Barran Press
On November 6, 2024, Palestine issued a stark warning to the United Nations, stating that the catastrophic conditions in the Gaza Strip are escalating every minute due to the ongoing genocide perpetrated by Israel and the relentless assault on all aspects of life in the region.
This message was conveyed in three identical letters sent by Palestine's permanent representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the President of the UN Security Council for the month (Britain), and the President of the UN General Assembly, Philemon Yang. The letters addressed the continuation of what Palestine describes as genocide by Israel, as reported by the Palestinian news agency.
Mansour highlighted that the deteriorating situation in Gaza is a direct result of Israeli aggression, which he claims violates international law and Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2735 adopted on June 10, which calls for a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, prisoner exchanges, reconstruction, and the return of displaced persons.
He pointed out that northern Gaza, in particular, is witnessing Israeli efforts to eliminate the Palestinian population, with reports indicating that approximately 1,300 Palestinians were killed in that area last month alone.
Mansour also referenced a statement from the heads of the UN's major humanitarian agencies, which warned of the tragic conditions in northern Gaza. He reiterated the Secretary-General's assertion that Israel has no sovereignty over any part of the occupied Palestinian territory due to its occupation, as dictated by international law.
He recalled the massacre committed by Israeli forces on October 29, when a five-story residential building in Beit Lahiya was targeted, resulting in the deaths of dozens, including at least 25 children.
Mansour condemned Israel's intensified attacks on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which he described as part of a broader assault on the Palestinian people. He noted Israel's moves to revoke the agency's privileges and protections, impede its humanitarian efforts, and expel it from its offices in occupied East Jerusalem.
He urged the Security Council to take immediate action under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to demand an immediate ceasefire, halt forced displacement and ethnic cleansing, and ensure the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian assistance through UNRWA and other UN agencies.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, has been accused of committing genocide in Gaza, resulting in approximately 146,000 Palestinian casualties, most of whom are women and children, alongside over 10,000 reported missing amid extensive destruction and a devastating famine.