Israel must end offensive - Ambassador

Accra, July 27, GNA - The Palestinian Ambassador to Ghana, Saadi Altumaizi on Thursday called on the United Nation Security Council to carry out its responsibility of ensuring that Israel put an end to the current offensive on both Palestinian and Lebanese territories. Mr Altumaizi also stressed the need for a resolution demanding an urgent ceasefire, saying the targeting of Palestinian citizens and infrastructure would rather complicate the already volatile situation in the Region.

Briefing newsmen in Accra on the current state of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said the Israeli government's intransigent position against engaging in negotiations over the fate of its captured soldiers and its massive offensive in Lebanon had made conditions worse.

The Ambassador emphasized that a just solution to the conflict must guarantee the restoration of the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people and the interest of all the people in the Region. "Such a solution must be based on international legitimacy, United Nations Security Council's pertinent resolutions, through which the conflict can be resolved and stabilized," he said.

In the same regard, an immediate ceasefire was needed, and a halt of aggression in the Gaza Strip on Palestinians and in Lebanon should be applied, he said, adding that diplomatic efforts must be given the opportunity to find ways of addressing the real causes and roots of the problem.

Mr Altumaizi noted that in order to end the bloodshed and to establish a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, the Israeli occupation must stop for the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital. He said the current atrocities committed by Israel clearly showed the extent to which Israel disregarded Palestinian life adding that more than 400 people had been killed and hundreds, mostly women and children, had been injured.

In addition, there has been an all-out destruction of vital Palestinian infrastructure, including the main power plant, which had brought the Gaza Strip to the verge of humanitarian disaster in terms of shortage in basic food items and medical supply.

Violence erupted in the Middle East a few weeks ago when Palestinian militants took an Israeli soldier hostage and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah also took two Israeli soldiers hostage.

Israel has been pounding South Lebanon heavily for almost two weeks leading to heavy loss of life and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The Hezbollah has also been firing rockets into northern Israel while there have been fighting between the two sides. 27 July 06