United States Tuesday afternoon local time, 153 countries supported the resolution, 10 countries said they rejected it and 23 others said they abstained.

There are four points in the resolution. First, demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Second, it reiterates its demand that all parties comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, especially those relating to the protection of civilians.

Third, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and guarantee humanitarian access. Fourth, decided to temporarily postpone the tenth emergency special session and authorized the President of the General Assembly at its final session to resume its meetings at the request of Member States.