Russia blames escalation in Gaza on US policy, blocking of initiatives
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Speaking at the UNSC, Russia's envoy laments the civilian losses in Gaza, calling the Israeli strikes a flagrant violation of international law.
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Vassily Nebenzia, permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, speaking during a meeting of the UN Security Council, March 29, 2022, at United Nations headquarters (AP/John Minchillo)
Russia views the Israeli strikes on civilian targets in the Gaza Strip as shocking violations of international law, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said.
"We are shocked and deeply outraged that the targets of the strikes are civilian objects," Nebenzia said during a UN Security Council meeting on Friday. "We emphasize that the deliberate strikes against civilian objects represent an egregious violation of international humanitarian law."
Nebezia further added that there are no safe zones left in Gaza amid relentless Israeli strikes.
"The mosques [that came under attack a while ago] are located in the south of the Gaza Strip, which confirms that there are simply no safe zones for civilians in the enclave anymore," Nebenzia affirmed.
Blaming the US policy on Gaza for the ongoing escalation and its blocking of peace initiatives, Nebenzia said, "Washington’s blocking of peace initiatives for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip at this point and its one-sided policy of the past few years, aimed at preserving the status quo (which is what they [the Americans] said), as well as it’s so-called quiet diplomacy, in fact were nothing but an unwillingness to implement what countries and nations had agreed on."
"The lack of any progress in the negotiation process was sure to lead to an escalation," he added, stressing that "this in turn may trigger an expansion of the conflict and fuel other potential and simmering conflicts in the region."
The Russian envoy stressed that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian struggle "should in no way involve attempts to drive the Palestinian people from their homeland." A real solution to this "long-standing issue" should be based on international law, Nebenzia concluded.
On November 2, the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that Western nations in the UN Security Council persist in hindering any attempts to reduce tensions in the region.
Nebenzia made the remarks during the 10th emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"Today, it is necessary to immediately cease fire and stop the bloodshed. It seemed to be obvious for everyone. Unfortunately, our Western colleagues in the Security Council continue to torpedo any efforts on de-escalation on the ground and block the adoption of immediate action by the Council aimed at the normalization of the situation as soon as possible and, first of all, ceasefire," Nebenzia said.
Commenting on an Israeli ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the diplomat mentioned that the Security Council cannot provide "carte blanche" to Israeli forces for such actions.
"It is obvious that a full-scale ground operation launched by Israel in Gaza could be not only a huge tragedy for 2 million people living there, but it could also pull the trigger to expand the regional conflict," Nebenzia added.
It is worth noting that Russia's push for a ceasefire in Gaza has been met by US vetos and condemnations, as the US continues to plan and facilitate "Israel's" aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported earlier on Friday an increase in the number of martyrs due to the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip to 11,078, with a total of 4,506 children included.
Another 50 martyrs were reported earlier in the day in the occupation's targeting of Al-Buraq school in the Nasr neighborhood.
According to the Government's Media Office, the IOF's tanks were positioned only 200 meters away from the school when the attack occurred.
