New york: Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour appealed on Wednesday for the formation of a "coalition of the willing" to take action to halt Israel's ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. "We call for a coalition of the willing to take every action necessary now to end the genocide, to uphold international law and save what is left of our humanity under the rubble in Gaza, and end the occupation and conflict," Mansour said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
According to Anadolu Agency, Mansour stated that the massive destruction in Gaza was the result of "deliberate planning and execution" by Israel. He described the current situation as "predictable, premeditated, and planned," labeling it a "criminal and cruel enterprise occurring openly for all to see." Mansour warned against framing the conflict as a religious struggle, urging that it is not a conflict between Jews and Muslims but a war against Palestinian presence in Palestine.
The Palestinian envoy highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing that the consequences of the Israeli actions would be far-reaching. "Israel's genocide in Gaza will redefine the region and our world for generations to come. And what we do next will determine in what way," he said. Mansour condemned the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, noting that the world is watching as people in Gaza suffer from hunger and thirst. He called for immediate international action to end the Israeli blockade and allow access to humanitarian aid.
Since March 2, Israel has delayed a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, keeping Gaza's borders closed and leaving humanitarian aid trucks stranded. On Wednesday, the Gaza Health Ministry reported ten more Palestinian deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll since October 2023 to 111.
The military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 59,200 Palestinians, primarily women and children, in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. This has led to the devastation of the enclave, the collapse of the health system, and severe food shortages. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.