Palestinian factions, officials hail UNSC res., urge implementation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
25 Mar 2024 22:39

Resistance groups consider the resolution a right step toward a permanent end of the Israeli war on Gaza.

Algeria's UN representative Amar Bendjama and China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun vote against a US temporary ceasefire resolution that allows the Israelis to continue the war on Gaza during a Security Council meeting on March 22, 2024 (AFP)

The Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas welcomed the UN Security Council's call for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza during the holy month of Ramadan, emphasizing the need for a permanent one that would lead to the withdrawal of all occupation forces from the Strip and the return of the forcibly displaced people to their homes.

A UNSC resolution that calls for an immediate ceasefire during holy Ramadan was passed on Monday. It was sponsored by the body's ten elected members, and the remaining 14 council members voted for it, while the United States was the only party to abstain.

Algeria's UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama expressed after the vote that the Palestinians have "suffered greatly", affirming that the "bloodbath has continued for far too long."

Hamas expressed its gratitude for the efforts of Algeria and all other members of the UNSC who stood by the Palestinian people and worked on stopping the aggression on Gaza.

The group stressed "the necessity of reaching a permanent ceasefire that leads to the withdrawal of all Zionist (Israeli occupation) forces from the Gaza Strip and the return of the displaced [Palestinians] to the homes they were forced out of.

"We also affirm our readiness to engage in an immediate prisoner exchange process that leads to the release of both sides’ detainees and captives," Hamas said. "We call on the Security Council to pressure the occupation to adhere to the ceasefire and stop the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people."

Hamas reiterated the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital. It also underlined the Palestinian people's right to return to their homeland and their right to self-determination, as stipulated in international decisions and international law.

The Islamic Resistance Movement underlined the need to protect the freedom of movement for all Palestinian citizens, as well as the movement of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including heavy equipment to be used for rescue and recovery missions for thousands who remain under the rubble created by Israeli bombs.

The world is fed up with the Israeli entity

The UNSC resolution was also welcomed by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), affirming that it should be a step toward a sustainable end to the Israeli war, the unconditional lifting of the siege, the return of all displaced people to their homes, and the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal that would lead to the release of Palestinian prisoners, "and most importantly, the occupation's commitment to implementing this resolution."

The PFLP pointed out that the adoption of the resolution, despite attempts by the US and its allies to weaken and dilute its content and link it to a temporary rather than a sustainable ceasefire, confirms that the entire world is fed up with the Israeli entity in the face of the genocide it is committing against the Palestinian people.

It stressed that the significance lies in the implementation of this resolution and that the ball is now in the court of the United Nations to force the occupation to commit to the UNSC ruling, especially since the occupation has never implemented a single international decision.

Similarly, the Palestinian Resistance committees in Gaza considered that the resolution is a positive event toward ending the brutal war on the Strip.

The UNSC must ensure its implementation

On its part, the Palestinian Presidency hailed the resolution and called for its immediate implementation to be ensured by the UNSC, noting that the resolution gained international consensus.

The presidency praised in a statement the countries that submitted and supported the resolution calling for an end to the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.

On the ongoing Israeli siege on Gaza, the presidency called on the international community to provide aid to the Palestinian people, immediately deliver humanitarian assistance to all regions of Gaza through all crossings, and put an end to the spreading famine caused by the Israeli blockade.

It also affirmed that the resolution is a positive step toward ending the aggression, withdrawing Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, ending Israeli government and settler crimes in the West Bank and al-Quds, and "initiating a political process under international law and legitimacy to end the Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state with East occupied al-Quds as its capital."

Toward a comprehensive ceasefire

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry also welcomed the UNSC's efforts to assume its responsibilities to protect Palestinians currently facing an Israeli genocide.

It considered the adoption of the resolution a step in the right direction toward a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, stressing that international efforts must increase to achieve a cessation of the war beyond just the holy month of Ramadan

The Foreign Ministry also called on the "member states of the Security Council to fulfill their legal and historical responsibilities to implement the resolution immediately."

The Minister for Civilian Affairs in the Palestinian Authority also welcomed the UNSC resolution.

"We welcome the UN Security Council resolution," Hussein al-Sheikh said in a post on X. "We call for a permanent cessation to this criminal war and Israel's immediate withdrawal from the Gaza Strip."