Pandor welcomes UN resolution for immediate Gaza ceasefire for rest of Ramadan
The resolution, which also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, was passed by the United Nations Security Council on Monday.
Israel and Palestinian flags. Picture: 123Rf
JOHANNESBURG - The Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor says it is encouraging that the United Nations (UN) Security Council has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for the rest of the holy month of Ramadan.
This is the first time that the council has called for a ceasefire since the war began in October after several failed attempts.
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Ramadan began on 10 March and is set to conclude on 9 April, meaning the council called for a two-week truce, though the proposal said the pause in fighting should lead to a permanent sustainable ceasefire.
The resolution, which also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, was passed by the council on Monday.
Minister Pandor said this is a move in the right direction: “I think this is a welcomed resolution and now the ball is in the court of the Security Council because they’ll be tested as to their ability to ensure adherence to the resolution.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that failure to implement the resolution would be unforgivable
The United States (US), Israel's ally, which vetoed previous drafts, abstained from the proposal.
“Certain key edits were ignored, including our request to add a condemnation of Hamas, and we did not agree with everything in the resolution,” said the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Israel's ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan had this to say: “On the one hand, the resolution says that taking civilian hostages is in violation of international law.
“Yet, on the other hand, despite the fact that you know Hamas won’t listen to your calls and release the hostages, you demand a ceasefire. Take a moment and think about this moral contradiction.”
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, called for freedom.
“Life must prevail, freedom must prevail in Palestine. For six months now, every single Palestinian in Gaza has endured untold suffering.”
More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes.
The conflict was sparked by a Hamas attack in Israel on 7 October, which killed at least over 1,000 people.
Gaza also faces a dire humanitarian emergency, with a UN-backed report published last week stating famine is imminent in northern Gaza.